2008-05-08
Madam Speaker Aagaard took the Chair at 10 am.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Year 7 Darwin Middle School students, accompanied by teacher, Mrs Merryn Brown. On behalf of honourable members, I extend a very warm welcome to our visitors.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure I report on my trade mission to Japan and China in March, as well as Hong Kong. The key message on that trade mission was: ‘the Territory is the place that gets thing done and we are open for business’. In meetings with our hosts, we discussed the great investment opportunities here in the Territory, particularly the potential for an expanded gas industry. Strengthening our political and cultural relationships in the region was also an important part of my visit.
In Japan, I met with the Senior Vice Minister and the Director General of the Ministry for Economic Trade and Industry. The ministry is a major shareholder in the Japanese company, INPEX, which is developing the Ichthys gas field in the Browse Basin, with whom we are endeavouring to secure onshore development in Darwin.
I also met with Australia’s Minister for Resources and Energy, the Hon Martin Ferguson, who was in Japan at the same time, to get his support to push the case for the Darwin option. I met with the Chairman and the President of INPEX following the signing of the Project Facilitation Agreement on 27 February. This was a great opportunity to further develop our relationship with the company and to promote the case for Darwin. I stressed the advantages of the Darwin option, including certainty and security, as opposed to the site in Western Australia. I emphasised the fact that we are a capital city, have a deep water port, an international airport, direct links to the National Highway and rail networks, and have land available at Middle Arm.
I also met with senior management of a number of leading potential Japanese customers for future LNG from the Northern Territory, including the Tokyo Electric and Power Company, a major consumer of LNG internationally, a minority shareholder in the Darwin LNG project, and the main end customer of the project. The company purchases some two million tonnes per annum. I also met with Tokyo Gas, which has nearly nine million customers and is also a minority shareholder in Darwin LNG, purchasing one million tonnes per annum.
I also met with Osaka Gas, one of the major players in the international gas industry. I would love to see its large Senboku terminal receiving LNG from Darwin. The company already gets some of its LNG from Australia, although not yet from Darwin. Given it has shares in several gas reserves, including Greater Sunrise; I hope this will come to fruition in the near future.
I also took the opportunity to visit the National Museum of Art in Osaka and view the Emily Kame exhibition, entitled Utopia and curated by the National Museum of Australia. Utopia tells the story of one of Australia’s greatest contemporary female artists and is the largest collection of works by a single Australian artist to tour overseas. The jewel of the 120 works on display was arguably Emily’s piece titled Earth’s Creation, which sold for what was then a world record of $1.056m. I believe it remains the highest price ever achieved for a piece of art work by any female artist, indigenous or non-indigenous, in Australia.
I am very pleased to announce that Earth’s Creation may be hung later this year in Parliament House in Darwin, following a kind offer from its owner, Tim Jennings. This will be a fantastic opportunity for Territorians to see a world renowned work of art by a Territorian in the people’s parliament.
In Shanghai, I met with the Vice Mayor. The meeting allowed me to build on our economic ties with Shanghai and to strengthen our government-to-government relations. I also met with senior executives of the China Development Bank, noting that almost all significant investment in Australia by China is related to the China Development Bank. My government and the China Development Bank are working towards a formal agreement to increase Chinese investment in the Territory.
I also met the Chairman and representatives of the Stone Group which is a major diverse investment group in China. I had the pleasure of meeting its Chairman, Mr Duan, who is best known for his success in the information technology and health sectors, and who sees considerable promise in the exploration of resources in the Territory.
I also hosted an investment attraction event for invited guests at the Australian Consul’s residence in Shanghai. Whilst there I took the opportunity to visit the Shanghai Museum which is working with the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory to develop an exchange program.
In Hong Kong, I met with the Noble Group which was identified by Invest Australia as a potentially significant investor in the Territory. The Noble Group has a 30% stake in Territory Resources which operates the Frances Creek iron ore mine near Pine Creek.
In summary, my trade and investment visit was characterised by high-quality appointments that were directly relevant and beneficial to the advancement of the Territory’s business, political and cultural relationships in China, Japan and Hong Kong. It is an important part of my job to tell the region about the wonderful opportunities that we have here. The Territory is a place that gets things done, and we are open for business.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, that is a good report. It is good to see the Chief Minister presenting the Territory on a number of fronts within the region, particularly looking at business opportunities and broadening into the cultural connections. Once again, we need to recognise that in order for trade to occur it is relationships - that is, Asian Relations - that leads to trade. I commend you, Chief Minister, for that initiative of working on a broader front.
The Territory certainly has much going for it. There is an immense opportunity and a great future for the Territory. However, we really do need to get it right. When you look at the INPEX website, they acknowledge having an interest in the Territory as a place to bring gas onshore - I think from 2004. There have been plenty of opportunities to get the Territory properly prepared for this level of development in the Territory and have it in the right place.
I need to have it clear from the Chief Minister whether the intention of INPEX coming to the Northern Territory, with the only space that has been made available through the lack of proactive planning, includes being tied to downstream production or is it just that we are talking about LNG and the only other space available for any related downstream industry - because the two ideas are connected and we do not have any clear reference to where else heavy industry can go in the Northern Territory. It appears to be only at Wickham Point. There appears to be no other provision made. Is there an understanding from INPEX that there will be a feed into the downstream industry or not?
You can say the Territory is open for business, but we need to know where we stand and on what foundations these plans resting so that we can, as a community, move forward. Make no mistake, the Country Liberal Party supports this level of interest, but we must get it right.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his response. He really is trying to straddle the barbed wire fence by saying he supports this time of investment, but also says to INPEX they cannot go to Middle Arm, which means that INPEX would go to Western Australia. That is very clearly what Sean Kildare from INPEX said on ABC radio this morning:
This government, deliberately set aside Glyde Point as a zone not to develop so as to protect its environment. Middle Arm has been zoned for industrial development. Even under the CLP government this was the case. What the Leader of the Opposition is doing very clearly to INPEX is putting up the sign ‘Northern Territory closed for business’.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of the son of the member for Port Darwin, Luca Sacilotto. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Child Protection): Madam Speaker, I speak about the position of the Northern Territory Children’s Commissioner, which was established by the Care and Protection of Children Act 2007, to ensure the wellbeing of protected children through monitoring the administration of the Care and Protection of Children Act 2007, and the implementation of the government’s decision arising from the inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse. The establishment of this position was a major recommendation of the inquiry.
As part of the new act, the Children’s Commissioner will make an annual report to the Legislative Assembly. The advertising and recruitment process was undertaken in January and February 2008, resulting in a strong field of experienced and well-qualified applicants.
Dr Howard Bath was considered to be the most suitable candidate for the position. Since the early 1970s, Dr Bath has been involved in services for young people with complex needs and challenging behaviours. Initially, he started as a youth worker coordinator and then held a number of management roles.
Dr Bath is a former Regional Manager of Barnardos Australia in the Australian Capital Territory, and manager of a number of Barnardos services between 1982 and 1989. He was the Executive Director of the Marymead Child and Family Centre from 1993 to 1999, and Director of the Thomas Wright Institute in Canberra from 1999 to present. Dr Bath was the inaugural Chair of the Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia, the National Association of Child and Family Welfare service providers. Dr Bath is a registered Clinical Psychologist, and has studied and taught in Australia and the United States of America. He is widely published in the areas of behaviour management, out of home care and family preservation. Dr Bath has taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and has presented at numerous conferences and workshops.
His current clinical work focuses on the treatment of young people with sexual behaviour problems. He is a professional instructor with the Cornell University of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention project, and is accredited under the Child Sex Offender Counsellor Accreditation Scheme. He also recently completed the Northern Territory Community Services’ High Risk Audit for the Department of Health and Community Services.
Dr Howard Bath will be appointed for a period of four years and will commence his role in June 2008. Dr Bath has challenges in front of him, and I am sure all members of this Assembly will welcome him to the Northern Territory and wish him well in the tasks he faces.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Madam Speaker, I thank the minister for her report. I join with her in welcoming Dr Bath to the Northern Territory. I believe he is a very sound appointment. It is probably good that someone from outside the Territory has come in, because fresh eyes, new ideas can only benefit this area. I welcome the announcement. I hope to catch up with Dr Bath in the next 24 hours or so.
I note you said the appointment of the Children’s Commissioner was a recommendation of the Little Children Are Sacred report. In fact, it was an idea floating around on both sides of politics from about 2004. Either way, it is welcome. I hope that the position lives up to what we - and I mean each and every of us in the Chamber - want the Children’s Commissioner to achieve. Reporting to parliament is good. Like any new job, there will be difficulties in the interim but, over time, let us hope that the appointment and creation of a Children’s Commissioner does, in fact, produce better outcomes and is not just an appointment for appointment’s sake, and I am not suggesting that you would do that.
I welcome Dr Bath. We look forward to hearing from him as the years roll on. I very much look forward to meeting with him in the next day or so.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Madam Speaker, it is good news that the minister has appointed a Children’s Commissioner. I believe that with the number of problems that have been highlighted within the Territory, there has been a great need to have an independent private body, and I hope that is just what he will be. Most importantly, I hope he is able to travel the Territory to meet a number of people. I also hope you have given him the support he needs from an administrative point of view to be able to do his job adequately.
There are many people in communities who have faith in this appointment. They wish to see recommendations come out of his appointment so that things will improve on the ground for all people, not just children, but also their families. We welcome his appointment and look forward to meeting him.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Family and Community Services): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Araluen and the member for Braitling for their comments. It is a very important position. It is fantastic to have bipartisan support. The protection of our children is absolutely critical. We know the task facing Dr Bath is huge. Member for Braitling, he has been given a lot of support. That will continue. He is looking forward to travelling the breadth of the Northern Territory to talk to various members, to meet with the different stakeholders, but also to focus, particularly, on children who are in the care of the minister. He is looking forward to commencing that labour. I thank all my Cabinet colleagues who have supported this, and this parliament. It is an important undertaking to help move the Territory forward in the protection of our children.
Mr BONSON (Sport and Recreation): Madam Speaker, the Territory is a great place to live, work and raise a family. This government is committed to making our lifestyle even better. That is why we want to bring the best in national and international sporting events to the Northern Territory.
Budget 2008-09 provides $25.8m for sport and recreation throughout the Territory. Budget 2008-09 is all about delivering for Territory families. Over the next 12 months, we will help deliver the following events for Territory families: The V8 Supercars next month; the Arafura Games in May 2009; the Masters Games in Alice Springs in October; a three match, one day international cricket series against Bangladesh starting in Darwin on 31 August; a pre-season national Rugby League match; high quality AFL matches, including a premiership match in Darwin next month; the Heineken Hottest 7s in the World Rugby tournament; and, later this month, at the TIO Stadium, we will host one of the greatest motorcycle shows in the world – on 31 May, the Crusty Demons will make their second appearance in Darwin.
The Crusty Demons are a group of daredevil motorcyclists from countries around the world, including Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The Crusty Demons rose to international prominence in the mid-1990s, helping to create the sport of freestyle motocross, which is today regarded as the most popular of the extreme sports. If anyone has cable television, you might see them on some the cable channels including ESPN and Fuel, etcetera. If you have not seen the Crusty Demons before, you only have to look at their website to see why people around the world want to see them perform. Given their popularity, the Northern Territory government is delighted to help bring the show to Darwin. The Northern Territory government is providing $50 000 to make the 2008 show a reality. That is right - $50 000. We believe in investing in these types of events.
This includes a $30 000 sponsorship fee and $20 000 for traffic management and other venue services. I am told that the Crusty Demons recently performed to sell out crowds in cities across Great Britain. We will be treated to the full international show with seven of the world’s top 10 riders coming to Darwin. So, out of the 3 billion people on this planet, we will be getting seven of the top 10 recognised riders of their ilk. What a fantastic opportunity it is to see the best of the best.
The line up includes world number one freestyle motor rider, Nate Adams; ex Games gold medallist, Adam Jones; world No 3, Mike Mason; Nicky Danielson and Jim McNeill. None of these riders have ever been to Darwin before and, I am told, they are really looking forward to the visit. Two years ago Territorians showed how much they loved the Crusty Demons. Territorians voted with their feet in 2006 with some 11 000 people showing up for the first Crusty Demons show on the dirt in the Northern Territory. Organisers are expecting another huge response from Territorians and ticket sales are already booming. Some 7000 tickets have already been pre-sold for the show on 31 May. As we know, people from Darwin and the Northern Territory are notoriously known for turning up late, so 7000 pre sold tickets is a great indication of what type of support the Demons will get.
This will be a far bigger event than in 2006 with more ramps for the Crusty Demons to use to get airborne and perform their breathtaking stunts. There will also be more pyrotechnics as part of the back drop to the performance by the riders. There will be more than 50 different tricks in this year’s show. It will apparently take three full days to set up the TIO Stadium for the event. I can inform the House that the Northern Territory government has taken every measure to ensure the protection of the ground at TIO Marrara Stadium. I can assure everyone there were no issues with the surface of TIO Stadium after the last Crusty Demons show.
Sport is an important part of our great lifestyle and helps makes the Northern Territory the best place to live in Australia. This government is proud to work to deliver great entertainment of the Crusty Demons to Territorians. Events like the Crusty Demons are all about the government’s commitment to deliver for the Territory families. Madam Speaker, I hope to see every member of this House at the event.
Mr CONLAN (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, there is no doubt that sport is an integral part of our lifestyle. I acknowledge all the events coming to the Territory over the course of the next 12 months. The minister mentioned making our lifestyle better by investing in national and international sport. The Masters Games is a huge part of not only Alice Springs and the Central Australian community but right across the NT.
It is shame, though, that the minister has not fought harder in Cabinet to provide shade facilities at Charles Darwin University which is a vital venue for the Alice Springs Masters Games, not to mention for Charles Darwin University itself and Central Australian Senior Secondary College. I do not know whether the minister for Education is aware that I have written to the minister for Sport about this, as I am yet to receive a reply. However, I would have hoped that the minister for Sport would have brought that to the Education minister’s attention.
It is used every single day of the school year. It is used as well all year round for cricket and footy, often in baking 40C plus heat, yet you look at the oval and see there is not an ounce of shade. By about 5 pm you get a bit from a tiny tree in the corner at Stott Terrace.
There was nothing from the minister about the completion of the Traeger Park Grandstand. I know that is an ongoing battle between the Alice Springs Town Council and the Northern Territory government. Who owns it and who is taking responsibility of it? That remains up in the air, so it would be nice to see the minister addressing that. As I said in this House before, it was $1m two years ago; however, I am not sure what it will cost now to complete the top level of the Traeger Park Grandstand which holds AFL and NRL games.
Anzac Oval is going to need some attention down the track if we are going to continue to bring NRL teams and soccer to Alice Springs. I know Adelaide United have been flagged to come to Alice Springs. We need a proper square oval facility in Central Australia. We have a great oval, we just need some more facilities like change rooms and a grandstand and the like so we will stay on that as well.
Thank you, minister, for your report.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I am still wondering what a square oval looks like. I will be working on that. I thank the minister for his statement. There is no doubt he has one of those great portfolios. As you can imagine, he could go on forever talking about the benefits of sport, however, we should not forget the people who do not get the facilities they require. I know the minister just said we are going to spend $50 000 on getting the Crusty Demons here and that 11 000 people are going to see that. I wonder if that event needs that much money from the government if it is going to have that many people turning up.
When I go to football grounds in places like Canteen Creek and Alpurrurulam I see they are dust holes. I wonder why we do not try putting more effort into creating better facilities in those communities. We have great facilities at Freds Pass. We could do with some more money to make them even better. We have great facilities in Darwin, but if you looked at what many of the communities have in relation to sporting facilities we do need to put much more emphasis on this sort of thing. I would rather see the $50 000 go towards grassing the Canteen Creek football oval than helping the Crusty Demons.
Mr BONSON (Sport and Recreation): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex and the member for Nelson for their contributions. Obviously, like me, they have a passion for sport and recreation.
We make no apology for the fact that we are supporting the Crusty Demons. We believe that $50 000 is a great investment. We believe that 11 000 people of the Northern Territory will get a benefit from that.
In regard to the issues raised by the member for Greatorex about the Masters Games, we can assure everyone in Alice Springs that we fully support the Masters Games and recognise its importance. The member for Greatorex has raised this in the past with me. We will continue to be supporting the Masters Games as best we can.
Regarding the other issue about Charles Darwin University; yes, I recognise your letter and, yes, my office has spoken to the Education minister about that and will be following those matters up. As a good local member, that is what you should be doing as an advocate. In terms of Traeger Park, we will be working with the council to try to resolve those issues. As you might be aware, they have been long-standing and, I believe, the council should handle that.
Member for Nelson, you are perfectly right; we have put $1m extra into the capital grants project to take it up to $3.8m. The NT government will continue to work towards fixing those problems …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Reports noted pursuant to standing orders.
Bill presented and read a first time.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Employment, Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
The purpose of this bill is to amend the Electrical Workers and Contractors Act to address the common expiry date of 30 June for contractors’ licences and allow contractor licences periods of up to three years, as in most jurisdictions.
Currently, if a company or a sole trader applies for an electrical contractor’s licence this month, an annual licence fee is payable. No matter what date the licence is granted, it will expire on 30 June each year. As an example, a new contractor who applies for a licence in April is likely to have it approved in May and will receive a licence which expires in six weeks. The common expiry date also creates an enormous peak in workload for NT WorkSafe and the Territory Business Centres which receive all licence fees on behalf of the Electrical Workers and Contractors Licensing Board.
Currently, renewal applications are sent out in mid-May and processing commences by the end of May through to early October. There are 559 licensed electrical contractors in the Northern Territory. The proposed amendments seek to rectify this problem. The Electrical Workers and Contractors Licensing Board is supportive of amendments that would relieve this peak in renewal of contractor licences. The majority of contractors will also welcome the change, as the end of the financial year is a busy period for any business.
The bill also amends the act to provide an option for an extension of a contractor’s licence for up to three years. An extended term would generate further efficiencies and reduce the compliance burden for electrical contractors without compromising consumer protection. It is consistent with our government’s commitment to cutting red tape for business.
Madam Speaker, I commend this bill to honourable members and table the explanatory statement to accompany the bill.
Debate adjourned.
Continued from 30 April 2008.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Madam Speaker, the opposition indicated when the bill was introduced last week that we would support the bill for very obvious reasons.
I said last week that I had read the Bakewell case. I read it again this morning, and it is very clear why this amendment is required. I do not think I need, for the purpose of my contribution today, to go through at length the reasons given by the Court of Appeal.
However, I note in passing that the Attorney-General may wish - I assume he has not read the case - to take note of the words ‘may’ and ‘must’ in that decision - words which have been talked about, on your part very passionately, just a week ago.
I refer to the Attorney-General’s second reading speech last week when he introduced the bill that we are debating. He said:
He goes on to say:
I am compelled to compare those words with the words of the minister last week when he concluded his contribution in the Youth Justice Bill. The minister accused me when he said my ‘speech was just bound up with lawyer grammar’. He went on to say: ‘This is not a court of law. This is a parliament. This is a place where the laws are made and intentions of laws are very clear’. He kept rabbiting on about presenting a lawyer’s point of view and attacking the government. Madam Speaker, what can I say?
The minister would be well served to temper his language, and to not go out of his way to hysterically grandstand in the way he does, particularly when he knew when he concluded the Youth Justice Bill that this bill was coming into parliament. You knew. It was disingenuous to say the least, Attorney-General, that you went to town, as it were, on 1 May with the Youth Justice Bill and then you accept absolutely that a bit of lawyer grammar is important with legislation that we, as parliamentarians, pass. Attorney-General, as the Northern Territory’s first law officer, you should be ashamed. However, I do not think that much shames you.
I was compelled to raise these points. We should not have had to come back to the Chamber. I accept that court decisions mean, over time, that some legislation does need to change but, in relation to the Sentencing (Crime of Murder) and Parole Reform Amendment Bill, that the government seemingly exhausted themselves when spinning it out in the public arena. I would have thought, with all of the resources of government, both above us and outside this building, more care may well have been taken.
It does, I believe, raise the point, Attorney-General, that it is incumbent on all of us in this place to raise concerns in the best way we can about legislation that we, as parliamentarians, pass. We are legislators. If proposed legislation has, in my view, and the opposition’s view, difficulties with it, then you can rant and rave in whatever way you like, but I will continue to do my job as best as I can. You, Attorney-General, as the Territory’s first law officer, would do well, I respectfully submit, to do your’s a bit better.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, there are two things that apply when a person breaks a law and is found guilty. They are told they will be punished and then told what type of punishment they will receive. Naturally, for serious offences, punishment will be more severe than for minor crimes. In the case of murder, under the previous government, it was mandatory life imprisonment.
In the case of prisoners who were sentenced before the Labor government’s sentencing laws were introduced in 2003, the sentence would have been life subject to (1) the Parole Board to review and make recommendations on life sentence prisoners’ cases after a period of 20 years has been served, and, thereafter, life sentence prisoners’ cases be subject to a three yearly review; (2) Cabinet considers all recommendations to the Administrator to exercise powers under the Criminal Law (Conditional Release of Offenders) Act in relation to the conditional release of life sentence prisoners; and (3) prisoners retain the right to petition the Administrator to exercise the royal prerogative of mercy and for release under the Criminal Law (Conditional Release of Offenders) Act.
Under the Sentencing Act 2003, the Labor government introduced the new sentencing scheme, which said that for murder you must serve a non-parole period of 20 years; and for more serious murder, you have a non-parole period of 25 years. You were still sentenced to life imprisonment. Minister, in relation to the legislation today, it appears the courts found there was a loophole in the Sentencing (Crime of Murder) Act 2003; which calls into question whether the act as currently drafted, fulfils its original intention. That is what the government is trying to fix today, by introducing this legislation.
Is this really the main issue? Is there something else going on? Unusually, the minister in his second reading speech has specifically referred to a prisoner, in this case Mr Bakewell, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1988 for murder and other serious offences, and is now serving time in a South Australian prison after being transferred from the Territory. On 18 June 2004, Mr Bakewell applied to be transferred from Darwin Correctional Centre to South Australia because his father was very ill and he wanted to be closer to his family. The then Attorney-General, Peter Toyne, representing the Northern Territory government, wrote to the Minister for Correctional Services in South Australia on 19 August 2004, that is nearly four years ago, approving the transfer; saying that prisoner Bakewell was eligible for parole after he had served 20 years.
I would like to read the letter from the Attorney-General. It was addressed to the Hon Terance Roberts, MLC, Minister for Correctional Services, Adelaide, South Australia, to the minister:
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker. Could I ask the member for Nelson to table that letter? I do not have it with me. I would like to read through it. I was listening to what you were saying, but I would not mind a copy, member for Nelson.
Madam SPEAKER: You are willing to table that?
Mr WOOD: If I can get a copy back; that is the only copy I have.
Dr BURNS: Yes.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, of course.
Mr WOOD: That is all right with you?
Dr BURNS: Of course.
Madam SPEAKER: Attendant, please photocopy that very quickly.
Mr WOOD: I am happy to table that document.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nelson.
Mr WOOD: Here we have a prisoner getting his hopes up over the last four years, behaving as a model prisoner, working outside the prison, expecting he would eligible for parole in 2008; because the Northern Territory told him that. Now, though, he is told by the same government, and another Attorney-General, through this legislation, that he is now not eligible for parole.
The Parole Board of South Australia also believed the prisoner was to receive a non-parole period of 20 years. I read from this memo from the Parole Board of South Australia:
Then it says:
That is signed by the secretary.
I support serious punishment for serious crime. I supported the government’s bill when it came through parliament. However, I also expect the prisoners to be told what their sentence is and what their non-parole period is. In this case, the prisoner was told what his non-parole period was by the number one law maker in the Northern Territory. The South Australian Department for Correctional Services acted on that information and treated the prisoner accordingly. If the prisoner has not caused any problem in gaol, has done everything required of him and has been assessed as being eligible for parole, then I believe this is an exceptional case and the government should leave it up to the Parole Board to decide his future.
We must remember the prisoner is always sentenced to life imprisonment and a breach of parole conditions may mean the parole orders may be revoked or cancelled. He may not even get parole. The issue is not about whether the prisoner should be released, it is about whether the prisoner should be eligible for parole. Under these exceptional circumstances, I believe the Parole Board should assess the situation. This was not the prisoner’s fault; it was the fault of the Northern Territory government. The number one law maker told the prisoner what the non-parole period would be and the South Australian Parole Board and the South Australian Department for Correctional Services were also told that and accepted it.
That is why I say let the Parole Board make the decision, bearing in mind the government caused the situation. The Parole Board would have to take into account all those matters they would normally have to take into account and I would presume it would take into account the debate that has occurred in the Northern Territory today about this decision. There may be a good reason to introduce legislation to fix the act because it could mean other prisoners may use the existing legislation to appeal as to when they could apply for parole, but when the bill is introduced on urgency, and when a specific prisoner’s name is used in the second reading speech, you wonder whether this is about political expediency to cover up the fact the prisoner was given information by this government four years ago; the same information was given to both the South Australian Parole Board and the South Australian Department for Correctional Services that the prisoner could apply for parole in 20 years.
Our justice system involves punishment and I support the strong punishment for murder, but it also involves rehabilitation and, by its very nature, has to be just to both prisoner and victim. In this case, justice would be better served by the ruling of an independent body, not a political fix. I recognise this is not the ideal scenario the government hoped would come from the bill it introduced. But, there is an exceptional circumstance here and I believe that exceptional circumstance requires an exceptional response. In this case, the use of the Parole Board would be the correct way for this matter to be handled, rather than via a political fix.
Dr BURNS (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I thank members opposite for their contribution. Starting first with the member for Araluen, I appreciate her support within this legislation. Basically, as I said in my second reading speech, there are two elements to this legislation. One of them is clarifying the issue of the sentencing for transitional lifers and our intent has always been very clear as a government: if there is an aggravating offence, it is at least 25 years. If there is not an aggravating offence associated with the murder that it should be 20 years. The aggravating offences are: if the murder involves a person under 18 years of age, if there is a sexual element, a sexual offence associated with the crime of murder - and in Mr Bakewell’s case there was rape as well as the murder; whether someone has prior convictions for homicide or whether there is multiple murders. That covers all the elements that need to be taken into account in terms of aggravating offences.
Although I appreciate the member for Araluen’s support, I did try to draw a parallel between the word ‘may’ as used in this amending legislation and the debate we had here last week about the Juvenile Justice Act. However, I say to the member for Araluen - who, obviously, got it so horribly wrong last week where she did not even know that serious offences were prescribed within the Juvenile Justice Act - to have another look at the amending legislation. We are talking about section 19(1) which says:
So, the words ‘the Supreme Court may’ - we include the word ‘may’ as being omitted, and substitute the following words: ‘subject to this section the Supreme Court may’. The word ‘may’ still appears there.
Member for Araluen, let us not play semantics and lawyer grammar with the word ‘may’ because, when the first legislation came in, in 2003, in debate - and I will quote from your participation in the debate, where you were talking about section 19(3). We are talking about a specific class of prisoner here. We are talking about what we call transitional prisoners. These are the prisoners who were convicted of an offence before this law was introduced in 2003 and came into effect. In other words, people like Mr Bakewell. The member for Araluen said:
In other words, the member for Araluen recognised in this legislation in 2003 - even though it contained the word ‘may’, and still does contain the word ‘may’ - there was no discretion; it was obligatory for them to serve at least 25 years if there was an aggravating offence. We need to dispense with some of these lawyer semantics. The word ‘may’ still appears in here because there are some options under the following circumstances that the Supreme Court has to consider. There are a number of options. One of those options is they can, if the evidence is there - as it is in the case of Mr Bakewell because he was actually convicted at that time of a sexual offence, along with the rape - the court is actually obliged to sentence that person to a period of at least 25 years. There are other options for the court. If the evidence of an aggravating offence is not there, of course, the court cannot impose 25 years; they have to impose 20 years.
That is why the word ‘may’ appears in this legislation, even though it completely removes the discretion of the court and makes it very clear what this government’s intentions were. It actually excludes the Supreme Court’s power to dismiss the application under the subsection if the aggravating offence is established.
That is why the word ‘may’ is in this legislation. The word ‘may’ is used in the youth justice legislation, as I explained last week, for similar reasons, because there are different pathways, if you like, that the court can take. However, it makes the legislation no less tough. It provides a clear pathway. It does not provide a layered approach, it provides a clear pathway of decision-making once those aggravating offences are said to be present.
The member for Nelson raised some good points. He tabled a letter from Peter Toyne, as former Attorney-General. If you just hold on a minute, member for Nelson – yes, my advice is that, in terms of the letter the former Attorney-General wrote, that until the 19th year that you mentioned, the parole periods are not set, so in terms of either 20 or 25 years. That is the answer I can give you on that.
I appreciate Mr Bakewell’s position in this. I understand that he has been a model prisoner and he has rehabilitated himself. However, I can only restate government’s clear intention, which was in the second reading speech when this legislation was passed in 2003, that if there are aggravating offences, that person should serve 25 years. I am sure Mr Bakewell and his lawyers are very aware that he committed an aggravating offence. He raped a 20-year-old girl and took her life. My position, and the government’s position, is that people who commit these sort of offences with an aggravating offence should be serving 25 years. That is why the government is moving retrospectively in the case of Mr Bakewell. There is another prisoner I understand could be in a similar position in that they have already been dealt with by the court and given 25 years or more and, basically, they may feel that they have been unfairly dealt with.
In the case of Mr Bakewell, the evidence is clear. He committed murder, he committed a rape, on top of that, he took the life of a 20-year-old woman and he should be serving at least 25 years. I appreciate the issues you have raised here, member for Nelson, but, as Attorney-General, I can only state the government’s position. I thank members for supporting this bill.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
In committee:
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
Mr WOOD: Madam Chair, I would like to ask some global questions about the changes, and in relation to some of what the minister has previously said.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Chair, in terms of processes, as Leader of Government Business, I suggest that we actually put the formal words, and that the member for Nelson be afforded the opportunity to ask his global questions after the putting of the words without the passage of the motion.
Mr WOOD: Madam Chair, the reason I went to committee is that I need clarification on these changes to the Sentencing (Crime of Murder) and Parole Reform Act; specifically to prisoner Bakewell’s case, because you mentioned his name in the second reading.
I need to get a better understanding - the Attorney-General said, ‘the legislation also affected existing life sentences, consequently, prisoner Bakewell has been given a non-parole period of 20 years and is eligible for consideration by the Parole Board for release on 27 February 2008’. Now, he actually specified a date. You said in response to my response to your second reading that does not mean he was eligible for parole in 20 years because there has to be a decision made as to whether his crime was one that required a punishment of 25 years. I am trying to see whether that is exactly what the Attorney-General said. Whilst I agree with what you are saying generally, is that what the Attorney-General said to the Minister for Correctional Services?
Dr BURNS: I thank the member for Nelson for his question. What we have to do is look at the process that prisoner Bakewell embarked on. He went before the Supreme Court to have his matter heard. That court found that he had to serve at least 25 years. That is my recollection of what the Supreme Court said. He did not go straight to the Parole Board. Maybe this letter should have been clearer. Still, I believe, we need to look at the legal process that prisoner Bakewell undertook. He and his lawyers went before the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. Even though he is incarcerated in South Australia he went before that court and they said ‘25 years, aggravating offence’. There was an appeal then to the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory and the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, in their view, found that they had discretion to allow Mr Bakewell to appeal to the Parole Board.
My understanding is that Mr Bakewell has appealed to the Parole Board of South Australia. That hearing, as I said last week in this place, is scheduled for mid-May. I see the letter that the former Attorney-General, Peter Toyne, wrote. I understand where your argument is coming from. At the end of the day, there is no way that Mr Bakewell could ever go straight to the Parole Board. He did not go to the Parole Board; he went to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court under the intent of the legislation that we are amending today said 25 years. Mr Bakewell and his lawyers did not accept that and then they went to the Appeal Court of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory and he was granted leave to appeal to the Parole Board.
That is the best way I can answer your question, member for Nelson.
Mr WOOD: Thank you, minister. That is the answer I wanted to hear. The only other thing was the Parole Board seemed to have the same impression. They stated that prisoner Bakewell was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, aggravated unlawful entry of dwelling house, aggravated sexual assault and stealing, and obviously under our existing law he should have received a non-parole period of 25 years.
But then it said straight after that, I presume based on their interpretation of what the Attorney-General said, a non-parole period of 20 years commencing 27 July 1998, transferred to South Australia on 15 April 2005. If you were to pick up these two letters you would say that the prisoner has been given that interpretation. That is partly perhaps the reason why that there has been some consideration since 31 May for the prisoner to be given placements in various prisons in South Australia. This letter is from the Department of Correctional Services and they developed a plan for him. The plan was he would be at Yatala Labour Prison until 31 May 2005, to Mobilong Prison until 26 February 2007 and then to the Adelaide Pre-release Centre until 26 July 2008. That gives you the impression the South Australia Parole Board believed he would be entitled to ask for parole in his 20th year.
I am not trying to diminish the fact that a prisoner should serve serious time for serious crime. I believe the processes have to be correct for everybody, whether it be a prisoner or a victim. It appears from the prisoner’s point of view that he was expecting to, at least, be given the opportunity to apply for parole.
Minister, I wonder whether you have seen all the documentation in relation to this issue; whether there needs to be more clarification when letters are sent - I do not know how prisoners have been transferred; whether there needs to be more clarification given to another state in relation to what is meant by ‘non-parole of 20 years’ to make sure this does not happen again.
Dr BURNS: Member for Nelson, I take your concerns and I thank you for raising these issues today but the response of government has to be that our intention is clear, it always has been clear in terms of those with an aggravating offence serving at least 25 years. I have tried to explain to you the process that prisoner Bakewell has embarked on through the Supreme Court to set his non-parole period which was set at 25 years. He then appealed and that appeal was upheld by the bench of the Supreme Court, the appeals bench. Government, though. is amending this legislation to make our view clear. I thank you for raising these issues today. You have done it in a very proper way and I can only restate what government’s position is.
Mr WOOD: Madam Chair, could I ask the minister for some points of clarification in relation to a prisoner that has been transferred under the Prisoner Transfer Act as to: (1) whose jurisdiction is the prisoner still under?; (2) which Parole Board would then assess that prisoner when it came to the period of finding out whether a person could have parole?; and (3) which jurisdiction actually classifies the prisoner, for instance, if he is our prisoner and he goes to South Australia, who actually makes the classification of that prisoner? I will leave it there; I have two other questions that are related. I just need to know how all this works, especially in relation to this particular prisoner.
Dr BURNS: Madam Chair, I thank the member for Nelson because they are very important questions. First, as I understand it, although these prisoners that are transferred are incarcerated within institutions in other states or territories within Australia, they are actually still under Northern Territory sentencing law. So, the sentencing part of their incarceration is still under Northern Territory law and that includes Mr Bakewell. In terms of their parole hearings and the parole processes, it is my understanding that the parole process occurs under the jurisdiction in which they are incarcerated, but, of course, that parole process must have reference to the sentencing regime within the original jurisdiction. You asked about classification and it is my understanding and my initial advice that prisoners are classified within the institution and the regime where they are incarcerated. So it would be under South Australian prisons rules.
Mr WOOD: My other two questions are: which jurisdiction says whether a prisoner can, for instance, work outside a prison; and which jurisdiction determines which prison he will be accommodated in? As I mentioned before, there is Yatala, Mobilong and the Adelaide Pre-Release Centre. So, basically, what happens is a prisoner who is transferred, his sentence stays exactly the same. If it was a 25 year non-parole period sentence the South Australian Department for Correctional Services must abide by that ruling, but the manner in which the prisoner is managed within the South Australian correctional facilities and the decisions about parole are all done under the jurisdiction of the South Australian government?
Dr BURNS: Yes, member for Nelson that is correct, but as I say it is still under the umbrella of Northern Territory Sentencing Act.
Mr WOOD: That is all the questions I have, Madam Chair.
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.
Bill reported; report adopted.
Dr BURNS (Justice and Attorney-General): 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 2008.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, since I was privileged to be elected to this parliament eight-and-a-half years ago, my main aim has been to make a real difference for Territory families. Indeed, it was my motivation for joining the Labor Party; a party whose central philosophy has always been concerned with improving the lives of working families throughout the Territory. Since becoming Chief Minister, making that difference for Territory families has been, front and centre, the primary objective of this government.
Budget 2008-09 will deliver for Territory families. Budget 2008-09 maintains the Territory’s great reputation as the lowest taxing jurisdiction for small and medium business, with reductions again in payroll tax and stamp duty. It is delivering for Territory families throughout the Territory through record expenditure on infrastructure; bringing Labor’s total infrastructure investment to $4.3bn since 2001. This year’s budget provides a record spend of $719m for education and training, up 51% since 2001. Budget 2008-09’s health allocation also stands at a record $915m, an increase in funding of 89% since 2001.
I will speak now in relation to my portfolio responsibilities, first Police, Fire and Emergency Services. The pursuit of the right for all Territory families to peacefully enjoy safe, secure neighbourhoods has always been the hallmark of Labor in government. We inherited a police force in the Territory that had been cynically allowed to rundown in personnel and equipment. It has been a long and difficult process to overcome the decade of neglect that had been dealt to the Northern Territory community under the CLP. However, strengthening and growing our police force is a task we have committed ourselves to over the years since then, with the force now expanded by 200 personnel - and there is more to come.
Budget 2008-09 will provide a further boost to police numbers in the Territory, maintaining our police force as the fastest growing in the nation. Sixty extra police will be trained and employed as part of our $9.3m Safer Streets plan, with $4.2m towards this in 2008-09. This initiative will boost the police in uniform to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in the streets of our urban centres. In addition, the police will take on an extra 10 auxiliary positions. With the 40 extra police provided through Closing the Gap, Budget 2008-09 provides for 110 more police resources by 2009-10 than last year.
Budget 2008-09 will see the commencement of a major technology upgrade to police communications with $5.16m this year towards a $13m program expansion on Police, Fire and Emergency Services’ digital radio network. This will make a major contribution to police response capacity in making our streets safer. Another $650 000 will be dedicated to monitoring the Darwin CBD closed circuit television network. An additional $2.5m will go towards a $7.34m allocation to the new Casuarina Police Station.
Increased community safety in our remote regions is a centrepiece of Closing the Gap. The Child Abuse Task Force, a joint project with Family and Community Services, will see a $4.2m expansion in Alice Springs and Darwin. Alongside this will be $2.3m to enhance remote area policing as part of Closing the Gap.
The road toll is an ongoing concern for all of us in the Territory. This year will see continuing funding of $1.32m towards the highway and remote areas patrols based in Alice Springs and Katherine. Our Fire and Emergency Services personnel are a crucial element in ensuring community safety in the Territory. This year will see ongoing allocations of $500 000 for the major appliance replacement program.
In the coming year, this will see new tankers for the Pine Creek and Batchelor Fire and Emergency Response groups. There will be a further $310 000 this year, to enhance the capability for the Northern Territory Emergency Service, with $270 000 ongoing 2009-10.
Close cooperation with the Commonwealth is important in a number of areas. There will be ongoing support of $4.43m from the Australian government for the Airport Policing Initiative and, in 2008-09, the Commonwealth will contribute $3.44m to upgrade temporary police stations in Central Australia. This is in addition to the $7.76m to build the Galiwinku Police Station and accommodation. This will provide a permanent police presence to our third-largest remote township.
Security of Territory citizens remains a key responsibly for government. In 2007-008, the government moved to appoint a senior executive to oversee the Territory’s strategic level coordination of security, counterterrorism and emergency recovery. The Territory government continues to work closely with federal government to ensure our joint approach to security and counterterrorism is seamless, and we have appropriate mechanisms and capabilities in place to deal with potential threats. The new initiatives include the establishment of a Territory Crisis Centre to facilitate communication with other jurisdictions in the event of a serious emergency, and the establishment of a Cabinet sub-committee with specific responsibility for security and emergency matters.
I would like now to speak about major projects and trade. As I told the Assembly last week the Territory is at the threshold of both consolidating and diversifying our economy; with long-term benefits for Territory families. Of course, we have benefited from global shifts and activity to the Asia Pacific, and the sustained growth of economies such as China and India. In this, the Territory has a competitive advantage in being the logical trade gateway to the north, but our current good fortune has not happened by accident. It has come from a careful, level-headed approach to strategic economic growth through major projects, while spinning off maximum benefits to small and medium size Territory companies. It has come through an absolute commitment by us to creating an environment that actively encourages investment by the private sector, big and small. Attracting new industries to establish themselves in the Territory, such as onshore gas-based developments and opening new international trade markets will be the catalyst for long-term economic benefits. This will result in direct infrastructure investment and construction activity, new job and training opportunities, new downstream manufacturing growth, and support for goods and services from existing Territory-based businesses. This means increased wealth generation and improved quality of life for Territory families.
Development of major gas fields in the Timor Sea and beyond is an integral part of government’s plan for the economic development of the Territory. We have a vision and a strategy in place on how Darwin should develop over the next five to 10 years. LNG expansion and the establishment of downstream gas industries are two priorities within that plan. Of course, attracting INPEX to Darwin is part of that. As the Assembly is aware, my government signed a Project Facilitation Agreement with INPEX on 27 February 2008, and I met with the Chairman and President of INPEX in Japan on 14 March 2008. Both were aimed to promote Darwin’s case for the Ichthys Project.
Whilst we are still the underdogs, we will continue to work hard to make a strong case for Darwin and to facilitate INPEX’s consideration of the Middle Arm site. This project alone will involve two new trains of gas coming onshore, $12bn-worth of direct investment, 3000 to 4000 jobs during construction, several hundred jobs when operational, and provide further downstream manufacturing opportunities.
The AustralAsia Trade Route: government has taken steps to strength its whole-of- government coordination of key development priorities and strategic challenges facing the AustralAsia Trade Route. The new strategic challenges being immediately addressed include the capacity of Darwin and its port and rail infrastructure to cater for future growth and bulk mineral exports; FreightLink’s capacity to handle international container trade; the impact of new gas industry developments at Middle Arm; further growth of the Darwin Business Park; and, consideration of private sector investment proposals.
Establishing shipping links with Indonesia and greater South-East Asia to support our mining supply trade has been a clear priority for government in developing the AustralAsia Trade Route. We have been actively facilitating the interests of a range of regional Asian shipping lines and Indonesian mining procurement executives to consider Darwin as a logical place of supply and service.
The second Indonesian Mining Procurement Forum was held in Darwin 13 April 2008. The highlight was the attendance of six major Indonesian miners, who delivered keynote addresses to the 150 delegates from local and interstate companies; looking at the opportunities to supply products and services to Indonesia via Darwin.
Perkins Shipping announced its first cargo call to Balikpapan, Indonesia in April this year, handling project freight to be delivered to mining companies. Swires Shipping has announced their Asia to Darwin service. Shipping frequency will provide a fortnightly service commencing in May 2008. This will offer a regular direct service from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam to Darwin. In addition, Swires Shipping has upgraded its service frequency from the Australian east coast export service to South East Asia to two sailings a month. These will now see the company making four calls each month at East Arm Port. MOCEAN Shipping continues to provide direct services between Indonesia and Darwin. Operations commenced in July 2007, and MOCEAN has introduced a second vessel joining the Territory trade of sailing between South East Asia and northern Australia. This service has also begun to call at Hai Phongin Vietnam, providing regular shipping connections for companies supporting oil and gas drilling programs based in Darwin.
In addition, Northern Territory companies are now provided with direct links to Surabaya as the gateway for the mining support products and services destined for the large mining and oil and gas operations in eastern Indonesia. HaiWin Shipping established a regular monthly service to China and Darwin in January 2006. The monthly service is operating well with a record cargo volume of 700 containers being discharged in Darwin in December 2007, demonstrating high growth and the importance of direct linkages in the China trade. HaiWin introduced their own charter vessel, MV Blankenese, in March 2008, operating between Shanghai, Qingdao and Darwin every month.
This is also a budget that continues to build on our investment in the Port of Darwin with an additional $60m in the 2008-09 financial year. The Darwin Business Park continues to be a key part of the development of the AustralAsia trade route. Fourteen parcels within the Business Park are currently contracted or subject to formal or informal reservations. Latest construction activity includes over $40m completed or under construction including: Toll’s $3m transport and logistics base - development now complete; Shaws Transport’s $8.5m developments of new transport and logistics warehouse facility - now complete; Gwelo Development scheduled to commence construction of a 7000 m warehouse storage facility in June 2008; Dawson Diesel’s $8m, 7 ha development including 2 ha under roof facilities, commenced January 2008; AMCOR’s $1.5m warehouse currently under construction; Top Class Fruit’s $4m, temperature-controlled warehouse facility proposed for handling of import/export of fresh produce will commence construction later this year; the Arnhem Progress Association joint venture with Metcash, a $20m warehouse facility has commenced construction; and, Glimmer’s $1.5m warehouse is expected to commence construction late this year.
That is an amazing roll call of developments at the Business Park. It is fantastic to see and I urge members to get out there to see the work that is taking place.
Another key trade development is with bulk mineral ore exports being unlocked along the rail corridor in the Territory and southern Australian regions. The first bulk manganese exports to China from Bootu Creek commenced in May 2006. We have directly facilitated this trade through the new $24m bulk handling facilities at East Arm Port. In February 2008, East Arm Port handled Territory Resource’s sixth shipment of Frances Creek iron ore to China, a total of 420 000 tonnes handled by the new bulk loader.
In July 2007, Oxiana Resources committed to ship 250 000 tonnes of copper concentrate per annum from their Prominent Hill operation in South Australia to Asia via Darwin. First exports are scheduled for mid to late 2008. IMX Resources and Western Plains Resources are South Australian-based companies developing iron ore resource projects in the Coober Pedy region and expect to produce 2m tonnes of iron ore for Chinese markets over the next 10 to 15 years. IMX and Western Plains are proposing to use Darwin’s bulk loading facilities and intend to commence production and export in early 2009.
My government is clearly focused on developing new trade opportunities for Territory business. International trade just does not happen by accident. It is the result of continued efforts and relationship building. We have a clear agenda and specific markets to focus on. Our efforts are consistent and concentrated. Our key markets are China, Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam. Notwithstanding this, Territory business can and will seek opportunities in all corners of the world. My government will continue to support those activities primarily through our Trade Support Scheme. This scheme provides direct financial assistance to Territory-based businesses conducting offshore international marketing activities, but also through direct support and coordination of other industry-led trade missions, such as the recent International Business Council delegation to the Guangzhou Trade Fair in April.
The most recent Territory government trade missions include:
As we say in our Skilled Worker Campaign, the Territory is the best place to live, work and raise a family. We are experiencing strong economic growth and our economy is set to perform solidly over the coming years. Our skill shortages are exacerbated by the export boom and a series of major infrastructure construction and minerals projects. We are addressing the Territory’s skilled worker shortage through a number of key initiatives including investment in education and training, targeted incentives to employers and students, the Overseas Business and Skilled Migration program, and our Skilled Worker Campaign.
Our Skilled Worker Campaign, coordinated by my department, began in 2005 and has run every year since. The key objective of the campaign is to bring as many workers to the Northern Territory from interstate as possible. The 2007 Skilled Worker Campaign included an extensive advertising campaign and interstate information evenings. At the information evenings, participants learned about how many jobs were on offer in the Territory, how to find jobs and how to get information about accommodation, education and health services. The 2007 Skilled Worker Campaign resulted in 1100 people registering their skills and work experience in the potential candidate database. This information was then provided to the Northern Territory recruitment sector.
‘The Territory’ website has played a major role in the campaign. In August 2007 alone, the website received over 46 000 hits. Of these, around 2500 viewed the Skilled Worker Campaign section of the website and 350 people registered their interest to work in the Territory. This year the Skilled Worker Campaign promoted the Territory at the Mitsubishi Jobs Expo in Adelaide. The campaign promoted the benefits of living and working in the Territory to the Mitsubishi workers from the factory which will close down this year. The Skilled Worker Campaign will continue in 2008 with advertisements featuring in national newspapers and magazines.
The Chamber of Commerce was briefed about this year’s campaign in April and has indicated strong support for it. Other industry associations will be briefed over the coming months. All business will benefit from the Skilled Worker Campaign. This year, the campaign will make the potential candidate database available to the private sector. This means that Territory businesses will have access to hundreds of interstate workers who have registered their interest in working in the Territory.
I would now like to talk about the Darwin City Waterfront. It is an exciting year for the waterfront development. Completion of the convention centre, wave lagoon and other water recreation facilities, promenades and parks, hotels, restaurants and residences will open up a whole new playground for the community, tourists and business in the city. The operators of the convention centre, AEG Ogden, have now taken possession of this first class facility and are preparing for functions to commence with 26 conventions, three exhibitions and numerous banquets already booked to bring in excess of 8000 delegates into Darwin. Significant opportunities for tourism, business and showcasing our wonderful city will spin off from the functions soon to be held at the new convention centre.
Water recreation will be a fantastic aspect of this precinct. The opening of the much anticipated wave lagoon later this year is certainly exciting and will be a great way to beat the heat next Wet Season. Vibe and Medina Hotels will also be completed later in the financial year, as will the first stage of residential and commercial developments. These developments are fully funded from the private sector and will deliver substantial returns to the Territory. Local companies have enjoyed in excess of $170m in contracts being awarded thus far on the waterfront and the gross state product of this great project is expected to generate $350m.
I would like to speak now about my portfolio of Climate Change. I established the Climate Change portfolio last year as a direct signal to the Territory as to the importance we see climate change having on Territory families. The Climate Change Policy and Coordination Unit within the Department of Chief Minister was set up with funding of $200 000 for two years. The role and resourcing of the unit will be reviewed following the launch of the Territory’s climate change policy in February 2009. We have also established a climate change focus group with broad community representation. Government is leading the way on reducing its carbon footprint. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure will provide more details but government has allocated $2m in the 2008-09 minor new works program for energy efficiency improvements in government buildings.
An analysis of actual savings in 2006-07 resulting from agency investment in energy efficiency projects found an average 2.9-year payback period equivalent to a 37% return on investment. This very positive level of financial return reflects findings in recent national and international studies: that investment in building energy efficiency is one of the most effective methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Minister for Business, Economic and Regional Development will provide more details on the new program to assist small to medium enterprises improve their environmental performance and business competitiveness through more effective use of energy. Part of the program will involve training for energy management professionals, particularly energy assessors - a new and growing business opportunity - and tradespeople, particularly electricians and plumbers. Energy efficiency is usually the most cost-effective way to reduce energy use for business. Experience in other jurisdictions shows that this type of education and intervention is required to stimulate the market. There will be further development and implementation of the ‘Energy Smart Schools’ program which builds on the success of the Schools Energy Blitz project. The Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage will explain how we are developing a range of initiatives to help households focus on improving our energy efficiency at home.
I now turn to Information, Communications and Technology Policy. I took on the responsibility for this portfolio because the particular circumstances of the Territory mean this is an area in which we should be at the forefront of development in Australia and internationally. With our small population spread sparsely over a large area, the Territory’s use of advanced communications and computing technology is essential if we are to overcome the challenges of geography and demography. The Territory can and should be a leader in electronic services delivery, particularly in the areas of health, education and e-government support to business.
A fundamental requirement is access to adequate telecommunications infrastructure. This is an important issue for the Territory. We are the only remaining jurisdiction in Australia where the interstate fibre optic links are owned by one telecommunications provider. This makes it difficult for any other provider to provide competitive broadband services with resulting higher costs. The issue is more serious in remote areas of the Territory. Only 13 of 113 remote communities with a population of over 100 people have access to terrestrial cable telecommunications. Whilst a number of communities have access to broadband via satellite, the maximum capacity currently achievable is insufficient to operate health or police information systems. Satellite links also provide insufficient capacity to support two-way interactive video for virtual classroom learning, remote court sessions, case conferencing, or remote professional support and training. Most people take e-mail and Internet access for granted, yet many cannot access these services. The absence of such basic services makes remote recruitment and retention of staff for essential services even more difficult. It has the potential to limit the development of remote enterprise and, hence, limits the creation of local employment.
While traditionally telecommunications infrastructure was a Commonwealth policy and funding responsibility, because of the importance of this issue for the Territory, I have asked the Department of Corporate and Information Services to explore options for us to engage with the Commonwealth and with industry to achieve improved telecommunications access. The Commonwealth has recently tendered $4.7bn for ‘fibre-to-the–node’ telecommunications infrastructure. Whilst designed to cater for 98% of the Australian population, it may result in little benefit for Territorians.
I have met with Senator Conroy, the Commonwealth minister for Communications, and written to the Prime Minister about this issue. There is another Commonwealth $400m earmarked to respond to the needs of the remaining 2% of the population, including most of the Territory. Our representatives have appeared before the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee charged with making recommendations to the Commonwealth on telecommunication needs of remote Australia. We will be providing a submission to this committee before July.
If the Northern Territory is to be a leader in electronic services delivery, we need service applications appropriate to our needs in areas such as health, education and e-government to support business. We have started with services provided through the Territory Business Centres. The Education department has had distance education programs for a number of years. The Department of Health and Community Services is a national leader in the development and implementation of electronic information systems for health services. It is time to build on these achievements and take them to the next level.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, do you mind if I interrupt to recognise these students? I advise honourable members of the presence in the gallery of Years 10-12 Intensive English Unit at Darwin High School, accompanied by their teacher, Ms Jenny Jenkinson. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, Chief Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I warmly welcome, together with my colleagues, the students to the parliament today. It is great to see you.
Madam Speaker, we want Territorians to have access to the same electronic information and educational resources as the citizens of New York, London or Paris. In remote areas, it will be essential to develop capacity to deliver some schooling by means of virtual classrooms with two-way interactive video. It will be essential to provide distance support and training to remote professionals. We need to be able to transmit diagnostic images from remote health centres and regional hospitals to specialists in bigger hospitals. DCIS will tender for a consultancy to assess the current state of development of electronic service delivery in the Territory, and to map the key steps we need to take to advance electronic service delivery. Territorians have demonstrated that we can be at the forefront of innovation, and can be a leader in the development and implementation of electronic services which are adapted to our particular needs and circumstances.
Speaking now of Multicultural Affairs, one of the most exciting things about living in the Territory is our multicultural community. It is what makes us unique. Where else but the Territory would there be such great events as the Glenti Festival? Support for the vibrant Northern Territory multicultural communities continues to be strong in 2008-09. The Northern Territory government will provide:
Major Events: one of the things that makes the Territory the best place to live, work and raise a family is through the events staged and assisted by the Major Events Company. It gives Territorians access to events that simply would not be available to us. BassintheGrass and BassintheDust are great examples of this. The Northern Territory Major Events Company is a government-owned company established under the corporations’ law. The company’s charter is to concentrate support to the largest events available to the Territory, as well as events that have the greatest growth potential. The role is to attract, develop and support special events providing economic benefits, tourism, media and social enhancement. The government is building the Territory as being a place to live and our diverse range of lifestyle events strongly appeal to Territorians.
Major Events is involved in the organising, management and funding of: the Arafura Games; the Alice Springs Masters Games; V8 Supercars; BassintheGrass and BassintheDust music festivals, the Finke Desert Race; the Barkly Muster and Gold Rush Campdraft in Tennant Creek; Garma Festival; and the Hottest Rugby 7’s. Major Events also provides in-kind support and sponsorship to the World Solar Challenge, Elton John, and the Anaconda Mountain Bike Event in Alice Springs.
Budget 2008-09 delivers for Territory families but, just as importantly, will continue to deliver into the future. Budget 2008-09 builds on seven years of solid work by this government; seven years in which we have turned the Territory around from a stagnant economy to one which is the fastest growing in Australia. Budget 2008-09 gives further confidence to the private sector to continue and expand investments, from small business through to national and international investment. Budget 2008-09 increases public safety, improves our health and education systems, and delivers on community services. It continues to deliver significant tax cuts and ensures that our small and medium businesses are the least taxed in Australia. Budget 2008-09 also, importantly, delivers on Closing the Gap.
Madam Speaker, I congratulate the Treasurer and I commend Budget 2008-09 to the House.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Deputy Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I support the budget and congratulate the Treasurer on her first budget. It continues to build on the strong fiscal management that has been the hallmark of budgetary management under the Labor government since its first mini-budget in late 2001, while, at the same time, continues to move the Territory ahead with a focus on delivering for Territory families. It takes the long view, especially with its emphasis on the Closing the Gap program. What this means is simple: while this budget provides immediate benefits across many portfolios, including my own, it also continues to build the foundations for long-term benefit for the Northern Territory.
I now turn to my portfolios. Employment and Training: this year sees a record budget of $719m, an increase of 51% since 2001 and an extra $53m or 8% on the 2006-07 actual costs. Education makes up the most significant spend at $621m, with Employment at $33m and Training at $66m.
Our school system will serve 33 390 students in 2008-09 from preschool to senior school. A further 10 000 students attend non-government schools. Additional operational funding of $7.3m in 2008-09 has been provided as part of the five year commitment of $43.6m in operational funding and $37.8m for infrastructure to close the educational outcome gap between indigenous and non-indigenous students.
Budget 2008-09 continues to boost education infrastructure. New building programs include $2m for Alawa Primary School, $2m for Leanyer Primary School, $1m for Malak Primary School, $2m for Ross Park Primary School, $2m for Nakara Primary School, and $9.5m has been provided for headworks to prepare for a new primary and middle school at Rosebery. Budget 2008-09 will see $6.3m provided for minor new works and $26.81m for repairs and maintenance to schools.
Further Budget 2008-09 education highlights include: funding of $9.38m to continue the Building Better Schools initiatives to improve the quality and delivery of secondary education programs; $2.6m for the National Accelerated Literacy program to improve the literacy skills of students who have failed to make appropriate literacy gains in school; and $1.9m to continue the Back to School payment to parents to assist with schooling costs.
Other points of note for 2008-09 include:
Transforming indigenous education: the 2008-09 Budget provides a sound foundation for the implementation of the Transforming Indigenous Education projects I announced in the Assembly last week. Budget 2008-09 provides $19.34m to implement initiatives aimed at Closing the Gap of Indigenous Disadvantage including:
In terms of employment and training, the Northern Territory has the highest per capita commitment to employment and training programs in Australia. In 2008-09, we anticipate 2650 apprenticeships and traineeships commencement, exceeding the four year commitment of 10 000 commencements as part of Jobs Plan 3, which this year will be funded $5.76m as part of the government’s four year commitment to Jobs Plan 3. In 2008-09, there will be 3300 apprentices in training, while this year we will have 22 500 VET enrolments with nearly 2000 in more than one VET program.
Moving on to work health and safety: there will be further and additional outlays in the area of work health and safety with an additional $770 000 for the Working Safer package to support the commencement of the new Workplace Health and Safety Act.
Moving on to my portfolio responsibilities for families and children: on 1 July, the Northern Territory Families and Children Division will be formed within the new Department of Health and Families. This will bring together services that now include child protection, foster care, youth support and juvenile diversion. A key element of the new arrangements will be an additional $2.5m for youth at risk by building on existing family and youth services and the new Family Responsibility program. An additional $550 000 will be available for the implementation of the new Care and Protection Of Children Act 2007, specifically for the Children’s Commissioner, Children’s Services regulations, and support for young people leaving care.
The appointment of the Children’s Commissioner is a specific recommendation of the Little Children are Sacred Report. The Commissioner will focus on investigating complaints relating to protected children. Closing the Gap initiatives have $4.1m allocated towards them. Further highlights of the portfolio include: $1.7m for additional child protection workers across the Northern Territory; establishment of a therapeutic services team and residential care; an additional $850 000 to develop and fund culturally secure Aboriginal child protection and family support services in regional centres that are able to support vulnerable families to better care for their children; and $200 000 for indigenous family violence programs. The programs will support the continued development of community-based anti-violence programs in remote areas of the Northern Territory.
Additional funding of $500 000 is allocated for the expansion of the Child Abuse Taskforce, first established in 2007, including formalising arrangements in Alice Springs and Katherine. Additional staff members will increase investigative activities in remote communities in conjunction with police, and a further $0.3m to fund the expansion of the sexual assault referral centre service in Darwin as well as to enhance services to remote regions; establishment of a new sexual assault referral centre service in Katherine, and new accommodation and expansion in Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. The final instalment, $2m, of the five-year Caring for Children reform package will be made to continue the enhancement of service support programs for children in the care of the minister.
Budget 2008-09 will also see $640 000 additional funding provided to the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program in 2008-09 to address the needs of individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and to respond to family violence in remote communities. There is also $250 000 funding for parenting and intensive family support for refugee families in Darwin, through the Melaleuca Refugee Centre in Rapid Creek.
I move on to the Office of Indigenous Policy, Closing the Gap. On 20 August 2007, the Northern Territory government launched Closing the Gap of Indigenous Disadvantage: A Generational Plan of Action, aimed at addressing the gap in outcomes between indigenous and non-indigenous Territorians within a generation. The government has committed more than $286m to the implementation of Closing the Gap in the first five years, in recognition of the importance of overcoming indigenous disadvantage and addressing child abuse.
An operational group, comprised of senior public servants at the Deputy Chief Executive and Deputy Secretary level, are managing the implementation and monitoring of Closing the Gap. The group will then report on progress and outcomes to the Chief Executives’ Taskforce on Indigenous Affairs. Agencies have commenced implementing the various initiatives in Closing the Gap, and are making good progress so far. Some of the highlights include:
The Australian government is directing funds towards Closing the Gap. Through Closing the Gap, we identified areas for negotiation with the Australian government. The Northern Territory government and the Australian government are working in partnership to develop a long-term approach to addressing indigenous disadvantage that goes beyond the Australian government’s current intervention.
On indigenous population mobility and urban drift, significant effort is currently being focused on understanding the extent and reasons for urban drift, particularly given the widespread assumption that this drift is being caused by the Australian government’s intervention. The findings, to date, can be characterised as anecdotal and/or based on very broad and, potentially, unreliable population increase estimates from several non-government service providers. In Alice Springs, Tangentyere Council proposes to undertake qualitative research projects relating to the Northern Territory Emergency Response with funding for this report to be shared between Oxfam and Caritas Australia. The focus will be on the collection of qualitative data in the form of case studies that portray the personal and social impacts for individual Aboriginal people living in the town camps of Alice Springs. Case stories of 25 people from Alice Springs town camps will be documented, and it is anticipated that this report will be finalised to coincide with the Australian government’s review of the Northern Territory Emergency Response.
Northern Territory Treasury and the Department of Justice are currently working on a project which will provide evidence-based research through a statistical snapshot of urban drift from current data sources in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs. The results of this research are anticipated in May this year.
In relation to the CDEP review, the Australian government’s welfare reform agenda introduced a range of policy changes to CDEP, including the progressive closing of CDEP to permit income management under the Northern Territory Emergency Response. The new Australian government has suspended the unfinished program of CDEP closures, and has announced its intention to reforming the current system of CDEP delivery. Last week, the Commonwealth announced the interim restoration of CDEP to the 30 communities and towns from which it had been eliminated.
The Commonwealth has sought the Northern Territory government’s views on a revised CDEP program. In March 2008, the Northern Territory government, through the Office of Indigenous Policy, or OIP, prepared a CDEP discussion paper. Interested stakeholders, including communities and interested individuals, were invited to have their say through a submission process. The deadline for submissions closed on 26 April 2008, and a consultation process is being planned to refine the understanding developed from the original discussion paper and the submissions received in response to that paper. It is anticipated that this CDEP consultation will be closely aligned with the consultation process required for the development of an outstation policy following the transfer of responsibility for outstations to the Northern Territory government, effective from 1 July 2008.
I turn to the Homelands Policy Development. The Northern Territory government acknowledges the critical role that homelands or outstations play in the economic and social fabric of the Northern Territory today. Since self-government in 1978, responsibility for the delivery of essential and municipal services on homelands has lain solely with the Australian government. Under an MOU signed in September 2007, the Northern Territory government will assume this responsibility on 1 July 2008. This shift in responsibility provides an opportunity to work with homeland service agencies and residents to improve the quality of services provided. To that end, the Office of Indigenous Policy is working across government to develop a comprehensive and evidence-led whole-of-government homelands policy.
Given the importance of this reform and the complexity of its interrelations with other policy and program reform in Indigenous Affairs, it is essential that our policy process be conducted in a staged and evidence-led manner. We are, therefore, developing our policy over an 18 month period. There are, of course, immediate matters at hand and the government is actively dealing with these issues.
My colleague, the Minister for Local Government, has advised outstation resource agencies that those historically in receipt of Australian government funding for essential and municipal services to homelands, and who will not be absorbed into the shires from 1 July, that their current funding arrangements will remain in place for the 2008-09 financial year. This has provided those on the front line of service delivery with the necessary peace of mind for effective operations and forward planning. We are also engaging in a comprehensive community engagement strategy, involving key stakeholders in workshops across the Territory, providing the detail of our homelands policy process and an understanding of the work that is ahead of us over the coming 18 months.
Leasing for government infrastructure on Aboriginal land: the Northern Territory government has decided that all government infrastructure located on Aboriginal land should be underpinned by a form of leasing appropriate to its use and economic life, and section 19 leases under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act are such a mechanism. Standard template section 19 leases are being developed to underpin different categories of government infrastructure, commencing with housing. Discussions are under way with land councils to that end. Ultimately, the term of each lease will have to be negotiated on an individual basis. It is preferred that, as a starting point, rental is based on the unserviced value of the land, or peppercorn value, where there is significant community benefit accruing. Apart from leased rental, there will be associated government expenditure in terms of strategic and town planning, and survey requirements. Template leases will facilitate expending the significant investment committed by both Australian and Territory governments in construction of housing and infrastructure in remote areas and town camps, and ensure smooth delivery of the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program.
In terms of the strategic intervention sites, for the past three years, the Northern Territory and Australian governments have worked in partnership to improve the coordination and delivery of services to select indigenous communities across the Northern Territory. This initiative stems from the Overarching Agreement on Indigenous Affairs between the governments signed in April 2005. This cross-government work in strategic intervention sites predates the Northern Territory’s emergency response of the Australian government by several years and, importantly, includes local community as the primary stakeholder with the Northern Territory and Australian governments.
The strategic intervention approach to specific communities has provided increased resources, for policing in the case of Wadeye, and improved coordination of both governments service delivery. At present, this approach has been adopted in various forms in the indigenous communities of Wadeye, Mutitjulu, Galiwinku and Groote Eylandt.
At Groote Eylandt, the Northern Territory government has been working closely with the Australian government and the Anindilyakwa Land Council to develop a regional partnership agreement. The cornerstone of the agreement is the long-term leasing of the communities of Angurugu, Umbakumba and Milyakburra. Flowing from this are a wide range of community benefits, safeguarded with housing, health, community safety and economic development. At Galiwinku, the Northern Territory government has adopted a similarly intensive approach and, along with our partners the Australian government, has again worked closely with the local community to design an effective approach to government service delivery to the community. Guided by the community, the particular focus of our joint efforts at Galiwinku has been on the community’s safety initiatives. In practice, this has resulted in the Northern Territory and Australian governments entering into an agreement in relation to the construction of police facilities on the island and their policing by the Northern Territory government.
Moving on to my portfolio of Arts and Museums. Responsibility for the Arts and Museums Portfolio includes responsibility for two of the Department of Natural Resources Environment and the Arts Output Groups, specifically, within the Scientific and Cultural Collections Output Group the Outputs of Museums and Art Galleries of the NT and Archives and both the Arts and Screen Sector and Araluen Centre within the Arts and Screen Industry Support Output Group.
Budget 2008-09 sees a continuation of the significant support and funding this government has given to the preservation and understanding of the Territory’s history and culture, providing opportunities for Territorians to benefit from our cultural richness as a source of inspiration, innovation and personal and economic growth.
In addition to ongoing funding to operate our cultural institutions such as the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, which receives $11.3m, the Strehlow Research Centre which receives $0.5m and the Araluen Centre which receives $4.2m, this budget incorporates some significant initiatives in the area of Arts and Museums.
I have announced the development of Building Our Museum Sector - a 10-year plan for the museum sector. Two major collections, MAGNT at Bullocky Point and the Araluen Centre in Alice Springs were both established 20 to 25 years ago. This budget includes a commitment to ensure we continue to have a Museum and Art Gallery for all Territorians with $1.3m in capital works to completely replace the airconditioning in the museum at Bullocky Point, Darwin. Effective climate control is central to the collection, preservation and public enjoyment of our wonderful museum. The new system will enable Territorians to have access to national and international exhibitions such as the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, the joint program with the government of East Timor, From the Hands of our Ancestors, and an exchange program with the Shanghai Art Museum in 2010.
This budget is the first in which the Northern Territory Archives is part of my portfolio. NT Archives preserves and provides access to government and community archive collections and fits well with the other scientific and cultural collections managed by the Department of National Resources, Environment and the Arts. NT Archives has an allocation of $1.6m.
This government has continually supported Territory artists and Budget 2008-09 continues this high level of funding and support for artistic development of the Territory, through the Arts and Screen Sector support output group with an allocation of $13.1m. This funding provides financial and other support to develop and promote the art sector in the Territory as well as support, develop and grow the Territory’s Screen industry.
Importantly, Budget 2008-09 contains continued funding for the Building Strong Arts Business initiative, a critical program aimed at assisting our highly talented indigenous artists develop economic opportunities and for whole communities to benefit from their art. Since 2003, the Building Strong Arts Business initiative has recorded many significant achievements. It has enabled the growing success of the Northern Territory Indigenous Music Awards which provides invaluable showcasing opportunities for indigenous musicians. It has provided continued support to the Desert Mob annual exhibition and marketplace which has helped to provide increased economic returns to artists working in the central region. The initiative has encouraged export opportunities for indigenous art and has fostered whole-of-government delivery of economic and social outcomes through the interdepartmental committee that meets regularly.
Many strategic initiatives have been funded which have provided increased employment and economic opportunities for indigenous artists across all art forms including literature and the performing arts. Funding of $4.2m is provided for the Araluen Centre output to deliver, facilitate and promote performing arts, cinema, visual arts and tourism programs and attractions for locals and visitors to Central Australia. Other events such as the Desert Mob exhibition and marketplace, the Alice Springs Beanie Festival, and the Alice Desert Festival Wearable Arts Acquisition Awards are key features of the Araluen program.
The Territory is the host of the 2008 National Regional Arts Australia Conference titled Art at the Heart which will be held in Alice Springs in October 2008. This conference is underwritten by the funding provided in this budget to the Arts and Screen Sector output.
Office of Women’s Policy: through the recently released Building on our Strength – A Framework for Action for Women in the Northern Territory, the Northern Territory government identified some priorities to be addressed and what will be continued to be done to improve the lives of all women in the Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can I just interrupt you. Do you have a lot more to go?
Ms SCRYMGOUR: No, I only have one page, Madam Speaker.
The Office of Women’s Policy’s chief task will be to engage with women throughout the Territory and to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Women’s framework. Combined with this the following will be provided:
Debate suspended.
Continued from earlier this day.
Dr BURNS (Health): Madam Speaker, I am proud to support today the Treasurer’s 2008-09 Budget. This is a budget that truly delivers for Territory families and all Territorians. It delivers better health and wellbeing outcomes, better safety in our suburbs and communities, and a stronger justice system to deal with wrongdoers.
Once again, there is a major increase in the health budget, continuing the precedent set when we first came to government, and acknowledging the work we had to do to build up a health system that had been suffering from years of neglect. The budget for health and families in 2008-09, from all funding sources, will be $915.1m. This is an 89% increase, almost a doubling of the allocation since 2001. It is a challenge facing health systems worldwide that, as we improve health outcomes and expand the range of services available, the demand for health services inevitably increases. That is why this $915.1m is carefully focused on the areas that will have the greatest impact to improve the health of all Territorians.
Most importantly, government is providing extra resources for the front line of the Northern Territory health system, more beds, more staff, improved facilities, new equipment, and state-of-the-art diagnostic tools. We are proud to have a consistently strengthened the frontline health workforce since 2001. Doctor numbers have increased by 137 to 409 full-time equivalents by mid-March this year, a 50% increase in doctors in our public health system across the Territory since 2001. We have continued to build the nursing workforce since 2001, increasing full-time equivalent nursing positions by 343, bringing the total to 1665 FTEs by mid-March this year, an increase of 26%.
That is in stark contrast to what the CLP did in the late 1990s, where they stripped 200 nurses out of the nursing workforce. I have here - and I have tabled it before in this House - an extract from the Territory Health Services Annual Report which shows, year-by-year, the decrease in nursing numbers within the Northern Territory under the CLP government. Maybe I will wait till estimates time. I will keep that graph there ready for when the member for Greatorex starts to make assertions about nursing workforce and workforce issues. I will be able to demonstrate to him completely and unequivocally, with an impeccable source which is the Territory Health Services Annual Report, just how the CLP stripped out nursing numbers – 200 nurses from our nursing workforce. We are a government that is investing in our nursing workforce. As I said before, 1665 by mid-March, an increase of 26%.
We are seeing positive gains from these investments in the most critical areas of need. We are seeing a strong, consistent improvement in the health status of Aboriginal people; a three-year improvement in life expectancy for Territory Aboriginal women; a 35% fall in the NT Aboriginal infant mortality rates; and survival rates for clients on kidney dialysis have significantly improved, particularly in Central Australia. There is, of course, much more to do, but it shows that we are on the right track, and we will, and must, continue to make significant gains.
I now turn to some of the specifics of this record health budget - a real record, a far cry from previous administrations that desperately resorted to winding back targeted expenditure in one year, simply to throw it into the following in an effort to claim record spending of health. I well remember when I came into this place as a newly elected member to discover, to my horror, that the previous CLP government, in a number of areas including health, had wound back the estimates of expenditure in the 2000-01 financial year. They wound it back by $6m, then they said they were spending a certain amount, which was exactly the same as the target expenditure, but they made it look as though they were actually spending $6m more in an election year. I said shame on them then, and I say shame on them now. It was a reprehensible thing to do. This is a government that is clearly investing extra funds into health, 89% since we came to power, and that record stands, unlike the record of the previous CLP government.
In Budget 2008-09, Acute Services will receive an additional $51.8m from last year’s allocation of $492.8m. This means a 10.5% increase, with over $544.6m in total provided for growth in services across all acute health services, such as our public hospitals and associated services. It is worth listening to what Budget 2008-09’s increased funding means for our five public hospitals: for Royal Darwin Hospital, an increase of 101% since 2001; for Alice Springs Hospital, an additional 109% since 2001; our small regional hospitals also benefited across the board - Katherine District Hospital - up 86%; Gove District Hospital - up 80%; and Tennant Creek Hospital - an increase of 90% since 2001.
The additional funding to Acute Services includes an extra $2m, or 18% increase to strengthen the Patient Assistant Travel Scheme, or PATS. The extra investment will enable all Territorians who need to travel interstate for surgery and intensive therapy to travel with a family member, friend or other carer. This can be a stressful experience, and having the caring escort there can provide many benefits and support for patients. We are also increasing the Commercial Accommodation Subsidy from $33 per night to $35 per night, making the Territory’s scheme equal top amongst Australian jurisdictions, and adding an extra allowance of $40 per return trip for travel between the airport and accommodation for interstate patients. The new funding for PATS will also provide an Adelaide-based coordinator to assist and support Territory patients and their families who need to access specialised services in South Australia. The scheme will be rendered more efficient through an enhanced IT system and additional administrative staff.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise you of the presence in the gallery of Year 8 Clontarf Program students from Sanderson Middle School, accompanied by Mr Nathan Perron. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, the Territory government also continues to deliver on one of our key election commitments, additional hospital beds. In 2007-08, 12 new beds were added to Alice Springs Hospital, and a further 12 beds at Royal Darwin Hospital. In addition, in September 2007, the nine-bed Rapid Admission and Planning Unit at Royal Darwin Hospital expanded to 24 beds. In 2008-09, expansion of ward beds at both Royal Darwin Hospital and Alice Springs Hospital will continue. Government will provide an additional six beds at Royal Darwin Hospital to complete our election commitment of providing an additional 24 beds during this term, and those additional 24 beds at Royal Darwin Hospital do not include the extra 24 beds in the Rapid Admission Unit.
Similarly, 12 additional beds will be progressed at Alice Springs Hospital, with the progress of the $12.5m works program for the redevelopment of the Emergency Department and the fire safety remediation work there. Services at Alice Springs Hospital will be supported with initiatives such as $600 000 expansion of Hospital in the Home, and an additional $200 000 to expand Allied Health Services.
I am pleased to announce the introduction of a $280 000 Community Midwifery Program in Alice Springs in 2008-09 for women with low risk pregnancies. This program uses a midwifery-led model of care and will provide ante- and post-natal care in the community.
As part of the new Australian Health Care Agreement, hospital core services will be enhanced through this budget with an additional allocation of $3.35m. I am pleased to announce the following initiatives: $1.7m for radiology services across the Territory; $0.4m to enhance respiratory services; and $900 000 for specialist dental chairs at the Royal Darwin Hospital. This funding will also cover an improvement to the patient activity coding system, making our recording and accountability even more consistent. This government is committed to ensuring all our medical facilities meet the needs of Territorians. As part of this commitment, capital works will be undertaken to improve facilities around the Territory. We will continue our $2.1m program of refurbishing Royal Darwin Hospital, with painting of the busy public areas, plus Wards 2A and 2B; upgrading of the staff amenity area, and refurbishment of the lifts.
$1.7m will be provided for Stage 3 of the Tennant Creek Hospital upgrade. This is the final stage of upgrades to bring the entire Tennant Creek Hospital campus up to the Australian Fire Safety and Building Code standards. Stage 3 will involve the installation and commissioning of a fire suppression sprinkler system, new fire detectors and fire doors, additional display panels, early warning information systems, alarms and public address systems. The building and areas to be upgraded at Tennant Creek Hospital include the kitchen and stores, the high dependency unit, hall accommodation blocks and the renal unit. Other capital works to be funded from this year’s budget include: $4.5m for a new health centre to be built at Milingimbi - and I compliment the member for Arnhem, who has been a very strong advocate for this; and advocates very strongly for her electorate. We all look forward to that building commencing and finishing. I am sure we all hope to be there on the big day.
Members: Hear, hear!
Dr BURNS: The current health centre at Milingimbi was built in 1978, and is in sore need of replacement. The current centre is located in the storm surge area. The new centre will be built on higher ground. Budget 2008-09 also provides $4.2m for continuing works on the Kalkarindji, Yirrkala and Wadeye health centres.
I am pleased to announce that new sobering-up shelters will be built at Katherine and Tennant Creek at a cost of $2.6m. The existing facilities do not meet the requirements in fire safety and disability access; and it is impractical and uneconomical to modify these buildings. Katherine will receive a 22-bed shelter and an 18-bed shelter will be installed in Tennant Creek.
In 2007 we announced that over the course of the next four years this government will be tackling ongoing demand for renal services, through a three pronged attack, to better manage kidney disease in its early stages, increased dialysis facilities, and increased access to home and community based dialysis. In 2008-09, $2.45m will be provided to meet the demand for renal services, and increase the number of dialysis stations available. These monies include an additional $1m to establish a renal dialysis satellite facility in Alice Springs and provide services for up to 32 more patients; as well as the continuation of $750 000 towards the management of chronic and early kidney disease.
Our hospitals and health centres are often the public face of health. However, there is much more to health services and health budget than these acute services. Budget 2008-09 also includes funding for health and wellbeing services, such as mental health, support for frail aged, and people with a disability; public health services such as environmental health, disease control, research and alcohol and other drug services. I am pleased to advise that this year’s budget includes funding of: $35m for mental health services; over $73m for support services for senior Territorians, frail aged people and people with a disability; $54.5m for public health services and more than $124m for community health services including education, prevention, early intervention services and the delivery of primary health care. Along with the tangible and acute care achievements, funding for public health services and health and wellbeing services deliver vital support for Territorians, everyday.
The shadow health spokesman has vaguely attempted to prosecute an argument that we are not getting results from our recent record health spending. I challenge the member for Greatorex to name exactly what primary health programs, acute care infrastructure and frontline health staff he considers are not functioning with value for money. Or perhaps, they are part of the Leader for the Opposition’s $50m slashing of the public service! Maybe he is going to be slashing frontline health staff. We will find out more about that, I would say. Just looking at a partial list of government commitments done and delivered demonstrates the nonsense of the member for Greatorex’s argument. The member wants to talk outcomes, so let us look at a few outcomes.
There are 83 extra hospital beds across the Territory while Royal Darwin Hospital now has a Rapid Admission Unit, halving waiting times to admissions from the Emergency Department. We have new Emergency Department wing; expanded ICU; coronary care; high-dependency and operating theatres. There is a 12-bed hospice which I understand has won a number of awards. I get positive feedback from community members who unfortunately have had a loved one who passed away at the hospice. A state-of-the-art birth-centre; Ward 3B reopened with 24 beds, after the CLP closed it 15 years ago. How is that for an outcome, member for Greatorex?
Hospital in the Home expanded to seven days per week; a world-class National Trauma Centre and I acknowledge the previous Commonwealth government and their funding for that and also the ongoing commitment of the current Commonwealth government for the National Trauma Centre. A new Medical Records department at $2.5m, possibly there are some more public servants that the member for Blain, the Opposition Leader, could cut. However, the medical records are an important part of our health system.
Alice Springs is not left out of government commitments completed either. Important improvements being delivered include: Emergency Department redevelopment at $6m; hospital-in-the-home; expanded resources in the intensive care and coronary care area, $11m in 2004-05, and also the community midwifery practice this year. Renal services also in Alice Springs which subsequently improved many Territorians quality of life, have been dramatically expanded in urban and remote areas, but in Alice Springs in particular, as has the Territory’s remote heath centre network, Milikapiti, Daly River, Yuendumu and Nguiu, just to name a few.
St John Ambulance Services, which does a fantastic job often in very tough situations, has received increased funding each year since 2004-05 for extra ambulances and crews in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine. The 2007 elective surgery waiting list blitz reduced elective surgery overdue lists by 31% and the total list by 16%. We are now well under way with our part in the national blitz, focusing on regional and remote elective surgery patients.
These are concrete health service improvements that Territorians access and appreciate every day. They prove this government is genuinely delivering for Territory families no matter where they live.
The Leader of the Opposition yesterday was proposing to jeopardise the negotiations we have in train with the Commonwealth government for the development of two very important projects for Territory families: the radiation oncology unit and the Palmerston super clinic. I am referring to this piece in the NT News today which sets out a list of what the member for Blain, the Opposition Leader, is talking about. Under ‘health’ it says here he wants to build an oncology unit and then re-coup the funding from the federal government. I cannot believe he would actually say something like that knowing this government has negotiated with the Commonwealth government to receive the Commonwealth government funds - funds which the Commonwealth has set aside to set up a radiation oncology unit in Darwin.
That tender process fell through under the previous federal government, which is where it really stalled. However, the current federal government has said to the Territory government, we will transfer those funds to you and you can enter into the direct negotiations with the major proponents. This is exactly what we are doing. I announced an expert negotiating team last week, headed up by Mr Paul Tyrrell and Professor Michael Barton, an eminent radiation oncologist, to negotiate. They are reporting back, probably in the next three weeks or so, about the way forward there.
It is just a stunt by the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and say: ‘Oh I am going to build it in the next couple of weeks and then I am going to ask the federal government for the money back’. He is just so far behind the game; he is so far recycled in his recycling, that he is cycling backwards. That is what he is doing. He either does not understand or does not want to understand.
We are making progress with this. I know it has taken a long time, and I am acutely aware that we have been waiting since 2001 for this particular Radiation Oncology Unit. However, as I have said many times in this place, I am focused, as Health minister, to bringing this to fruition. It is silly of the Leader of the Opposition to say: ‘I am going to build an oncology unit and then recoup the funding from the federal government’. You are way behind the ball, Leader of the Opposition. You should remain silent on these things.
The Palmerston Super Clinic: the opposition yesterday also talked about – what did he say?: ‘Fund an after-hours bulkbilling medical centre in Palmerston until the federal super clinic is built’. He has obviously missed what I have been saying and the undertakings I have been giving that there will be services. What I am aiming for are medical services being delivered out of the current infrastructure at Palmerston by the end of this calendar year. That is where we are headed and, once again, he has not been listening.
This super clinic is not just about the provision of medical services to families and individuals. It is also about better integrating and providing hospital-based services such as outpatient services, specialist outreach services, allied health services; services usually delivered within the boundaries of the hospital for which people have to travel from Palmerston to Royal Darwin Hospital to receive. These are the sort of services we are talking about ultimately integrating into this centre.
This is a government that is delivering for families. This is a government that actually has its eye on the ball, on the future; on where we are going. The poor old member for Blain is playing what they call ‘catch-up football’, but he is already 10 goals behind. I just do not think he has the talent to kick any more. He is not even dribbling it through the behind post, it is just going out of bounds on the full all the time – the man shows a complete lack of skill. The young fellows from Clontarf would understand that. I am sure they are a lot more skilled in the way they play football than the way the member for Blain conducts himself as Opposition Leader and tries to put himself forward as an alternative Chief Minister.
The opposition is only offering temporary tack-ons to Palmerston health services, and fails to address the total health needs of the region. We pushed ahead with the super clinic with the Australian government. Our development will be much more than GP services, as he proposes, which would compete with other GP after-hours practices already in operation in the area.
We have commissioned a scoping study that has been delivered to the department this week. The study informs on the development of an integrated health service to include better access to urgent medical care after hours, better specialist outreach and allied health services, and better care coordination.
The Leader of the Opposition also claims he will introduce minimum sentences for people who assault health workers when we already have some of the toughest penalties in the country under section 155A of the Criminal Code. Once again, he is playing catch-up.
Getting into the Justice area with that last comment, I am also pleased with the increased funding for important components of the Justice portfolio. Of note, is the allocation of $2.09m in 2008-09 and 2009-10 for initiatives to combat antisocial behaviour. This funding will go straight to the front line to deal with those people whose offending and objectionable behaviour is causing concern in the community. These initiatives include the First Response Patrol, Return to Country programs in the Top End and Central Australia – which are an expansion of those existing programs – antisocial behaviour telephone reporting hot line, Darwin area Night Patrol, and an information and referrals office in Palmerston.
The Justice portfolio strategies under Closing the Gap will also receive $5.124m in 2008-09, which will: expand community courts to an extra 10 communities; provide additional court clinicians to assess offenders for suitability for programs and report on progress to the alcohol court, create more community correction officers positions to supervise offenders; start a witness assistance service in Katherine – this has already occurred or is in the process of occurring; implement regional alcohol management plans, establish rehabilitation programs for sex offenders to break the cycle of offending; and expand the elders visiting program in the Indigenous Family Violence Offender Program.
Importantly, Budget 2008-09 also includes a funding boost of $394 000 for additional prosecutorial resources for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The additional funding will allow for the engagement of a senior specialist prosecutor or visiting counsel, one other prosecutor and administrative support. The prosecutors will have expertise and experience in prosecuting incidences of child sex abuse and will focus on this difficult area of criminal law. They will also mentor and train more junior staff members and work with police investigators to improve the child forensic interview process.
Child sex abuse, wherever and whenever it occurs, must be stopped and perpetrators must be charged and prosecuted. This funding will help to achieve this goal. The extra funding will complement legislative reforms recently passed by the government, which assists children to provide evidence to court in a less traumatic and intimidating atmosphere.
The Territory government also reaffirms its support for victims of crime by allocating an extra $420 000 in 2008-09 and 2009-10 to support the Crimes Victim Services Unit quickly process and assess applications for assistance. The new administrative-based scheme which commenced in 2007 is proving very successful with the establishment of a comprehensive victims counselling scheme as well as reducing waiting times for victims. The whole process is proving much faster, easier and less intimidating for victims, and we want to keep it that way. This extra funding will also help support the operation of the victims register, which allows victims and other interested persons the opportunity to be kept informed of matters relating to an offender such as impending application for parole or transfers interstate.
Over the next few years, prisoners will also find themselves housed in a new 1000-bed facility in the Darwin region. The Territory government makes no apologies for its tough on crime policies, expanded police presence and increase in prosecution resources. That, of course, means more people going to prison. While this new facility is constructed, the rise in our prisoner population requires interim accommodation and higher recurrent costs. Government has therefore allocated $13.9m in 2008-09, and $9.66m in 2009-10 for capital works, and $6.86m in 2008-09, $9.51m in 2009-10; and $10.57m in 2010-11 for operational funding to cater for this increase.
Alongside this expansion, prisoners will be compelled to break the cycle of offending through $500 000 in 2008-09 financial year increasing to $1m in 2009-10 for increased rehabilitation and education programs.
The Leader of the Opposition is talking about boot camps. As I explained in Question Time, we are already doing that. There is a whole of range things - habitual drunks legislation, and we have our alcohol court legislation, which is on target for the numbers we foreshadowed. We have also said that we are looking at those who are in that revolving door, if you like, of protective custody and looking how they might be brought into the alcohol court process.
Budget 2008-09 clearly shows what the government will deliver for Territory families. It is based on a strong track record of fundamental improvement to our health system, infrastructure, police and education. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Mr VATSKALIS (Business and Economic Development): Madam Deputy Speaker, I congratulate the Treasurer on her first budget and commend the budget to the House. The budget delivers for Territory families. It invests in the future of those families in the Territory through increased expenditure. I have numerous portfolios that are the key to the future of the Territory and will be providing a summary of the budget as it impacts on these areas.
Budget 2008-09 backs Territory business. In fact, business-friendly budgets have been a hallmark of this Labor government since it was elected in 2001. The budget sets an excellent course to continued strong and sustainable Territory economic development. It builds on our economic development fundamentals and successes we have put in place for every Territory business: competitiveness, regional development and indigenous economic development.
This budget provides a platform for business growth, expanding our competitive Territory businesses to strengthen our economy. The reduction in payroll tax fulfils our 2005 election commitment. The reduction in the rate to 5.9% brings payroll tax down from the 6.5% we inherited and, combined with increase in the tax-free threshold to $1.2m, means that Territory businesses get to save millions of dollars. These millions saved, mean more jobs. The regime is one of the most competitive in the nation.
The reduction of stamp duty is also a massive boost for business. Businessmen and women, like all other Territorians, have to buy their homes. This will leave them with more money in their pocket. Importantly, it will leave Territorians as a whole with more money in their pockets so they can spend more on household goods, furnishings, food and recreation. That is great news for small businesses which provide the services and products.
Budget 2008-09 ensures that the Territory remains the lowest taxing jurisdiction for small to medium business, up to 100 staff, anywhere in Australia. That is an important milestone achieved by this Labor government and one which we have taken the greatest care to maintain.
The budget also provides a record infrastructure spend: $870m. This brings our total investment to $4.3bn, a staggering amount considering the size of our economy. This Labor government can genuinely call itself ‘The Construction Government’. We love to build, repair, maintain and develop the Territory. Our efforts which are a far cry from the paltry efforts of the CLP in the late 1990s will mean a flow on of jobs, more purchases, the need for more equipment, more goods. This means business benefits everywhere. Furthermore, the construction budget will be spent across the Territory – from Darwin to Borroloola to Alice Springs and Arnhem Land. That means business everywhere benefits.
The Territory has always faced challenges to our business environment, principally because of its size. In the last five years, these challenges have been overcome largely through prudent and sustainable economic management. This is the hallmark, again, of the Budget 2008-09.
Another major challenge for Territory business and our economic development is climatic change. I am pleased that contained within Budget 2008-09 is a specific new business support program, the Energy Smart Business Program, with more than $700 000 per year for three years to be allocated through the government’s Community and Business Centre Change Response initiative through NRETA. The Energy Smart Business Program is aimed to assist small and medium enterprises to accelerate energy reduction strategies and respond to climatic change processes in a practical and economically sensible manner. This program is part of the wider Territory government’s initiative on climate change and will be delivered by the Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development.
Business confidence in the Northern Territory is high, the highest small business confidence in Australia. Consumer confidence is also high at 56%, the second highest in Australia behind ACT at 61%, and well above the national level of 44%.
Within my agency we are continuing to support business throughout the Territory through our ongoing business development and support programs. $26.7m is the total budget for DBERD. This breaks down into the Office for Regional Development with $8.1m; Business and Industry Development with $14.4m; and Economic Development with $4.1m.
Our objective remains to enhance the economic development and growth of the Territory. To do this we will:
The government will also fund $350 000 to support research and innovation in the Territory, including our ongoing grants program through the Research and Innovation Fund.
The Land Development Corporation has a 2008-09 budget allocation of $2.2m to continue its vital role in the development and release of strategic industrial land at East Arm and Wickham Point stage in the Defence Support Hub. The Land Development Corporation is the Territory government’s leading industrial land developer. It drives strategic industrial land development, stimulating economic growth in the region and positioning Territory industries to take advantage of major new and expanding industrial projects.
A contribution of $0.9m for Desert Knowledge Australia, and $170 000 to Desert Knowledge CRC has also been secured in this budget.
Unlike some of our counterparts in other parts of Australia, this government has a strong history of promoting successful forward planning for our essential services. That is why we are in the midst of an almost $1bn upgrade to infrastructure in this area. Budget 2008-09 continues this work. Having regard to the importance of this project as well as the significant investment required and the timing differences between expenditure on infrastructure and the return on investment, the Territory Government will assist Power and Water with this investment program through capital contributions and a dividend moratorium.
The government’s payment of up to $50m in 2007-08 and up to $50m again in 2008-09, will support Power and Water’s investment in electricity generation, water and sewerage projects. The dividend moratorium recognises that government is serious about ensuring that Power and Water continues to have the capacity to make the required magnitude of capital investment. While this major capital investment program began in the 2007-08 financial year, further refining has seen an additional $314m in capital investment comprising $177m additional to the program established in the period from 2007-08 to 2011-12 and $137m for 2012-13.
This funding increase will be a great benefit to Power and Water customers through more reliable services. The significant infrastructure investment program will also benefit Territory industry, with Power and Water giving priority to local development in its tender evaluations, and providing extensive briefings to local suppliers.
The gas supply to Eni from Blacktip is contracted to commence from 1 January 2009. This is a critical development. Blacktip gas will provide approximately 95% of electricity generation fuel for the next 25 years. Weddell power station is in the final stages of commission.
The first unit of Darwin’s efficient new power station at Weddell was commissioned in March 2008. The second unit at Weddell is planned to be in service in time for the 2008-09 wet season, as risk management to cover older generators and meet demand growth. Planning and initial preparations for the third unit at Weddell will commence during 2008-09 to enable completion in 2011-12.
The Frances Bay Zone substation is nearing completion; it will provide security of supply for Darwin’s CBD.
The construction of a new power station at Owen Springs on Brewer Estate, south of Alice Springs, has commenced. The program includes the relocation of the Titan and Taurus gas turbines from Ron Goodin to Owen Springs; and additional new generators will be installed in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. New generation augmentation of the Katherine power station remains scheduled for completion in 2009-10.
In light of the experience from Cyclone Helen in January 2008, which caused widespread power outages, the project for underground power lines to Darwin has been brought forward and increased. The return to service of Manton Dam has been included in the projection for 2010-11. The forecast cost is around $50m, as water treatment will be required. This project will allow existing recreational use to continue. Plans for the closure of the Larrakeyah outfall are on track.
During 2007-08, Power and Water continued planning for the Larrakeyah outfall by 2011 and upgrading the Ludmilla Waste Water Treatment Plant. Major developments near indigenous communities will significantly impact on Power and Water’s provision of essential services in remote areas on behalf of the Territory government.
The emergency response to Closing the Gap housing and infrastructure programs involve a significant change in demand for electricity, water and sewerage services in indigenous communities. It presents significant challenges for Power and Water which they have responded to. Power and Water’s ecological footprint will be measured in 2008-09, to benchmark it and identify opportunities to reduce it. Power and Water’s annual Statement of Corporate Intent will provide additional information on the corporation’s strategic directions, plans, financial projects and research will be tabled in this parliament during the June sitting.
The Housing component of Budget 2008-09, delivers on the commitment that we made to Territorians nearly seven years ago; to build and secure the Northern Territory as the best place to live, work and raise a family. Last year, we made a record $150m commitment in the area of housing and related infrastructure. This year, we are increasing our investment in housing to $176m for 2008-09, a 55% increase. This spend extends the length and breadth of Territory. The SIHIP, totalling $647m over the next five years, will roll out the overwhelming majority of new houses, upgrades, repair work, service and related infrastructure; across 73 remote communities in some urban areas.
To recap the key elements, the budget delivers: 750 new houses, including new subdivisions; 230 new houses to replace derelict structures; over 2500 upgrades for existing homes, essential infrastructure supporting new housing developments; and better conditions in town camps. Altogether, it takes in 3500 houses.
Budget 2008-09 represents the first rung of the Strategic Housing program ladder. This year we have committed $107m for the construction, refurbishment and maintenance of housing for indigenous people living in the bush. New houses and repair works, job training and economic development opportunities will come through the Strategic Housing program this financial year. We will mandate local employment and training with targets under the alliance contracting arrangements.
Our increased capital investment will coincide with wholesale changes to the remote housing management system. Housing in remote communities will be transformed from welfare housing to a strong mix of community and public housing, with long-term goals of private rental housing and home ownership. To this end, Budget 2008-09 holds $14.8m for the roll-out of the public housing framework in the bush. On top of all this work, we will support delivery of key services – health, education and policing, for instance, in the bush by investing $25m in the construction, upgrading and replacement of houses for government employees. We have committed $10m to the funding bucket to meet our Closing the Gap commitments; that is, to put more nurses, teachers and police officers on the ground in key communities.
I will now outline what the budget holds for aspects of indigenous essential services given that much of the work ties in with our increased investment in remote housing. Already, we have advanced around $5m for work to improve power generation for facilities across remote communities. This system will be installed in 2008-09. This work will complement increased investment of $10m from the Commonwealth government to improve essential service infrastructure in the bush. These projects are already up and running.
On top of them, Budget 2008-09 will boost the asset replacement program to $15.6m. Key work under the replacement program includes: $1.6m for the construction of a new power station at Bulman; $440 000 to replace the water storage tanks at Nauiyu; $0.5m to increase the fuel storage at Papunya; another $0.5m to extend the powerhouse and construct a control room at Willowra; $600 000 to upgrade the Yuendumu sewerage pond; and $2.2m to connect Wallace Rockhole to the Hermannsburg electricity system, and Rittarangu to the electricity system at Ngukurr.
Under Budget 2008-09, this government has set aside $45m for electricity, water and sewerage services in the bush. In total, we are investing $60m in essential services infrastructure in remote areas. This will underpin our increased investment in housing, school and police facilities in the bush.
On the urban front, Budget 2008-09 illustrates our across-the-sector approach to secure housing affordability for Territorians. We have several proverbial irons in the fire here. First, we continue from the previous year with strong investment in our public housing safety net. This takes in $24m for repairs and maintenance and minor new works for public and government employee housing; $2m for more significant upgrade for public housing properties; and a further $3m to redevelop older-style unit complexes to improve amenity, security and combat antisocial behaviour. We will continue to support public tenants with rental subsidies to the tune of $24.9m in 2008-09, and we will continue to back up the community housing sector with $1m to provide special support services to housing clients.
At the other end of the scale, this government will strengthen its investment in Territory families who are chasing the great Australian dream. We will put another $34m into the HomeNorth Loan Scheme and the scheme will, in turn, put a great many more Territorians into their own homes for the first time. The Treasurer has outlined the change to the scheme in her speech. This change will provide the opportunity for more Territorians to access this very successful home ownership scheme. Already, more than 1060 households have taken up the offer of a handout from this government since 1 July 2004. We have, so far, invested $204m in the future of those families. I expect that HomeNorth will continue to deliver for Territory families.
Tourism is a vital economic driver for the Northern Territory and has broad impact on many other industry sectors. Tourists contribute 6.7% in gross value adding to the Northern Territory economy, compared to 3.8% for Australia overall. Tourism accounts for 11.7% of Territory employment, compared to 4.7% for Australia as a whole. The tourism industry is in a strong position today compared to the depressed environment it was in five or six years ago. This is, in part, due to this government’s recognition of the importance of the industry exemplified by our ongoing additional funding of $10m per annum to Tourism NT. There has been total funding for the agency to $39.4m in 2008-09.
Holiday visitor numbers have reached 849 000 in the 2007 calendar, up some 13.6% since 2002. Some of the budget highlights for tourism this year are $1m to build on indigenous people’s interest in tourism by developing new products from emerging indigenous entrepreneurs, with the aim of increasing the number of employed indigenous people in the tourism industry. Indigenous culture is a major drawcard to the Northern Territory for a large proportion of international tourists, as well as a significant number of domestic visitors.
Climate change is impacting on business development and investment decisions around the world, resulting in a plethora of government and private entities entering the carbon debate. Over recent years, environmental lobby groups and the Northern Territory’s core international resource markets in the United Kingdom and Europe have been actively discouraging long-haul travel to Australia and New Zealand. There is evidence to suggest consumers of these markets are increasingly aware the contribution aviation and the travel industry make to global greenhouse gas emissions.
This year we gave $0.5m for environmental sustainability initiatives, including $300 000 for the Make the Switch grants program to encourage using sustainable energy sources in the Territory tourism businesses, and promotion of businesses utilising best practice initiatives.
There is $1.1m for aviation, to increase the Territory’s competitive positioning in terms of access from key source markets. These will include working cooperatively with airlines on marketing campaigns to drive business passenger numbers and tourists to the Northern Territory. There is funding of $29m for the marketing output, with continued marketing of the Northern Territory’s priority destinations through dedicated campaigns and programs to encourage increased visitation in regional areas.
Specifically, we have $600 000 for an ‘Australia, the movie’ global marketing campaign to leverage interest from the Baz Lurhmann movie to be launched in late 2008. This will highlight Darwin and the Northern Territory as a romantic destination, rich in natural and cultural attractions. I understand Fox Studios will promote Australia as their premium movie for the year, spending many millions on marketing the film globally.
There is also $1m for the Global Red Centre Way marketing campaign, leveraging from the National Landscapes Program and building tourism visitation to Central Australia. We will also have dedicated campaigns for the Katherine, the Barkly region and Kakadu.
I would like to return to the Centre region. The strengthening of the Alice Springs tourism program was developed in 2005, with 30 action items to improve Alice Springs as a tourist destination, most of which have now been completed. We will engage Charles Darwin University to undertake a consultation process which will include survey and focus groups, and, through this process, prepare a new action plan. This plan will be guided by input from Alice Springs tourism operators, the town council, Chamber of Commerce and government. We have allocated $40 000 in 2008-09 for that.
One of the significant challenges for the Centre region is combating the effect of negative publicity on the region. Last year, all the dollars we invested in marketing Alice Springs were counteracted 2 to 1 by negative publicity. The government invests heavily in tourism in Central Australia through dedicated marketing campaigns, funding Tourism Central Australia, funding regional development plans, funding Alice Springs accreditation mentors and sponsorship and marketing key regional events and so on. One of our key priorities here is to garner the support of all stakeholders in rebuilding domestic and international visitor numbers to Central Australia.
The Treasurer said the 2008-09 financial year is one full of promise for the Northern Territory in its engagement with our Asian neighbours. This government’s focus is to foster and build on the ever growing business and cultural links with our neighbours. Further developing links at the business and government level with our major trading partners of China, Japan and Indonesia will continue to be a priority for this government.
We will also look to build economic links with the emerging economic giant of India, with initial exploratory trade missions seeking opportunities for Northern Territory exports. The Northern Territory will continue its long and successful association with BIMP-EAGA. This government is currently reviewing its participation in this sub-regional grouping, considering the most effective method of future involvement with the group that will assist both with overall BIMP-EAGA development goals and the promotion of Northern Territory interests in the region.
The Northern Territory has also secured space at the upcoming Sabah International Expo, where the International Business Council will lead a delegation of Territory businesses to promote trade with the region.
The Northern Territory enjoys a long history of strong cultural links with our closest Asian neighbours of Indonesia and Timor-Leste. The potential of Darwin as a hub to service the growing mining industry in Indonesia is ever developing. This government will continue over the next year to facilitate trade in this area, following up on the success of the Northern Territory government-sponsored Indonesia Mining Procurement Forum, held in Darwin in April 2008 and attended by 150 business delegates. The Department of the Chief Minister will again coordinate the Northern Territory delegation to Ozmine Indonesia in February 2009 and is planning to lead the delegation to the Balikpapan Mining Expo in June 2008. There are proposals being considered to further develop the existing trilateral relations between Timor-Leste, the Indonesian province of Nusa Tengarra Timur and the Northern Territory at the people-to-people level through the medium of sport.
I wish to comment on the impact of this budget on my own electorate of Casuarina. The focus on education, health and safer streets will be of significant benefit to the families in my electorates. These areas are receiving record budgets. I am particularly pleased with the second stage upgrades to Alawa and Nakara schools which are receiving $2m each. I welcome the additional police and safety resources this budget brings. The efforts by the government to contain and reduce youth antisocial behaviour are welcome in my electorate.
In conclusion, Budget 2008-09 delivers for Territorians, it delivers for families, it delivers for businesses across the Territory, it delivers for the regions, it invests in our future and it provides record support for health, education and safer streets.
Mr NATT (Mines and Energy): Madam Deputy Speaker, I support of the Budget 2008-09 as detailed by the Treasurer. Within my portfolio of Primary Industry, Fisheries, Mines and Energy, the budget gives me much to be pleased about. As members would be aware, fishing is the lure of the Territory. Not only does it make an important contribution to our great lifestyle, but recreational fishing contributes more than $30m to our economy and more than 100 000 tourists say they will wet a line when they come to the Territory.
We have the highest level of boat ownership in the nation. Territory families enjoy a day on the water and that is why we are investing in these facilities. Anglers can look forward to better fishing opportunities with $1m being allocated in the budget to infrastructure projects and programs. This comes on top of a significant investment in infrastructure that will benefit anglers. Around $215 000 has been allocated for the construction of a new boat ramp at Channel Point coastal reserve. Territory business, Advance Civil Engineering, won the right to build this new piece of infrastructure. This semi-remote location on the coast near the mouth of the Daly and adjacent to the Perron Islands is well known for barramundi, jew fish, snapper and Spanish mackerel.
The new boat ramp will make access easier for many Territorians. It is anticipated this boat ramp will be finished by this Dry Season and the park and camping ground will cater for up to 10 vehicles and 50 people at any one time. Tenders have been called for the $450 000 floating pontoon at Dinah Beach. A major development for anglers in the Darwin Harbour is the $4.6m fishing facility at Hudson Creek, which is to be constructed by Ostojic Group. This facility includes the construction of a new 12m wide, dual lane boat ramp and associated facilities such as an access road, 30 parking bays for vehicles and trailers, a pontoon that will allow dry access to vessels, toilet facilities and flood lighting for night time access.
In addition, five industrial lots will be created for the Land Development Corporation. The conceptual plans of this development were put out some time ago and were commented on by the public. We received loads of public feedback on the construction of the ramp and some ideas about where we should go with it. We have made several changes to the original concept plan and it is great to see that finalised. I know the five blocks that are going to be turned off were an addition. They are going to be specifically allocated to marine service industries. There are a number of companies interested in getting in first to lease that land so that they will have first access to the fishermen and the anglers who will use that ramp. It is also going to cater for the Palmerston and the northern suburbs residents having great access to the harbour from that area. As such it will take great relief off the Dinah Beach boat ramp. Having driven past Dinah Beach on many occasions when the tides are good, it is amazing to see how many cars and trailers are parked outside the car park because they cannot get in there. This shows the popularity of the Dinah Beach boat ramp.
This government continues to support recreation fishing through ongoing annual funding to the Amateur Fishermen’s Association of the Northern Territory. This year the government will provide $175 000 to enable the association to continue to employ its executive officer and office assistant and administer a $10 000 small grants program for fishing clubs. While I am on the subject of support, the government has provided $40 000 to the Northern Territory Guided Fishing Industry Association for the past three years to enable the employment of its executive officer and pay for its business costs.
I am pleased to report that my Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines is drafting an issues paper in conjunction with the association which will propose a voluntary code of conduct and management plan for the guided fishing tourism industry. These drafts will be made available for public comment and input before the finalisation of the document.
This is an important industry to the Territory, catering for the increase in the tourist market. In 2006 over 20 000 visitors came to the Territory choosing to partake in the guided fishing experience. This important industry provides opportunities for tourists to enjoy a day on the water with an expert fishing guide aiming to catch prize barramundi or any other of our exciting game fish species on offer. We want to ensure we remain a premier destination when it comes to landing a barra or taking an exciting fishing tour.
I can vouch for the reliability of catching fish on some of these tours. I have had the pleasure of an eight day fishing trip on the MV Swordfish, which houses itself in the duck pond and steams out into the harbour and down the coast from there. Viv Thistlethwaite is the skipper of that vessel and we had an enjoyable eight days out on the water past the Perron Islands. I can tell you that the fishing is extraordinary. We got on to all sorts of different types of fish out in the sea and then went up some of the estuaries to try the barramundi where we managed to get a couple of them as well. It was a fantastic couple of days. Locally, a friend of mine, Hully Politis, is also a fishing tour operator. I understand he is getting worked to the bone at the moment with people coming up from down south. Hully has been fishing this harbour since he was a boy. He knows it in and out. I can assure you that any time you go out with Hully or any of these other experienced fishing tour operators you are guaranteed to catch a fish.
As I announced at the AFANT AGM, this government is now funding a new recreational survey which will be scoped and undertaken over the financial years of 2008-09 and 2009-10. This survey will ensure we have the latest information needed to continue to effectively manage recreational fishing and broader aquatic resources. The survey is a massive undertaking and will be run over a couple of years starting in 2009. While the process is lengthy, the information obtained will be invaluable to the running and management of our fisheries to ensure that the fishing experiences available today continues well into the future. This investment into the acquisition of much needed fishing data is yet another demonstration of the government’s commitment to local anglers and visitors alike. Recreational fishers will also benefit from our recent success in negotiating the buy-back of nine inshore coastal net licences. This significant buy-back of inshore commercial netting licences, removes a large proportion of commercial fishing effort from the potential harvest of key recreational species, such as blue salmon and queen fish.
With the removal of these licences, we have met our election commitments. Earlier this year, I announced the closure of Darwin Harbour and Shoal Bay to all forms of inshore commercial coastal net fishing. This is a real winner for recreational anglers, particularly as Darwin Harbour and Shoal Bay are the most popular destination for anglers. Talking to George Voukolous at his tackle shop last week, he commented how many visitors he has had to the Northern Territory. His business is booming. We are receiving fantastic feedback about buying back those licences within Darwin Harbour and Shoal Bay. Positive comments are coming from recreational fishing in and around Darwin. It goes to show how avid anglers are when it comes to fishing in our harbour and around Shoal Bay. Fishing is a great part of the Territory lifestyle and the allocations made in this budget will ensure that more families will be able to head out for a day on the water.
While fishing may be the lure of the Territory it is our minerals and energies industry that will provide a massive 40% of GSP into the next financial year. I am pleased to say that Budget 2008-09 delivers $5.5m to promoting mining opportunities in the Territory. Of that, our major investment and exploration attraction program, Bringing Forward Discovery, has been boosted by a $2.4m investment, making it now $14.4m over four years. This will increase drilling and geophysical surveys for under-explored frontier regions of the Territory.
We are in a highly competitive global market and, in order to ensure the Territory continues to perform solidly, we need more exploration and new discoveries. With the funding boost to Bringing Forward Discovery, exploration companies will be entitled to apply for 50% or up to $100 000 of their costs for drilling and geophysical surveys in greenfield regions. Applications will be assessed on their potential to open up new areas of exploration and to lead to new discoveries. This initiative promotes mining opportunities in the Northern Territory to companies across the world.
My department has also put together a special team which will conduct ‘on country’ meetings and information sessions to better inform Aboriginal people of what to expect when dealing with mining companies, and to introduce mining companies to communities and their expectations.
I announced today a new geophysical gravity survey that is to be undertaken as of today in Central Australia. The program will run for about four months at the cost of about $800 000 and will involve helicopters landing in specific spots in and around remote, unexplored regions, or under-explored regions of Central Australia. They will be taking gravity readings on the areas where they land and, from those gravity readings, they will be putting together gravity 3D information charts. They will all be collated and supply future explorers looking to get into unexplored areas. My division of Mines and Energy knows there are a number of areas that are highly prospective. The tests they will be undertaking with these gravity surveys will show these areas can be significant. It will be great information for future explorers. Let us hope we can get some greenfield discoveries.
The Northern Territory continues to be the only Australian jurisdiction with a dedicated China investment attraction strategy. In Budget 2008-09, $190 000 has been allocated to continue the four-year China minerals investment attraction strategy. This gives us a strategic advantage in the booming Chinese market and allows our experts to introduce appropriate Chinese investors and explorers to potential Northern Territory partners. So far, the strategy has been extremely successful and has seen a constant flow of Chinese delegations into the Territory, and several joint ventures already up and running.
I have had the pleasure of having two trips to China now. We have had terrific feedback from the China Mining Congress seminar we attended. I can say, for the first four months of this year, we have had more visits from Chinese companies than we had in the whole of the 12 months last year. It just shows that the program is working. There is intense interest in the Northern Territory. The Mines Division is putting together some wonderful information for prospective, interested joint venture companies that want to come to Australia. As I have just said, the significance of all this is that we are gradually starting to show the Chinese that the Northern Territory is a vast land, rich in resources, and has huge potential. A number of Australian exploration companies have benefited from joint ventures, and we hope that will continue into the future. I also understand that several Chinese companies are actually taking out exploration licences as well. We are going to see some exploration from Chinese companies into the future, so that augers well for that program.
As part of our strategy, my chief executive and team of departmental and industry experts are going to China this week to renew ties with Chinese businesses and government, and to meet potential new partners. I can assure the Assembly that this $190 000 is money very well spent.
Budget 2008-09 has also allocated $560 000 to promote exploration and mining investment opportunities, including $310 000 to continue our new Ore-Struck campaign. Ore-Struck is the marketing tool that we have been using to explain about the mineral and energy prospectivity of the Territory to potential miners and explorers the world over. The campaign contains the latest maps and geoscientific information, detailed reports and in-depth analysis of the Territory’s potential. It forms the backbone of our presentations at mining conferences, seminars and workshops. It also gives access to potential explorers and investors through an automated investment alert which they receive via e-mail, and the feedback I have been getting at many of the mining association conferences I attend is that the Northern Territory Mines Division is one of the best in Australia. I even read some quotes from the Business Review Weekly from Michael Kiernan the other day, saying how great it is to work with the Mines Division of the Northern Territory compared to some of the other states. We are really doing some great work out there.
The Territory has vast tracks of under-explored land, much of which is highly prospective. However, having the land does us no good unless we can attract companies here that are willing to invest substantial amounts in exploration and mining. The funds allocated in Budget 2008-09 will ensure that the vital message about the potential of the Northern Territory continues to be heard by the potential explorers and investors the world over.
Budget 2008-09 also delivers for Primary Industries, targeting growth and employment with an allocation of $37.5m. The government will spend a record $271m on roads, with $71m for repairs and maintenance to upgrade vital road links across the Territory. Four million dollars has been earmarked for a new road at Pine Creek, which will allow the area to be opened up and developed as a horticultural precinct, creating new employment and training opportunities for the local indigenous people.
I had the pleasure of attending the signing of a memorandum of cooperation. I attended that with the member for Stuart. We were out at Mulga Bore. The signing was undertaken with the traditional owners of that area. The traditional owners wanted to provide some hope and opportunity for the youngsters within their community. This precinct at Pine Hill is that opportunity. We are turning off three blocks there. One of those blocks will be given as an opportunity to the community to look after, and the other two blocks will be sold off. I know from the work we have been doing in that area, there is huge potential for table grapes. It is a great opportunity to employ the local indigenous people.
Just a few weeks ago, I went to the Ti Tree Research Farm, where we have been undertaking, in collaboration with Centre Farms, some training of indigenous people from the Ti Tree community. There are up to 23 taking part in a 10 week program. I was there in the second week, and attendance had been well over 20 each day. After that 10 week program, they will have the expertise and knowledge of how to work in a vineyard and various other aspects of horticulture. It is a great program. I am looking forward to getting down there to see how that program continues. We are doing some great work on the ground there, and I know the member for Stuart is keeping a close eye on that program to ensure that the potential is going to remain.
Recently, there has been much discussion about potential biosecurity issues as they affect the Northern Territory. In this budget, $1.8m has been allocated to Veterinary Laboratory Services for animal health testing for the livestock industries. This will ensure that the vital sentinel livestock program that tests continuously for emergency animal diseases across the Top End continues, and that pastoralists have access to world-class diagnostic and laboratory services.
Other equally vital areas of primary industries have not been forgotten: $1.5m goes to Entomology, Plant Pathology and Agricultural Chemistry Services; the pastoral industry has $1m for native and improved pasture research; $790 000 has been allocated for a range of extension methods to increase Territory pastoral knowledge; and the highly successful Indigenous Pastoral Program will have $740 000 to continue to increase the participation of indigenous people in the pastoral industry. So far, through the IPP program, 27 grazing licences have been issued, resulting in 28 000 head of cattle grazing on indigenous land.
The indigenous training scheme, or ITS, has also been established to pave the way for indigenous people into mainstream jobs. In 2008 alone, the ITS has trained and directly employed 21 indigenous station hands on mainstream pastoral properties in the Barkly, the VRD and the Daly regions. Outcomes like this are successes in anyone’s language and evidence of money well spent.
But, wait, there is more: $160 000 will go to expand markets for the Territory livestock. Almost 115 000 head of live cattle passed through the Port of Darwin this year, 80 000 of which were Territory cattle. Our up-to-date figures at the end of April 2008 show we are up by more than 60 000 when compared with the same time last year, with Territory cattle accounting for around 42 000 of that figure.
The Territory’s live cattle export trade employs more than 1000 people and is worth around $200m to our economy. The funds allocated in the budget will allow us to partner Meat Livestock Australia in a project to determine the main factors causing variation in growth rates of cattle on Territory cattle stations and to investigate and facilitate the opening up of new overseas markets for the Territory cattle. I had the opportunity of going to Vietnam to try to open up some of those markets. We had some very good discussions with the Vietnamese government and business people within Vietnam.
As I mentioned the other day we have visitors coming from Vietnam this month, within the next couple of weeks. They are going to spend a number of days in the Territory, having a look at our department and also meeting several livestock pastoralists. On their way home we are hoping we might be able to take them to a feedlot in Indonesia just to give them an idea on how it is all done. So we hope we might be able to open up another avenue for our live cattle exports overseas.
While the Territory cattle export industry is doing well, it is relying on one major market and that is Indonesia. As this project continues we hope other Asian markets will take more Territory cattle, thus spreading the risk and increasing exports.
I have recently visited Vietnam with researchers and experts from my department where we met with the feedlotters, government officials and conducted a series of best practice workshops. Another delegation will visit Vietnam to build on this work with the result that in the near future the number of cattle passing through the Port of Darwin should increase substantially.
Budget 2008-09 delivers for Territory families and is a great investment for the future. The Northern Territory government is delivering on strategic investment in the mining and primary industry sector, which will drive increased growth and investment. Record roads funding will benefit the pastoral and mining industries and we are spending on access for recreational anglers.
The budget delivers a range of programs and initiatives to ensure every opportunity within mining, primary industry and fisheries sectors are maximised to create more jobs and further boost our economy in delivering to Territory families.
I congratulate the Treasurer. It is a strong, economic budget that supports our fantastic lifestyle. It continues to recognise the importance of looking after families in the Northern Territory.
Debate adjourned.
Continued from 21 February 2008.
Ms ANDERSON (Macdonnell): Madam Deputy Speaker, I support the statement by my colleague, the member for Stuart, as the Chair of the Committee on Sport and Youth.
Speaking generally, sport like football, softball and basketball is the life of people on Aboriginal communities. In many respects, it is the thread of our social fabric. It connects us across every race. It does not matter if you live in the Top End in Darwin, you live right at the bottom end of the Northern Territory at Docker River or Papunya or Alice Springs. Sport is something we all have in common and it connects us.
I believe it is vital we recognise how important sport is to children who have been taken over by substance abuse whether it is glue sniffing or petrol sniffing. Sport is something that every child and person in the Northern Territory attaches themselves to: it is something they feel comfortable with, it is something that they can compete and excel in, it is something that they can dream about.
Sport is also a conduit for healthy living. It is a conduit people use to keep fit; it is a conduit that pulls the youth to escape from negative influences whether it be substance abuse or violence in the home. I want to encourage this parliament and my parliamentary colleagues to have a look at sporting facilities. As a member of both the Substance Abuse and on Sport and Youth committees, it is very interesting to see the people who come before you. We have mothers, we have grandmothers, we have people who deliver the service on our behalf, all struggling and talking about the issues of how we can get better facilities in remote Aboriginal communities to encourage children and community members to participate in sports.
Like I said, it is a conduit to healthy and active living. Sport is something we all relate to; sport is something that we have all tapped into to make ourselves feel good. The Yuendumu Sports Weekends in the early 1970s and 1980s was just like preparing for the Olympics. Every community would bring their best footballers, their best softballers, best basketballers, best athletes, and best boomerang throwers. Whether they came on the back of cattle trucks or packed into a Holden ute, everyone would be at Yuendumu, all striving to get that individual recognition and the community recognition to be the best. That sports event still goes on. I know my colleague, the member for Stuart, encourages football activities and sponsors the Yuendumu football team even when they play in Alice Springs.
The other event we had was the Areyonga swimming and singing carnival. You would have many communities participating. That was like going to the Commonwealth Games for indigenous people in remote Aboriginal communities. They would all pile into the backs of old trucks and go to Areyonga to swim in the river and schoolchildren were encouraged to participate. It was all about the self-esteem of those children participating in those events. It was always about coming out the winner and saying ‘Papunya won’ or ‘Kintore won’ or ‘I won’. That is what we talk about when we try to encourage our own children and our community teams to participate in games like football, softball, basketball, soccer and netball.
The fact that sport promotes healthy lifestyles is one we need to take further. We need to encourage our community people to say no to drugs and take up the role of being a true sportsman actively - to give 100% on the football oval, the basketball field, or on the soccer field, and come out proud winners or, also, proud losers. It is about having fun. It is not always just about winning. It is about having fun; having parents on the sidelines running around and encouraging their children to be active in these activities as well. It is very important that this committee has taken the role.
I went to Adelaide as part of this committee to have a look at how we could embrace and put back into the school curriculum physical education classes. That is so important now. Statistics have shown us that obesity is rife in our children - our children are getting fatter. That is, maybe, because as parents we are not encouraging our children to be active in sports on weekends and after school. Or is it because it is absent from the school curriculum that children are not exercising during the six hours they are there?
I am proud to be on both these committees, because the two marry. We cannot combat substance abuse without talking about these activities and the active part of this committee on whose behalf I speak today, which is sport and youth. It has to be about marrying the two and how we can get the best possible result for our Territory lifestyle, our Territory children, to continue encouraging our Territory children to carry on that thread, that fabric, of being participants in sports activities.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I commend this statement to the House.
Ms McCARTHY (Arnhem): Madam Deputy Speaker, I support the chairman’s interim report from the Sessional Committee on Sport and Youth. It is a real pleasure to return to the committee and continue the terms of reference under the guidance of our new Chair, the member for Stuart, together with two other new members, the members for Macdonnell and Greatorex.
Already, we have had a chance to visit Katherine and listen to issues raised by sporting organisations and individuals in the region. There is an enthusiastic commitment to ensuring a sporty and healthy lifestyle for our youth across the Northern Territory by all members of the committee, led by the committee Chair’s desire to actually lead by example.
By this, I refer to the recent sporting match between the Sport and Youth Committee members and the Youth Round Table. The member for Stuart kept the team together and motivated them to move very quickly, thanks in part to the help of other parliamentarians such as the members for Nelson and Blain who, I might add, were our fresh pair of legs towards the end of the match. Unfortunately, we still went down five goals to two. The match was held on the Speaker’s Lawns next to Parliament House. I also add that I still wear some of the scars of such a fast and, yet fun, event. A big thank you to the members of the Youth Round Table who took us rusty politicians on. Thank you also to the staff who arranged the hats, and Madam Speaker and her staff for the oranges at half time. I actually think that there might have been more than two halves in this match. In fact, I think there were something like five quarters. Every time I thought we were finishing and shaking hands, we went on for another quarter. We did really want to win, or at least get a few more goals. Instead, we finished with handshakes all around, some icepacks on a few bruised legs, and a firm feeling we had to meet again - perhaps maybe not on the soccer field, maybe on the basketball court next time around.
It is this kind of event that sets the tone for not only what the Sport and Youth committee is about, but also how we can maintain a humorous and real link with members of the Northern Territory community in carrying out our responsibilities in regard to our terms of reference. It is a unique opportunity. Unlike other committees of the parliament we can go directly to the heart of guiding and influencing good qualities, improving and maintaining the health and wellbeing of our youth through sports.
The three areas which the committee is concentrating on are: the ability and effectiveness of existing structures and programs, from grassroots to elite; to deliver in urban, regional and remote areas; and recommendations for improvement. Also, the role and benefit of School Sport Northern Territory programs and demonstrated links between participation in sport and reduced antisocial behaviour.
As the Chair has outlined in his interim report, the federal intervention into Aboriginal communities across the Northern Territory meant the committee needed to rethink its approach in holding meetings in communities. Those communities had more than enough to deal with in trying to understand what the federal intervention meant. Now, though, we will continue our discussions in communities across the Territory, as most of them are more prepared to discuss the sport and youth issues with us, as they have a stronger sense of stability.
It is clear, both from recent discussions in Katherine and in my time previously on the Sport and Youth Committee, there is a general feeling that sport needs to play a far greater role in the lives of our young people. The excitement of winning fights and shoot-outs in video and computer games, and the intriguing world of the Internet, is hard to compete against, and we are now seeing the real consequences of childhood obesity due to lack of physical exercise. Obesity in our children is a real concern right across this country and is, indeed, a very real concern for the members of our Sport and Youth Committee.
Another area of particular interest is the question surrounding sporting opportunities for children with a disability. I am pleased to hear the evidence from key sporting organisations and individuals that there is a genuine desire to include opportunities for children with disabilities. The Arafura Games last year held the first wheelchair competition, with international teams such as Kuwait competing at the games. The opportunity to witness firsthand the elite sporting opportunities for disabled athletes gives great incentives for the Northern Territory government and families to ensure that disabled children do not miss out on their dreams, either.
I am always conscious of this fact, largely due to the needs of my own son, CJ, who strives to realise his dream as a wheelchair basketball athlete, wanting to one day represent his country at the highest level possible for disabled athletes, the Paralympics.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms McCARTHY: Such dreams come because of inspiring Territory Paralympians, such as Judith Green, and Olympian, Nova Peris. While we recognise not everyone wants to always strive to such heights, it is always about choice and opportunity. To know that a boy in Ngukurr can one day play for an AFL team, or a girl in Angurugu can play basketball for the Northern Territory side, or a young mum in Minyerri can train to be a coach of a softball team that competes across the Territory is what our committee is all about. It is also about parents, knowing that even though their child may not play much, if any, sports at home, that they will at school. It is what the committee is about - looking at sport, looking at sports at school.
Our committee is about promoting a happy, healthy and sporting way of life for young people right across the Northern Territory. The evidence taken so far by the School Sports Northern Territory, and the Northern Territory Institute of Sport and Recreation and some 70 individuals is greatly appreciated. As a member of the Sport and Youth Committee, I am greatly encouraged by the new and improved directions in the Northern Territory that we can take in terms of sports and youth policy. I commend the Chair’s interim report to the House.
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, it gives me pleasure to contribute to the Sessional Committee on Sport and Youth report, presented to this parliament in February by our new Chair. I have been on this committee since being in parliament, because I believe the terms of reference are very important in addressing many of the issues that face our communities, right across the Northern Territory.
The committee has changed somewhat in the past few months. I thank the previous members who contributed their energy. Fortunately, the terms of reference ensures that whatever changes in membership occur, the committee continues working towards its aims and objectives. In our committee’s instance we have welcomed a new chair, the member for Stuart, Karl Hampton, and committee members, the member for Macdonnell, Alison Anderson; the member for Arnhem, Malarndirri McCarthy; and the member for Greatorex, Matt Conlan.
I have had the pleasure of working on other committees with both the member for Macdonnell and the member for Arnhem and look forward to our continuing commitment to present some very important outcomes to government from this committee, the Sport and Youth. It has been particularly pleasing to work with the Substance Abuse committee. I agree with the member for Macdonnell that the issues that relate to sport and youth also seem to be linked with all of those issues we have found in our community consultations with Substance Abuse. We have been able to combine a great deal of our knowledge and information we have gathered. That has been a positive outcome for all of us.
Our community consultations across the Territory have been very interesting and provided us with valuable feedback from a broad cross-section of community members. Each person who presented to us has given positive feedback in the areas they considered would improve the delivery of Sport and Youth programs in their particular area.
The committee had three terms of reference areas to focus on. Due to the intervention, which drew so much publicity to regional and remote communities, we decided that it would be inappropriate at this stage to focus on the third term of reference. I have to admit that while I agree wholeheartedly with our committee’s unanimous decision, the third term of reference - which demonstrates links between participation in sport and reduced antisocial behaviour - is one area that I have always been keen to explore.
It interests me because I have observed with great interest a particular leadership program which was linked to AFL. This was trialled within the Katherine region under the guidance of Fred Murphy. Fred Murphy is now the instructor of Clontarf based at Katherine High School. I am deeply pleased with the contribution Fred has made to the youth and equally pleased that he is going to be continuing that contribution.
Next Thursday at 6 pm the Clontarf team from Alice Springs will be playing the Clontarf team from Katherine. This will be one of the fiercest matches. It will be a wonderful opportunity. The Clontarf Alice Springs has been established for quite a while. This is the first year for Katherine. This will be a wonderful experience for the Katherine students to be able to realise how much that they can learn when they see the experience and knowledge the students from Clontarf Alice Springs have garnered. I am looking forward to it. I will be barracking – I will not be too biased but I will be very pleased to see the game.
AFL is one of the favourite sports in regional and remote communities. The majority of young people relate to it very well, both amongst men and women, boys and girls. I was and still am deeply impressed by the positive outcomes of the leadership program that Fred has run. I feel sure it could be implemented through other sporting activities and communities across the Territory. Hopefully in the not too distant future, the committee will have the opportunity to address this third term of reference. I believe that it is a valuable tool for encouraging our young people towards achieving their full potential.
The Chair’s report covered well what we have researched at this stage. We have visited sporting facilities across the Northern Territory. There is a diverse range of facilities, from the almost non-existent in the remote regions to the very well supplied in the larger towns.
One of the issues raised with us is the challenge of financing sporting individuals and teams from regional and remote communities to travel to participate in their respective sports. We make choices about where we live in the Territory and the distances required to travel and the cost to do so are an impediment to many families being able to provide their young people the opportunities to further their sporting talents. I do not have to tell anyone in here how many talented young people there are in those communities. They have so much potential. It is very upsetting to see opportunities are not offered to those young people in the same way as chances are given to their counterparts in the bigger towns.
Those of us who live in regional areas know that fundraising by schools, sporting groups and individuals wanting to participate outside of their regional or remote town, and in their chosen sport, is just never ending.
The concerns that the wider community shares with the significant increase in obesity in young people in recent years, clearly shows that sport needs to be encouraged amongst our youth. Healthy young people have a much better chance developing into healthy adults who will contribute to our future economy. We must ensure that the opportunity to participate in as many sporting activities as possible is offered to our youth through school sporting activities and community sporting clubs.
In the Katherine area alone, we had quite a few people present to us from a broad section. I will list some of the sporting activities that happen within Katherine. There are opportunities for remote children to come into Katherine, which is not quite as far for them to travel as Alice Springs or Darwin. There is also the opportunity for those children at the boarding houses at Callistemon to take part. There is soccer, rugby, AFL, netball, softball, hockey, judo, cricket, boxing, off-road motorbikes and pony clubs, just to name a few;. There is much to do. There are opportunities there if only we can make sure that everyone has equal access to them.
I thank all of the community members who have participated in our community consultations to date. The committee has appreciated the time those people have given. Their input has been invaluable. All of those people who presented to us were as passionate about youth in sport as ourselves.
I also pay a special thank you to Pat Hancock and all committee staff who have assisted in the preparation of this report. I look forward to further deliberations of the Sessional Committee on Sport and Youth.
Ms SACILOTTO (Port Darwin): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, the Sport and Youth Committee has been working very hard to produce today’s report. I congratulate the new Chair of the committee, the member for Stuart, and the new committee members: the member for Macdonnell, the member for Arnhem and the member for Greatorex.
I thoroughly enjoyed participating and chairing the Sessional Committee on Sport and Youth. I thank the committee members who were current while I was the Chair – the members for Sanderson, Millner, Blain, Nelson and Katherine – for their commitment.
All members of the committee are passionate about the terms of reference and very enthusiastic about getting to the bottom of what are the keys to having our youth participate in sport.
The committee staff were fantastic, as always. I would like to provide my appreciation to Pat Hancock and Dr Brian Lloyd, and the rest of the committee staff: Kellie Trout, Kim Cowcher and Tamie Devine also, for their enthusiasm and their passion. They participated actively and were very pleased when we had good turn-ups to our public consultations. All of them truly enjoyed what they were doing with this committee.
It has been a really positive outcome with over 70 people presenting to us, all with one common thread. Although the sports were different, the locations of the sports and the teams different and their requirements different, the common thread was that these people had absolute passion for their sport and for bringing youth into them. They were so committed; they gave up a lot of their own time. Many of the individuals we spoke to in these committee hearings were not employed to do this; most of them were volunteers. Most of them were mums and dads or just people who wanted to get out and do something for the youth and for the sports that they were involved in. It was a true passion, a personal and, I guess, financial commitment as well because, much of the time, our committee meetings were during the day and they would have to take time off work. They were showing a true commitment to the youth and sport, no matter what the sport or where they were.
One thing that stood out in some of the more regional areas was the absolute passion for and the whole community’s involvement in sport. That really sums up the Territory. We need to capture and nurture that, to use it and make it part of our endeavours to make it as easy as possible to bring youth into sport. Whether that is putting sport as part of our curriculum to springboard the kids into these organised sports, that is up to the committee to decide that. It certainly came out in our hearings that that was the way it was looking. To get people into the sport in the beginning was the hard thing; to cross over and get someone into something new where they had not had that confidence before. However, it was apparent that those young people very quickly built up their confidence. They may not have been the best in the team, but they participated with gusto and felt like they were contributing meaningfully to the team.
Overwhelmingly, people thought participation in sport built self-confidence and self-esteem and diverted people from getting into trouble and/or the wrong things. That was one of our terms of reference. It was an absolute definite that sport was a good thing for people to do, a nice positive, physical thing.
The other members of the committee have spoken about obesity in children, and adults for that matter. It all stems from the base of being active as a young person, a finding that came through loud and clear from our report. There appeared to be large numbers of kids who had not been involved in sport but, once they started becoming involved in it, their health improved and as well as their self-confidence and self-esteem. These are the major themes we found through our committee work.
I will not go on for too much longer, but I will say that it is a really important committee. Youth and sport, from the outside, does not actually sound that exciting. However, to be honest, our youth are the absolute salt of what we are doing. We want to get these people out there enjoying themselves, having fun in the sun, meeting other people, and being real participants in the community. You cannot do that from a video game or from behind a computer; you cannot build those interpersonal skills. Participation in sport and getting those young people into it early are the most important things we can do.
Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I commend the report to the parliament and wish the committee the best of luck in the future.
Mr CONLAN (Greatorex): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, it is a pleasure to be part of this committee. As a new member to the committee, I have, essentially, come in on the back of it. Nevertheless, it is a terrific committee to be part of. With our terms of reference, we are aiming to assist government in developing policies to improve outcomes for young Territorians through sport.
The recent trip to Katherine demonstrated how sport plays such an important part in regional areas of the Northern Territory. In larger centres such as Darwin it might be a given that sport plays a big role due to its population base but, even in smaller regions such as Katherine, it is vital. I know firsthand how important it is to young Territorians and their families. Every Saturday morning in the Alice, you see thousands of people participating in sport - 1000 people at netball. Right next door to the netball courts there are another 700 boys playing soccer. These sports are played simultaneously so there are 1700 just in that one little precinct. There are similar amounts at Rugby League and AFL and, on top of that, we have baseball, basketball and tennis. A few young Central Australians have gone on to achieve great things through the Red Centre Tennis Academy.
As a member of the committee and also shadow spokesperson for sport, it is important to me that we encourage, nurture and develop any child’s ambition to participate in any form of sport; not just on the field but also off the field. There are many areas of sport, such as administration or being an official that young people can get involved in. It is very important for them and their families, as well. It is important to me as part of this committee that we foster and develop that side of sport, too.
It is my hope that this committee can assist government in developing options and proving those opportunities for young Territorians. I thank the previous Chair, the member for Port Darwin, the current members, the members for Nelson, Arnhem, Katherine and the member for Macdonnell and our new Chair, the member for Stuart. I am looking forward to our tour of remote communities throughout the year. We have a couple of communities earmarked to travel to between now and August, where we will continue learning more on how we can assist young Territorians develop into healthy, educated adults with a bright future through sport. I commend the statement to the House.
Mr HAMPTON (Stuart): Madam Deputy Speaker, I thank all the members for their contributions on the interim report on Youth and Sport. I also acknowledge, as previous speakers have, the contribution and the work of previous members, in particular, the member for Port Darwin as the previous Chair, the member for Sanderson and the member for Millner, as well as the Opposition Leader, the member for Blain. To all those previous members, thank you for your contributions towards this committee’s work.
For me, it has been a great privilege. Out of all the committees we have in parliament, this is probably the one that is the most fun and most challenging. The make-up of the current committee members provides a great cross-section of the Northern Territory community. We have members who represent a broad spectrum across the Territory, including Alice Springs, the remote communities, Katherine, as well as Darwin. It makes the committee a great committee to work on.
An example of how well the committee is working is the soccer game we had with the Youth Round Table. While it was great fun, I see a bigger message behind the fun. That message is about the need to engage, to communicate with young people. As a committee, we often get caught up in a silo situation where we continually focus on policy, on our work as elected members. We leave the people whom we are trying to make some sound policy decisions for behind us. There was a great message behind the soccer game. I hope it becomes an annual event. I am sure other members will be more prepared next time. The important message was for us, as members of parliament, to engage with the Youth Round Table and show that we are all Territorians, that we do have a shared vision in terms of getting young people out and active.
The member for Macdonnell’s contribution is invaluable to the committee. As a person who has grown up in a remote community, who has very strong language ability, not only in her Luritja Pintupi language, but many other languages, her experiences of growing up in the bush, coming through the education system and becoming a member of parliament are invaluable, not only to the committee but to this parliament, in particular, her contributions identifying the need for facilities in remote areas - as per her comments on Yuendumu Sports day. I believe there is a lot of work for us to do working with communities on how we can maximise such things as sport weekends, how we link these events into other things such as combating antisocial behaviour and improving education.
The example she gave about the Areyonga swimming carnival held in the river, illustrates the creative and ‘out-of-the-box’ ideas people in the bush come up with. We can talk about big dollars for facilities but often people in the bush come up with these creative solutions that can be simple and keep young kids occupied. That example represents a very important message for us here. It is about having fun and not always big dollars are needed for people in the bush to achieve that.
I agree with the member for Arnhem’s descriptions of the strong commitment of all members on the Youth and Sport Committee. As the member of Arnhem acknowledged, the impact of the intervention has meant many changes in our communities. In addition, the bill we had last night on local government reform will have a huge impact, particularly on those people in the remote regions throughout the Northern Territory as well as on the Youth and Sport committee’s work to date.
Athletes with disabilities is a very important aspect. We should all be pleased to see the inclusion of the wheelchair competition in the Arafura Games. The Territory is a great place of opportunities whether it is at the grassroots level or right up there at the elite level.
I thank the member for Katherine for her contribution. She has been a valuable member of the committee. Living as she does in Katherine she brings to the committee her local experiences. It was great to get down there as part of our consultation a couple of months ago.
The links to the Substance Abuse committee: the member for Katherine and the member for Macdonnell both acknowledged the strong connection between the two committees. In terms of putting strong policy directions forward to the government, both committees play an important role. It is great to have you on both committees where we can feed ideas and proposals to each other. The community context consultations were an excellent opportunity for us to engage with the wider community and regions. I am looking forward to going to the remote communities to engage with them as well.
The member for Katherine mentioned the third term of reference and how she is particularly keen to explore that. I mentioned in the interim report in February that the previous committee’s decision to hold off on those consultations in the bush was an important one. I certainly acknowledge that now. As the member for Greatorex said, now it is time that the committee starts moving down the track; of going out to the remote regions and looking at that third term of reference.
What clearly came out in Katherine was the strong link between sport participation and reducing antisocial behaviour. The Katherine council people acknowledged that as well. I am looking forward to moving further down that track and tackling that third term of reference.
The member for Katherine spoke about the impediments for parents and providing young people with sporting opportunities, particularly in the region and in remote areas. That was another clear message we got through our consultations in Katherine. I am sure we will get more of that sort of response from people as we go out to remote communities.
I thank the member for Port Darwin for her work and for her contribution today. As she said, it is not always about being the best in sport. It is about participation and that is a very important message we need to get out there, whether it is through our work as the committee or in general life when we are out and about in our electorates, also links to diverting young people, in particular, from antisocial behaviour, and linking sport to obesity. So, thanks to the member for Port Darwin.
It is great to have the member for Greatorex on the committee. He is a strong representative from Alice Springs and has much to say about our work as a committee. I look forward to working with him. He touched on the trip to Katherine and the importance of sport to the regions, which I certainly agree with. I agree with the point you made about Saturday mornings in Alice Springs. You listen to the ABC Sports Show every Saturday morning and there is so much happening. In Alice Springs, sport is a very important part of our lifestyle and our community. You go past the netball courts, as you said, and the soccer grounds - I am heavily involved in the Auskick program - but a great range of sports for people in Alice Springs.
That rounds up the contributions from most members. I thank you all. Before I finish, I thank the committee secretariat. Pat, thanks for your work as well with the previous committee; to Kellie Trout, and also Tamie Devine the research officer, who is unfortunately leaving us, I thank her for all her hard work. We will miss her research and advice.
We have talked a bit about the friendly game against the Youth Round Table. I acknowledge the project officer of the Youth Round Table, Vicki Schultz, and the chair, Katie Chatto, the vice chair, Gemma Benn, and the members, Chris Helmond, Felix Ho, Katharina Gerste, Matthew Renshaw, Pritika Desai, Kristian Goodacre, Gabrielle Morris, Amy Smith, Tess Snowdon, Amy Sherrin, Jack Hose, Emily Holyoake and Desmond Campbell. The Youth Round Table team had a good game against us, including some bruises on some of our legs. I acknowledge the Youth Round Table team, and thank them: Desmond Campbell, Katharina Gerste, Pritika Desai, Felix Ho Gemma Benn, Amy Smith, Katie Chatto and Vicki Schultz. Thanks once again to them. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the time keeping and the scoring and approval to use the lawns. It was a great event. Thank you to the scorer, the member for Katherine. Member for Nelson, thank you for your unbelievable goalie skills. We have some great photos. I do not know if I should table them; we might leave that embarrassment for later on. Thanks to everyone involved. It was a great event.
I am looking forward to getting out there in the bush with the committee and doing further work on the committee’s terms of reference. I have pleasure in moving that the progress report be noted.
Motion agreed to; paper noted.
TABLED PAPER
Remuneration Tribunal Report on the Entitlements of Magistrates and Determination Number 1 of 2008
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I table the Remuneration Tribunal Report on the Entitlements of Magistrates and Determination No 1 of 2008.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker I move the report be printed.
Motion agreed to; paper printed.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly take note of the report, and that I have leave to continue my remarks at a later hour.
Leave granted.
Debate adjourned.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I table the 2008-09 Statement of Corporate Intent, the SCI, for the Power and Water Corporation. As members are aware, the Power and Water Corporation became the Territory’s first government owned corporation, or GOC, on 1 July 2002, making this the corporation’s seventh SCI. The SCI is the annual performance agreement between the GOC and the shareholding minister on behalf of Territorians as owners of the corporation.
Again, consistent with previous years, information of a commercially sensitive nature has been removed from the SCI being tabled today on the basis that it would not be unreasonable to disadvantage the corporation by disclosing commercially sensitive information that no private sector business would be expected to release.
The SCI forecast nett profits after tax of $50.2m in 2008-09, compared with a profit of $53.3m projected for 2007-08. The lower profit forecast for 2008-09 is attributable to higher operating costs, particularly in relation to energy, personnel and maintenance.
The 2008-09 SCI contains plans for $748m of capital investment between 2008-09 and 2012-13. In relation to repairs and maintenance, some $258m is projected to be spent over the same period. This is an increase in the total infrastructure program announced last year, with $1bn now being committed. The increases are as a result of additional projects being undertaken, as well as revised costs for some projects. The infrastructure investment plan has been based on a rigorous assessment of capital and maintenance needs, and ensures that Power and Water Corporation infrastructure meets independent reliability standards. It represents the largest investment in essential services in Territory history. The operating costs pressures, coupled with the significant capital investment program, are placing additional financial pressure on the corporation.
The Territory government supports the Power and Water Corporation’s continued strategic focus on improving supply reliability and increasing capacity. Accordingly, the government has decided to provide capital contributions of $50m in both 2007-08 and 2008-09 to assist Power and Water with its significant investment program. The Territory government will also continue with its contribution towards the undergrounding of power lines project, with an additional $13.6m to a total of $16.6m in 2007-08, enabling the project to be extended to Millner. By the end of 2009, three suburbs most affected by supply reliability concerns - Rapid Creek, Nightcliff and Millner - will be fully undergrounded.
As members are aware, the government has a uniform tariff policy for most customers, including small business and households. This means that these Territorians pay the same for electricity, water and sewerage irrespective of how much it costs to provide those services with varying locations and conditions. Notwithstanding the decision last year to maintain tariffs in real terms, there remains a significant gap between the price Territorians pay for electricity, water and sewerage and what it costs the corporation to deliver the services. This gap is funded by government providing community service obligation funding, or CSO funding, and government accepting a lower rate of return for its investment in the corporation. Government will be providing CSO funding of around $60m to subsidise provision of power, water and sewage.
As the 2008-09 SCI will be considered by the GOC Scrutiny Committee, I will not go into any more detail here.
I move that the Power and Water Corporation Statement of Corporate Intent 2008-09 be referred for consideration by the Government Owned Corporation Scrutiny Committee to be established to examine the 2008-09 operations of Power and Water Corporation.
Motion agreed to.
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly, at its rising, adjourn until Tuesday, 10 June 2008, at 10 am in Parliament House or such other time and/or date as may be advised by the Speaker pursuant to sessional order.
Motion agreed to.
Mr WARREN (Goyder): Madam Speaker, I lay on the table the Report of the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee on Invasive Species and Management Programs in the Northern Territory.
MOTION
Print Paper - Environment and Sustainable Development Committee - Report on Invasive Species and Management Programs
in the Northern Territory
Mr WARREN (Goyder): Madam Speaker, I move that the Report on Invasive Species and Management Programs in the Northern Territory be printed.
Motion agreed to.
Mr WARREN (Goyder): Madam Speaker, as Chair of the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development, I am pleased to table this Report on Invasive Species Management in the Northern Territory.
It has been quite a journey and there have been some pretty interesting sights along the way. This report is a story of great challenges and opportunities. On the one hand, we face a huge task to rein in those invasive species that have become endemic to the Territory, particularly weeds and feral animals. At the same time, there are also emerging threats that we need to fend off to keep our heads above water. The scale of the task is very daunting.
On the other hand, the Territory still retains precious environmental treasures that we must preserve. We have to fight to protect our unique and special environment from the threat that these exotic invasives pose to our environmental treasures. It is difficult to imagine the Territory without these treasures. Indeed, without them, we lose not just their unique and special physical aspects. We also lose our true identity, a loss of identity which is to the detriment of all Territorians, indigenous and non-indigenous people alike.
It is not just tourism I am talking about, although that is important. I am referring to what makes us who we are, what makes us different from all other parts of Australia. It is about ensuring our indigenous culture survives and flourishes. It is about ensuring our natural ecosystems survive in a sustainable living and breathing form. It is about ensuring our great outdoors-based lifestyle survives for our children’s children and beyond. It is about ensuring that we continue to live in harmony with our environment so we can sustainably harvest the jewels it offers.
Amongst the few words anyone could come up with to describe the Territory is that our environment is always going to rate very highly. Uluru, Kakadu, Litchfield, West MacDonnell Ranges, all the great places between and to the north, south, east and west of them. These places are such a big part of us and we have been entrusted to look after them. How are we going then? Should we be alarmed or complacent? This report shows we are at a decisive point. There are serious issues for the number endemic species and clear threats from others. But the good news is that there is still time to roll this back if we grasp the nettle now. We do risk falling behind the game, but a concerted effort from this point, followed through can still put us on track to a better footing within the next ten years. That might sound like an ambitious plan, but the report shows that we have made a start and suggests the path forward.
The Weeds Act got the ball rolling, bringing in a more modern approach to invasive species that is on par with the best legislation anywhere in Australia. This is the sort of legislation that fosters community concern and community input. That is good. Similar approaches have paid dividends in other jurisdictions, Queensland in particular.
However, we need more than legislation. We need to put some meat on the bones. This report shows that management of invasive species is a wicked problem that demands a sophisticated response. Again, there is room for cautious optimism. At the time of hearings for this inquiry, Territory government agencies were in the process of developing and fine tuning risk management systems. I am a great advocate of these systems which support decision-making in complex situations. In the past, simple approaches have proven over and over again they are just not up to the complexities of the situation. But no matter how good the legislation is, and no matter how appropriate these systems are, we are going to have to invest more resources needed to be successful. While we can get the legislation right and have good ideas for systems, we need to recognise the need to go further and guarantee they have the intended effect.
It is clear from what people said to the committee, that there are insufficient frontline people from government agencies supporting community groups and interested people. People are struggling, not only with the frontline work on invasive species, but also with the administrative burden that is placed upon them to win grants and fulfil their grant obligations. Because of this, the Territory is missing out on much of the important federal government money our community sectors could be utilising to fight invasive species.
The model advanced by the Weeds Act is one of partnership between government and the community. It is a good model. To make it work properly we need to make sure that all the players are putting in. If the people in the community feel the government isn’t whole-hearted in its approach to these challenges eventually they will give up. That must not be allowed to happen.
During our inquiry we found significant numbers of people who are passionately committed to rolling back the invasion of exotic species in the Territory. These were people from government agencies, pastoralists, indigenous organisations, small landholders, land care groups, local governments and every day Territorians, all who genuinely care. We also have a good pool of great research people covering this sector. All these people are great assets for the Territory. These are people already doing a lot and quite clearly ready to do more if they are given the right support.
In considering the management of invasive species in the Territory we found a process well begun. It has much potential but it needs to grow and expand if it is to live up to its promise. This is something that none of us can be complacent about. A brief walk along some of the roadsides - even here in Darwin - provides a vivid cross-section of the invasive species that could spread and choke the life out of our special and unique environment.
As a committee, we have discovered through our journey on this inquiry that there is a fine line between success and failure. There is no middle road. We hope this report impresses upon all parties the scale and urgency of the problem. We believe that all who read this report will be able to see the need to change the way we have attended to the problem of invasive species in the past. We also believe we have shown that change is possible, too. The committee believes an honest and frank assessment of the situation, as outlined in this report, can be a motivating factor for us to do better in the future.
For that reason the report and its recommendations focuses on a way to cut the problems down to size and to get the best possible value for money. It is clear that the Territory faces real challenges in tackling invasive species. We have a vast land area and a sparse population and we are a small jurisdiction.
To rise to the occasion we need every one of those passionate committed people who spoke to the committee and many others like them. We need to make sure we as a government are firing on all cylinders to do our part of the job. For a little more investment we can get a lot more back. We can continue to enjoy our Territory environment, savour its gifts and continue to share them with the world.
Madam Speaker, I move the Assembly take note of the committee’s report and I seek leave to continue my remarks at a later hour.
Leave granted.
Debate adjourned.
Mr KIELY (Parks and Wildlife): Madam Speaker, the Territory’s 87 parks and reserves stretch from Garig Gunak Barlu National Park on the tropical north coast of the Territory, through Litchfield, Nitmiluk and the Devils Marbles to the West MacDonnell’s and Watarrka National Park in the arid Centre, with another 81 parks and reserves in between. The variety of scenery and wildlife experiences they provide is truly amazing. Visitors can go bush walking, camping, swimming, cycling, bird watching, fishing and canoeing or just relax and enjoy the peace and the views. They can experience the Territory’s living indigenous cultures or visit sites that tell stories of the Territory’s non-indigenous history. They can visit many places in two wheel drive vehicles or venture out on remote four wheel drive tracks.
The parks provide protection for many species of the Territory’s animals and plants and many are in heritage sites to help ensure that the future generations of Territorians will inherit the same rich environment that we did and have the same opportunities to enjoy them that we do.
This amazing network of parks and reserves is a major asset for the Territory. Their contribution to the Territory’s economy, to the protection of our important natural environment and to our very sense of what it is to be a Territorian is profound. They have been built up over many years and are something that all Territorians can be proud of.
I stand here today to outline how we will continue to build on the good work that has been done in the past to make our parks and reserves even better. Our parks, together with Kakadu and Uluru - Kata Tjuta cover just 5.8% of the Territory’s land mass, but they make a massive contribution to the Territory’s economy. The tourism industry in the Territory is estimated to contribute $615.7m in gross value added per annum to the NT economy and is the largest private sector employer in the Territory, directly and indirectly accounting for over 11 000 jobs or 11.7% of total employment. It is estimated that at least 90% of tourism in the Territory is based on the natural and cultural experiences provided by our parks and reserves.
Our parks are widely distributed across the Northern Territory, many in remote and regional areas. They are, therefore, well placed to provide foci for the socio-economic development of those remote and regional areas as well as the major cities.
Tourism NT has recently released a five year strategic plan for tourism in the Territory which identifies five themes that will drive the industry forward. The first of these is ‘developing the unique NT experience’ and the importance of our parks and reserves in delivering on this is detailed in the strategy. The tourism strategy identifies a need to:
My department will continue to work closely with Tourism Northern Territory and the tourism industry to plan for the future and to ensure that the parks and reserves are all able to continue to support the Territory’s economic development industry based on them.
One of the great achievements of this government has been the resolution of native title land claims over many of our parks and reserves through negotiation rather than litigation. The passage of the Parks and Reserves (Framework for the Future) Act in 2005 signalled the joint management of our parks and reserves cannot only assure the ongoing development of tourism, but can also build better tourism experiences and provide important employment and socioeconomic opportunities for indigenous Territorians.
The Northern Territory government’s joint management agenda for parks commits the Northern Territory government to work with traditional owners to ensure that there are increased opportunities for traditional owners to:
Joint management has a long history in the Northern Territory and the success of the relationship between Jawoyn Association and Parks and Wildlife that has developed through the joint management of Nitmiluk National Park has resulted in the Jawoyn Association being a major supplier of services to the park and sole owner of Nitmiluk Tours which runs the highly successful boat cruises, canoeing and other tourist activities in the gorge.
In other areas, enterprise development is being nurtured through the joint management process. In many cases, involvement in joint management planning is, for the first time, creating real awareness of the opportunities available in the tourism industry for traditional owners. It is helping to link them up with Tourism NT and other agencies that can introduce them to tourism and provide development support. Coming out of the joint management process at Rainbow Valley, Ricky Orr, one of the traditional owners, has just started his own business, Rainbow Valley Cultural Tours, and has joined with an established local business, Alice Wanderer, to offer special high-quality art and cultural interpretative tours. Small beginnings like this will occur across the Territory, and we will support them to help them to build into strong ongoing businesses.
As well as creating jobs and business opportunities, joint management delivers many less tangible, but just as important, benefits to indigenous Territorians. Involvement of traditional owners in planning and management of parks on their land builds self-esteem and sense of control and joint management is helping to deliver this on 32 of our parks and reserves. Self-esteem and sense of control are important for Aboriginal people to be able to effectively deal with many of the issues facing them, and to effectively engage with governments to develop solutions. Joint management is a very positive way for government and Aboriginal people to work together and helps to build trusting and constant relationships that can spill over into other areas.
I was recently privileged to take part in a major joint management forum at Hamilton Downs, where 80 traditional owners from joint-managed parks across the Territory met for three days with Parks staff and staff from the Northern and Central Land Councils to review progress on joint management and develop priorities for the future. It was exciting to see the sharing of ideas and stories and the openness of debate, and the willingness to tackle the hard issues. The Territory took on a massive challenge when it decided to roll out joint management across 27 of its parks and reserves at the one time. This scale of joint management has never been done anywhere else in the world, and we knew that it would not always be easy, or run as smoothly as we might hope. However, the level of commitment and the quality of the relationships between all of the parties I saw at Hamilton Downs gives me great confidence for the future of joint management.
At Hamilton Downs, the traditional owners made it clear to me that they were pleased with how joint management was developing, but they wanted to continue to work to make it better, and they wanted government support to expedite the promised transfer of land titles. They wanted a commitment that the government would continue to support joint management. I can assure this House, as I assured the traditional owners who were gathered at Hamilton Downs, that we will continue our work with the Commonwealth government to get title granted, and that this government sees joint management as a way of building better parks with better experiences. We are fully committed to it and we will continue our financial support.
I also take this opportunity to formally acknowledge the enormous work that the staff of NRETA and in the Northern and Central Land Councils have done to bring joint management so far forward. The development of strong relationships between land councils and the government around joint management has been, and will continue to be, critical to its success. NRETA also recognises that many of the opportunities for Aboriginal people to work as rangers will not occur on our parks and reserves, but that we have high levels of experience in managing parks that we can share with community ranger groups to help them to look after their land better. To this end, we have funded an Indigenous Ranger Group Support Program that places an experienced Parks ranger with an indigenous ranger group, to work alongside and help to build the capacity of the indigenous ranger group. We currently have one ranger based with the Dhimurru Rangers at Nhulunbuy, and we have just placed another ranger with the Laynhapuy Yirrkala Rangers at Yirrkala. We have also committed the funding for another three more rangers to replace further groups over the next three years.
Indigenous employment involvement in the management of our parks and their own lands is making our parks better, and is helping to protect our Territory heritage. It is also directly contributing to delivering on this government’s commitment to achieving employment and social targets in Closing the Gap.
This government is also committed to ensuring the Territory remains the best place to live and to raise a family, and our parks are a key plank to delivery of that commitment. The outdoors recreational experiences provided by parks helps us to define us as Territorians. They are the places where we go to relax and enjoy those special Territory experiences, and it is no overstatement to say that they provide important physical and psychological health benefits to us all. Whether it is walking with the kids and the dog along the beach along Casuarina Coastal Reserve, having a picnic with families and friends at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, going out bush and camping at Policeman’s Waterhole in the Davenport Ranges, or heading out to Shady Camp in Mary River National Park, Territory families love our parks and reserves. They allow us to keep our connection with our natural environment, even when we are living and working in the towns and cities. They provide aesthetic and artistic inspiration and also provide healthy exercise and excitement and adventure - all which is part of who we are as Territorians.
We recently developed a new $35 000 boat launching facility at Point Stuart, and we are spending more than $1.4m building camping and boat launching facilities at Channel Point, which I will be opening later this year.
We have also recently announced a $5.2m upgrade for Leanyer Water Park, which will give the kids of Darwin exciting new waterslides and improved skate park facilities, as well as providing more shade and improved facilities to make it a more enjoyable place for everyone.
This government has also committed $300 000 from the Urban Enhancement Program to upgrade lighting and pathways through Casuarina Coastal Reserve.
Lastly, but by no means least, our parks and reserves provide a secure foundation for the protection of the Territory’s biodiversity. We are fortunate in the Territory to still have large areas of relatively intact landscapes, and it is easy to think that little needs to be done to look after our plants and animals, but changes in this landscape over the last 100 years have caused the decline and, in some cases loss, of far too many species. There are currently 203 threatened species of plants and animals in the Northern Territory and our parks and reserves are critically important in protecting them.
Parks and reserves established and managed by government are secure areas protected by legislation and assured of long-term funding. They are managed specifically for the preservation of the natural and cultural assets within their borders. Some of our larger parks, like the West MacDonnells and Watarrka are important for many species, whereas others, like Mac Clark Conservation Reserve have been declared to provide protection for single species. We have inherited these assets from previous generations and it is incumbent on us we make sure we protect them so future generations of Territorians can enjoy the same rich inheritance we do.
Conservation efforts cannot succeed if we only work on our parks and reserves, and NRETA will continue to work with other land managers and landowners to encourage and support efforts to protect our natural heritage on other lands, but our parks and reserves will continue to be the backbone of conservation in the Territory.
This government’s commitment to seeking World Heritage Listing for the West MacDonnell National Park signifies our intention to ensure the long-term security of our parks and reserves and the natural assets within them. Cabinet has also recently directed the West MacDonnell National Park be protected from mining by placing a Reservation from Occupation over the park.
Our Territory parks and reserves are a treasure that we should all be proud of and should all work to protect and enrich. They protect our rich natural heritage, and provide us with experiences that shape our lives as Territorians. They are critical for our economy and to closing the gap in the Territory. This government is committed to great parks and great experiences for Territory families to enjoy for generations to come and from which Territorians can build livelihoods. We will build on the work done so far to make them even better.
Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly take note of the statement.
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): Madam Speaker, today I talk about the parks statement the minister has delivered. When I saw it last night, I wondered what wonderful new things were going to be in this today. When I read it, I thought it was really just a little glossy upbeat. So, I thought, I will have a look to see what the minister has had to say about some aspects of the parks.
Today, I will talk about the parks’ hand back and the fraud that has been perpetrated upon all Territorians by this government. Needless to say, we are duty bound to respond to the government’s decision to hand over the parks to Aboriginal owners. The fundamental flaw in that debate has been the government’s refusal to table the justification for the whole charade. The Ward decision, and particularly the references in that decision, brought into question the declaration of some of the parks in the Territory Parks Estate. Most of those parks were quickly re-declared, however, the declaration of some other parks remain because of outstanding possible land rights claims over them. The government of the day then decided to hand over a swag of parks, the numbers of which, fortunately, have been dwindling, to potential claimants.
It is worth considering for a moment the term, ‘potential claimants’. Most of the parks identified for hand over were unable to be claimed or there was a potential for claim. The government said the policy was one of negotiation rather than litigation, so that such an approach was reasonable. I do not believe that it was.
In the case of Katherine Gorge, or Nitmiluk, there was a claim, and after that claim was established as being legitimate, then there was an entry into a joint management arrangement. Not in this case. What was proposed was a wholesale hand back. Based on what? Well, based on some legal advice the government had received, one from the Solicitor-General and another from another lawyer somewhere. Was this the same Solicitor-General who advised the Mines minister on the declaration of the open cut pit at McArthur River? Why, yes, it was. This is not a reflection on his professionalism or his integrity. What it does demonstrate is that the Territory Solicitor-General is capable of being wrong. Lawyers do not determine the law. Judges and courts do. Well, goodness me.
There are two flaws in the government’s approach. First, they were prepared to drop the ball at the first blush and second, they have refused to make the first blush, that is, make the legal advice public. Rumours are around now that the legal advice said there were only three parks at stake and they were not substantial. I challenge the minister to prove those rumours wrong and place on the table the legal opinions upon which they put so much weight. If they do not, your title of a fraudster is well deserved. The justification for this approach has been entirely bedded in the mantra that this government has chanted of negotiation rather than litigation.
It is worth considering for a moment what this means. In the case of the parks, the starting position is that we surrender before a single shot has been fired, and before all this any real attempt to attest a claim lodged against the people of the Northern Territory. In other native title and land rights matters, it has meant long delays and no results. The Larapinta Stage 4 development in Alice Springs took years to negotiate. At the end of the day, native title was extinguished and the native titleholders end up with money in the bank. Oddly, if native title had simply been extinguished earlier in the piece, the end result would have been that native title was extinguished and the native titleholders ended up with money in the bank. The end result was exactly the same except in the government’s approach the land was released three years late. That money could have been working for the native title owners for years. But no, government had their policy of negotiation rather litigation.
What was in it for government? A warm, fuzzy feeling and a photo opportunity. The other question to ask is why is the negotiation rather than litigation approach an on-off option for government? Where is the negotiation over the inter-tidal zones? No, to the contrary. Not only does the government litigate in the first instance, that litigation is advertised in full page ads in the Northern Territory News. What this means is that when the Country Liberal Party challenges a claim against Territorians, they are a pack of racists. But when the Labor government challenges a claim against Territorians, they are doing everyone a favour.
What about the native title claim over Darwin? It is worth considering what a native title claim is and how a court deals with them before we return to the claim over Darwin. A native title claim is lodged with the Native Title Tribunal in an effort by the local indigenous people to assert that their contact with the land remains intact and that a sufficient amount of their culture has withstood the ravages of settlement. In the case like Yorta Yorta, it has become established that proving those links is not as easy as many people would have hoped. They are interesting cases to read because what is on trial is not title, as one would first assume, but rather the integrity of the local people’s remnant culture. Where the evidence is lacking to support the culture has survived, the practical outcome is that native title has not survived.
There is a grim undercurrent that is not often mentioned. When a court does not find the survival of native title it says, essentially, that the link with the land is dead. What logically follows is the court is pronouncing the death of a culture. I ask members to stop and consider that for a moment. When a native title claim fails, the court, by implication, pronounces the death of a culture. It is not surprising that some commentators accuse the process of settlement or invasion, as some people like to call it, as a form of cultural genocide. It is not a view I subscribe to but I do understand the logic of that assertion.
There is another implication in all this that is less considered. A trial is an adversarial process. That means it pits one group of people against another. So, for each native title application there is one group asserting that native title exists and another that it does not. To defeat the assertion that native title exists there is only one real defence. That the cultural contact with the land has not survived uninterrupted. At some point, the culture died. If there is a culture as was found in Risk versus Northern Territory it is not enough. It has to be a continuous link. In that case, the Northern Territory contended the link had been broken. In some people’s language, the defence to the claim asserted by the Northern Territory government was that cultural genocide had been successful. This is from the lips of this government that apologised to Aboriginal people. Disingenuous applied to this situation does not go far enough.
Madam Speaker, I believe that claims against the people of the Territory should be tested. However, when that gets classified as racism by people who then engage in the same activity and advertise the fact in full page ads, I am absolutely amazed. At least, our position was honest. Honest does not necessarily mean accommodating. What it means is telling people what you expect from them and what your standards are. What this government does is tell them one thing; ‘we are sorry’ for example, and then rocks in the court fighting claims on the grounds of what some would call cultural genocide.
How many members of this Labor government have come in to this place speaking of their desire to protect the integrity of Aboriginal issues and people in this place and then they sign up to the High Court challenges and defences such as cultural extinguishment as a matter of course.
Where is the negotiation, rather than litigation, approach in that? I suspect there are people in this Chamber who have not read these decisions or contemplated at any length the implications of what these decisions mean.
Ms Lawrie: Have you?
Mrs MILLER: Yes, I have. Otherwise, I would not be saying this.
Members interjecting.
Mrs MILLER: The response over the decision - I have read them.
Members interjecting.
Mrs MILLER: Have all of you? I bet there are a lot of people in here who have not. The response over the decision to allow the McArthur River Mine to go ahead with members crossing the floor and Cabinet members refusing to vote pushed this government to the brink of self-immolation. That is because the issues surrounding the McArthur River Mine were drawn into sharp relief. It was impossible not to notice the underlying issues in that matter. The Blue Mud Bay and Risk decisions have drawn the issues into sharp relief. It is important to understand what the implications are there.
As the law currently stands, Aboriginal people have exclusive possession of the inter-tidal zones and the waters that flow over them. What the government is seeking to do is have those additional returns of territories judged as wrong or, in layman’s terms, overturn a decision that grants the zones to Aboriginal people. Are they doing this through negotiation? No. The attitude is ‘see you in court’.
The government is seeking to take away a right that has been established in law. Compare that position with the approach of giving away parks claims that had not even been made over most of the parks identified for hand over. What is the difference between the two? Well, the inter-tidal zones are often visited by people who live in the northern suburbs of Darwin. These people are called amateur fisherman. They have an association. There are many thousands of voters attached to that association and there are plenty more who are not members yet still visit the inter-tidal zone.
The parks, however, are also visited by people from the northern suburbs. Well, that is not quite true. Yes, many Territorians visit parks like Litchfield, but that is not one of the parks in the give away. Other parks were often low on visitor numbers particularly from the northern suburbs. I suspect a whole lot more people in Wulagi would go fishing than will visit Ruby Gap this year. The government has lofty standards, but only if they do not cost them votes. If they do stand to cost them votes, it is ‘see you in court’ and read about it in the full page ad.
The Country Liberal Party was tough from time to time, but it was a product of necessity and it was always honest. To read the statement about parks, about how great government is and they do not acknowledge where those parks came from what they are doing with them. Without talking about these other issues is not unlike wearing a T-shirt made by child labour - nice shirt, pity about hypocrisy.
I have no idea how the minister could honestly stand in this parliament today and say that the government is building on the good work done in the past to make our parks and reserves even better. How can you say that, minister? How could you look our hard-working rangers in the eye and tell them that you are supporting them, because I have just read this budget. I am sure your own park rangers would be rolling their eyes at your claims. I refer you to you own budget books.
Let us start with Budget Paper No 3. There are two outputs relating to your parks. The first output is Parks and Reserves, and the second is Biological Parks. If you do not know where they are, they are on page 234 in Budget Paper No 3. Let us start with the Parks and Reserves output which is listed at having $34.117m. That is what is left after you cut 3% from the Parks’ budget. That is right, minister, your very own Budget Paper No 2 details the 3% cut to operational and employee costs.
Minister, well may you stand in this House and announce what you are doing, but you give with one hand and take with the other. You are not even up-front about the 3% you slashed from park rangers. You did not even mention it in your statement. If you have the fortitude to stand up to your Treasurer - the Treasurer, I might add, who does not even understand superannuation …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mrs MILLER: He has the gall stand in this House and stand up for the public service whilst cutting their salaries and operational costs by 3%. Minister, if you had the fortitude, you would have had over $1m extra for the parks you say you are doing so much for. Why did you agree to slashing the Parks’ budget by 3% - because it is in the books? The maths is pretty simple: the increase and the output cost of $1.084m is not even enough to cover the CPI of 3.4% and the additional wage cost of 4%. Despite what you are saying, you have cut the Parks’ budget in real terms. There is not enough to cover the large increase or the CPI. How many rangers and support staff jobs are you about to cut? Have you told the park rangers that you agreed to a 3% cut to their salary and operational costs? I bet you did not, but we will. The public and the rangers need to know why you fiddled their budget, and why you have made those cuts.
When I look at the budget for Biological Parks - that is the Territory Wildlife Park in Darwin, the Desert Park in Alice Springs, and the Botanic Gardens - in Budget Paper No 3, I notice the total you have allocated is actually $3000 less than last year. How much did you cut from wildlife parks and botanic gardens? You cut over $300 000 from their budget - the wages and oncosts of three or four employees.
This is your promotion of your great lifestyle: not even enough money in the Parks’ budget to cover increased costs or even enough money to cover their wages. There is no coverage for CPI, or for the 4% wage increase. That is a pretty good one, minister. You stood here and sprouted about how much you have done for parks, and you have cut funding to the Desert Park in Alice Springs, the Territory Wildlife Park in Berry Springs, and the botanic gardens. I hope Darwin and Alice Springs residents and park employees know you have slashed their wages allocation. I hope they know you have cut the amount they can spend on basic operations at the parks.
Minister, the budget for the parks looks like a con job. It is quite obvious that the government pays lip service to the parks, otherwise you would have stood up for them. Your own budget papers shame you and your view that parks get great support from the government; they did not even get enough to cover your wages increase, nor enough to cover CPI. Some statement this is! If you were fair dinkum, you would be standing here explaining to the rangers and people who use the parks what you have passed. I look forward to the minister’s reply.
Debate adjourned.
Mr VATSKALIS (Business and Economic Development): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
Ms MARTIN (Fannie Bay): Madam Speaker, I want to speak tonight about the Ross Smith Guest House on Parap Road which is not far from my electorate office. It is a privately-owned guest house and has been privately owned for about 20 years. It was originally constructed as a Commonwealth government hostel. There are well over 100 tenants there, each living in what you would call a compact room, with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. Many of the tenants are long term, some as long as 20 or 30 years. Many are in the workforce, although most are on some kind of Centrelink payment, Aged or Disability.
The decision was made last year by the owners of the Ross Smith Guest House to put it on the market, and developers, Maximum Property, expressed interest in redeveloping the site with a combination of residential and holiday units. That development application has been heard by the Development Consent Authority and presently has conditional approval with a number of conditions to be met, such as a traffic management plan before full approval can be given.
Now, this all appears straightforward. Owners want to sell, and a developer has an appropriate proposal. The big sticking point for the tenants, and me as local member, is where on earth do the tenants go and, as I said, there are well over 100 of them? Rent at Ross Smith for a single room is about $140 a week. Finding equivalent accommodation is a very, very tough task. Boarding houses have disappeared in Darwin, but it is not just only here in Darwin. The problem is Australia-wide and one that the Rudd government has committed itself to tackling with incentives for the private sector to build low cost accommodation, and that is excellent for the future, but the Ross Smith problem is now.
Six months ago, I started working together with Housing and Health to identify all tenants needing assistance with finding alternative housing. It has proved to be quite a substantial list, and I want to thank Territory Housing for their positive response at a time when waiting lists are long. Those in need of priority have been identified; others are on the general waiting list for one-bedroom accommodation.
The non-government and private sectors have also been involved. Shelter NT, St Vinnies, and the Salvation Army are working with me to find any possible budget accommodation. The Salvation Army in Mitchell Street has been especially helpful and a number of tenants have moved there. Ryan O’Hanlon from the REINT brought a number of his members who specialise in rental properties to meet with me. We had a productive meeting and I thank them for that. As a result, Ross Smith residents now get quick notification of any private rental vacancies. Sadly, though, a number of residents have reported landlords simply won’t deal with them, even if they have good references, and that is because they come from Ross Smith, simply that, and that, Mr Acting Deputy Speaker is very disappointing.
So, at this stage, with an end-of-June deadline for the tenants still the most likely possibility, many of the tenants have not found anywhere affordable to go. Darwin’s rental vacancies are very low, rents are high, often totally out of reach of someone on a pension, or on a combination of pension and part-time work.
It was time a few months ago to think laterally. Territory Housing has been doing that and not that the results can be made public quite yet, but more accommodation, low cost options will be made available.
At this stage, I cannot say whether all residents of Ross Smith will find alternative accommodation. Some are feeling most disheartened and are seriously looking at moving interstate. They feel it is their only option, returning to family or friends interstate, when they would rather stay on in Darwin, preferably stay in Parap.
All this has made me think about the kind of public housing governments build and provide. The focus for new accommodation has been on medium density housing, usually two-bedroom, sometimes one, for which demand is significant, but there is also a growing and legitimate need, for public boarding houses, reasonably self-contained rooms with some share facilities like lounges or even kitchens. Many of the tenants at Ross Smith want to be able to go to accommodation very much the same as they have now – low cost, not too much space to look after, some share facilities, and other tenants to sit and chat to from time to time.
Governments and, importantly, the private sector need to take this need seriously. I am pleased to say Territory Housing is, but future building programs must not exclude the boarding house model. It is, though, not only a task for governments. The private sector has a significant part to play in building low cost accommodation and federal Labor’s incentives, when they come into place, should encourage that to happen. In the meantime, I ask the developers of the Ross Smith site to seriously consider a staged exit for the tenants. The middle of the Dry Season is probably the most difficult time to find accommodation, especially the low cost-type. Some form of response to this difficult situation would be appreciated by the Ross Smith residents and their local member but there is a lot more work to do. Much has been done but it does starkly bring into consideration the issues faced by those who depend on low cost accommodation. It reminds us that as a city develops those living traditionally in boarding houses - and are happy to do so - get squeezed out of the market.
There were two existing boarding houses in the Parap area. They, because of various reasons, have gone. The Ross Smith Guest House is the last of that kind in the Parap area. It is going to be developed quite legitimately but to try to tackle the problem of what you do with more than 100 tenants who rely on having, or can only afford, low cost accommodation is a serious challenge.
I thank all those who have been working with me from government departments, from the private sector, from the non-government housing providers for all the work they have done. My electorate office in Parap would probably get three or four visits related to this dilemma every day. It will continue to get those visits and that has been since the beginning of the year from concerned tenants at Ross Smith who are trying their best – and we with them – but we still cannot find alternative accommodation. It is a very tough situation.
I also speak tonight about the St John’s College Access Community Studies program. Eighteen enthusiastic students from St John’s are currently part of a community studies flexible learning program called Access set up to allow and encourage Aboriginal students from non-English speaking backgrounds in the Top End to gain their NTCEs. The program focuses on two projects: one, building a profitable vegetable harvest and, the other, preparing a web page in tandem with an indigenous plant use information pamphlet for the George Brown Botanic Gardens. This brochure will be used as an educational resource for visitors and tourists.
The students have worked hard to create a vegetable and native plant garden for the college. They have planted everything from eggplant, beans and basil to native plants such as acacia, grevillea, banksia and an array of native bush tucker. The native plants were kindly donated to the school by the botanic gardens. This term, students will design and build the web page and put together the tourism brochure by using their own Aboriginal community knowledge of plant use working with the botanic garden’s management; as well as using school ICT and written literature to compile their scientific research.
This month, the students will travel to the Katherine Rural College where they will spend a week learning about machinery maintenance and operations, things such as quad bikes and tractors. They will also learn fencing skills, both the theory and the practical side. Last term when the students were at the college, they built the fencing structure of a cattle-holding bay where cattle are mustered into for health checks or transport.
I acknowledge and congratulate the students for their hard work and commitment to the program. They are Denaleon Watson, Jonathon Lalda-Roger, Dion Minggun, Stuart Yunupingu, Ross Tungatulum, Ishmael Marika, Navarone Lake, Richard Johnson, Matthew Furber, Lachlan Farrar, Murray Daniels, Leron Guymala, Gary Manbulloo, Dionysius Munkara, Virgil Puruntatameri and Graeme Henry-Whiting. I also acknowledge and congratulate their teacher, Ian Browne, who has a background in horticulture and ecology and Jim Smith, St John’s indigenous education worker, for their strong dedication and hard work. They are doing a wonderful job with the students who are obtaining horticultural knowledge, as well as practical employment gaining skills. The indigenous plant use project is also enabling the young men to share their cultural knowledge of plant use in their own communities with others. I wish Ian and his students all the best in their project.
Finally tonight, a farewell. That farewell is to Frances McKechnie who, for many years, lived in the Central Australia area. She died on Monday. I would like to talk a little about her life. Anyone who knows Frances knows what a warm and wonderful woman she was; a woman with quite a history.
Frances was born in the Western District of Victoria in 1924. In her early adult life, Frances trained as a deaconess at a Presbyterian church in Melbourne specialising in teaching and social work. She worked in Melbourne in Warrnambool until 1968 when she accepted a posting with the Australian Inland Mission, which is now the Uniting Church Frontier Services. Her new role, charging her with children services and female staff, took her all over northern Australia from the Pilbara and Kimberley regions, throughout the Territory, the northern part of South Australia and into Cape York.
Frances had several periods of work in Central Australia during the late 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s before retiring Alice Springs in the mid-1980s. She lived the latter years of her life at the Old Timers cottages having moved on her retirement in 1986.
Frances sadly passed away at the Alice Springs Hospital on Monday, 5 May 2008, after a short illness. She was 84 years old.
Frances’ involvement in the community was legendary in every aspect of welfare, as was her understanding of the issues involved. Her strong interest and concern for social justice and the preservation of history saw her take lead roles on committees for the National Trust Adelaide House Management Committee, Old Timers Management Committee, and the Older Australian Advisory Committee. In the foyer of the Assembly Hall of St Philip’s College in Alice Springs, there are a number of photographs of those responsible for the founding and continued success of the college. Taking pride of place in the photos is one of a younger Frances. The school will be forever indebted to Frances for her work as chaplain and supporter of the college.
Another one of Frances’ passions in life was the Labor Party. She was an active member of the party since the 1950s working with former Deputy Prime Minister Brian Howe in church groups in the Melbourne suburb of North Fitzroy. In Central Australian Labor circles, Frances occupied, I reckon, every position in the branch and did all the tasks that active members undertake over a 25-year period. Frances’ greatest contribution was to act as mentor to candidates, offering support and a warm friendly hand as candidates were pre-selected. She was always ready to assist in campaigns in any way she could, and supported candidates as they went through the rigours of campaigning to face the electorate, often in vain.
The 2001 and 2005 election victories for Labor in the Territory were part of her lifetime highlights, but no doubt, I suspect, paled into insignificance when her beloved Geelong Football Club secured last year’s premiership, breaking a 44-year drought for them.
Frances was awarded Labor Party life membership in 2002. The award was in recognition of Frances’ tireless work for the party over many years. She was a prime example of those members who have continued to turn up and work tirelessly for the Labor Party in Central Australia, despite Labor’s years in the political wilderness and the eternal uphill battle to make ground in Alice Springs. Frances was a branch patron of the party in Alice Springs. In this role, she was appointed reference for the branch and Territory history.
Frances could be depended upon to attend functions and, as a senior member of the branch, rally members for fundraising activities. She acted as host and introductory speaker when a range of VIPs over many years came to town ranging from Gough Whitlam, Kim Beazley, Barry Jones, and many others. Where appropriate, she was to be seen leading celebrations of election success.
I just loved Frances. She was a most wonderful woman. You had to know Frances and what she looked like. She was very genteel, her hair was always done, never a hair out of place. She said to me that being in Alice Springs and being a member of the Labor Party made her, in a way, not respectable. That is how she saw it. She belonged to a group that was not the flavour in town. And she said: ‘I kind of got used to that’. She said: ‘When you won government in 2001, I had to do a whole personality change. All of a sudden, I became respectable because Labor had won government. I had to come to terms with that and it took me a while’. This was a woman in her late 70s saying: ‘I hang on to the fact that I was not respectable. And now, damn it, you’ve made me respectable!’ If anything ever characterised Frances, that was it.
She was a warm, wonderful giving woman. Alice Springs and Central Australia has lost a wonderful contributor to the community and someone who worked so long for the north of Australia with such a wonderful spirit. She really represented all the worthwhile things of being a committed Christian and a member of the Uniting Church. We bid Frances farewell from the Territory with great sadness, and farewell from her pivotal role in the Labor Party in Cental Australia. From everyone here, Frances, we will miss you.
Mrs AAGAARD (Nightcliff): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I place on the record as well my sadness at the passing of Frances McKechnie. I had not actually heard until the member for Fannie Bay just mentioned it. I knew Frances through the Uniting Church and she was one of those old-style church ladies: very reliable, always at church on Sunday no matter who the minister is - and there is a big variation of ministers in churches across Australia. Every time I visited Alice Springs and, on a Sunday, went to the John Flynn Memorial Church she was always there. I can only say I will really miss her. My condolences to her family.
Tonight, I also note the career of Liz McFarlane. On 10 January 2008, Liz McFarlane retired after nearly 22 years of meritorious services as an Electorate Officer and Parliamentary Officer of the Legislative Assembly. Liz served as an Electorate Officer to the member for Wanguri, the late Don Dale, the member for Casuarina, Nick Dondas, and the member for Jingili, Steve Balch.
During her career as a Parliamentary Officer, she served as the Clerk’s Executive Assistant, personal assistant to two Deputy Clerks, and as a research officer with the majority of parliamentary committees. In addition, she worked for four Speakers during the course of her career – indeed, she worked for me for a brief period when I became the Speaker. She also worked in the team that was part of the group with the Select Committee on Substance Abuse when I chaired that committee. She was a terrific asset to the committee.
For more than three years, Liz conducted guided public tours of Parliament House. It is largely due to her enthusiasm and dedication that the Parliament House public tours program was held in such high regard by visitors to this building.
Liz has also been undertaking a very significant project for the Assembly involving the checking, validating and enhancing of Assembly and Council records, in particular, the biographical and other records of former and current members. This body of work will benefit the Assembly and the public for many years.
During her career with the Legislative Assembly, Liz has been a selfless and dedicated officer and a good friend to many with whom she worked. I know that she would like me to recognise her very close friendship with the Clerk, Ian McNeill, Jan Sporn, Jane Gunner, Graham Gadd, Helen Allmich, and Pat Hancock. She is also very respected by members from all sides of politics, and her generosity of spirit is widely acknowledged, in particular, her mentoring and encouragement of junior officers.
She has devoted much of her time to sporting and community groups involved in promoting and encouraging young Territorians, particularly in the fields of sailing and basketball. She is a very special woman who is valued by many people. Sadly, she is also very ill with advanced cancer. When I saw her briefly this week, we exchanged just a few words, but it was clear that Liz was remembering that every day that we have is a special one, and that our family and friends are a constant reminder of the love and care that comes back to embrace you. Stay strong, Liz, for this final, very difficult journey - seize the day.
Mr NATT (Drysdale): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I would like to talk a little about the YMCA at Palmerston. The YMCA, another not-for-profit service provider, launched an open-air Y Chat Room recently, a facility and service offering indigenous youth counselling and mentoring. The Y Chat Room is a free and confidential counselling and mentoring service for indigenous young people aged between 10 and 17 years. The service includes individual counselling and mentoring, boys and girls support groups, self-esteem groups, and leadership development. Their therapeutic counselling, group work, mentoring, and educational workshops will assist young people to understand and begin to resolve some of the issues they face.
The service is located in the Y Drop-in Centre, which offers a supervised, safe and friendly environment open to all young people who want to hang out and have some fun after school or during school holidays. I acknowledge the work John McLean does at the centre. He has taken over from his brother, and is doing a great job. He has a wonderful support team looking after the necessities of the centre.
While talking about the YMCA, I also acknowledge the generosity of Steve Blair. Steve Blair is the proprietor of Territory Marine in McCourt Road at Yarrawonga. Steve rang me a little while ago, just before Christmas, to say how concerned he was about the youth of Palmerston. He said he would like to do something. He spoke to one of his distributors who then donated a jet ski. Steve kindly and generously committed to donate this jet ski and has asked me to assist to find a suitable place.
I immediately thought of the Y, and spoke to John McLean at Chat Room’s opening. John was overwhelmed with the generosity, to the point where the YMCA is now going to set up some raffle tickets. They are going to raise some money from the raffle and use the jet ski as the major prize. The good point about this raffle is that John is trying to instil some confidence back into some of these Palmerston youths. We intend to talk to the organisers of the Palmerston Friday night markets to see if we can set the jet ski up there where some of the youths from the Y can sell raffle tickets. They will gain confidence in going out and meeting the public and asking them to buy a raffle ticket. I guess, at the end of the day, they can see by selling these raffle tickets the benefit it is going to have to the Y and contribute to buying more facilities for their future.
I thank Steve Blair for his generosity. It was a wonderful thing for him to do: to think of the youth. He is one of those guys that is always thinking ahead. He is a very smart operator in business and he can see the future in youth, not only Darwin and the Territory, but, in particular, Palmerston because that is where his business is. So, thank you, Steve Blair and Territory Marine for your generosity. I look forward to working with John McLean and the people within the Y to ensure that we can do things to get more facilities at the centre.
I would also like to talk about the Youth Bazaar that the Palmerston City Council Youth Festival ran. I attended the final event which was planned and run by the participants of the Young Adult Program, or the YAP Program as it is commonly known, which is for young people. It was guided by Kin Leong, who is the Youth Program Coordinator of the City of Palmerston. The event featured local talent, provided entertainment and was well attended. There were three very talented bands that night. They played throughout the afternoon and thrilled the crowd with their musical flare and abilities. It was a really good night and, as I said, they really struck out some great tunes. The event was well supported by many government and not-for-profit service providers who were targeting their services towards the young crowd.
The young people involved were all aged between 14 and 17 years. They assisted in setting up the event and running the whole night. I would like to recognise Roxy McLean, Rebecca Watt, Myra Smith, Lettie McDonald, Haley Stewart, Cassandra Plain and Alyssa Harding. They did a wonderful job. They are very vibrant and active young adults and the work that they undertook to put this event together was outstanding. Well done to that group.
I also thank Nadine Chambers for helping the YAP group, and further thanks to the YAP group for helping in the organisation and coordination of events, which included confirming stall holders, organising first aid volunteers, suggesting the bands that should play, chasing the bands down, poster designs, promotional activities, operations and information stalls and obviously, setting and cleaning up. It was a great night and I am looking forward to getting involved again next year.
My next topic is the Palmerston Game Fishing Club. The Palmerston Game Fishing Club is a very energetic group that this year organised their 13th annual XXXX Barra Nationals from 26 April to 3 May. It was at the Banyan Farm by the Daly River. I had the pleasure of being invited. I went on Sunday and fished for a couple of hours in the afternoon. I hooked one but did not get it in. I had a wonderful day and got some great support from the people involved. I stayed the night and had the great pleasure of starting the event Monday morning by firing the starter’s cannon. There were 57 three-person teams involved. The pleasing part about it was how 81 of the 171 competitors were from interstate. The interest is not only in the Territory. There was an amazing array of boats and the gear that was on the boats was amazing. There was a lot of money on the water. More importantly, these guys had a great time and enjoyed their week on the water. To lure the fish and catch them, measure them and then release them was a great experience.
I acknowledge Paul Williams who works for the Fisheries department as a technical officer. He has been coordinating this event for a number of years now but has decided to retire. It was his eighth year so, Paul, well done. It was a fantastic event and I know many of the competitors congratulated you for the work that you undertook for these last eight years. I know he is not going to be lost at all. He is still going to be around the place but whoever has to step into his shoes has to fill some big shoes.
I also acknowledge Wally and Kerry Draper, the owners of Banyan Farm. They are volunteer supporters for my department’s Riverwatch program. They are a great asset on the Daly. The setup they had for the nationals was nothing short of spectacular. It was a well run event. The event organising committee consisted of Russell Fry, Scott Davis and Ray Collie.
One of the amazing things about this year’s Barra Nationals was that they have gone electronic. They have set up an e-book. The competitors this year filmed every fish or nearly every fish that was caught and put a lot of these snippets into an e-book. A company put all this together. They did a lot of filming. They had a helicopter taking aerial shots so they can put together a package that could be shown on the Internet. People from interstate and overseas will be able to access this to see exactly what the fishing is like on the Daly. I had the pleasure of being asked to do the introductory video for this e-book. I can assure you if it is anything like the snippets I have seen, it is going to be a fantastic tourist tool for the Northern Territory.
I thank Kane Dysart, a Technical Officer who works in my department. The Palmerston Game Fishing Club asked our Fisheries officers if they would like to assist throughout the tournaments to keep an eye on the logistics and the services required, as well as look after special guests and film crews. Kane has done this job admirably over the last couple of years. I thank him for the work that he undertakes to ensure that fishing is a pleasure on the Daly.
Sorry, there is one other thing - I had better recognise the winners. The champion overall was the Classic Nitro Boys; the champion local team was the DS Constructions; the champion interstate team was The VB Bandits from Victoria; and the top Angler was Trevor Robb. Congratulations to all those winners. There has been some great photography in the local news of recent times and this week we will see the Barra Classic being undertaken. I look forward to reporting on that at the next adjournment.
Ms ANDERSON (Macdonnell): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, this evening I talk about the Karen Brown Gallery and, in particular, Kukula McDonald and Billy Benn. I had the pleasure and the honour on 10 April to open an exhibition at Karen Brown Gallery of Kukula McDonald and Billy Benn who are disabled artists from the Bindi Centre. I thank Karen Brown for extending the invitation to me to open the exhibition and thank her sisters, Lynda and Kathy.
Just a brief history of how Karen started. Karen started at old Admiralty House in 1989 and has been a supporter of Bindi for many years. Karen, like her painters, has a truly gifted eye for beautiful art. Karen’s first triumphs were with the Warlpiri artists and she has continued to build a reputation of sighting wonderful art. Karen also operated out of Peppimenarti and Ngukurr, and now nurtures the work of Angelina George who is widely seen as the greatest landscape artist of the north.
I had the pleasure also of inviting the member for Port Darwin and the member for Brennan to that exhibition. It was wonderful for us as politicians to admire art we know comes from deep inside these people. They are painting what resembles and makes them. Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, you were there when Kukula was given the opportunity to speak at her own exhibition. I will quote a piece in The Australian written about Kukula and the Black cockatoo which my people call irrandas. Black cockatoo is Kukula’s dreaming and paintings based on this were exhibited.
I quote from The Australian:
As we all know, Karen Brown’s Gallery is just outside Parliament House and I again say thank you to Karen Brown.
Today at the same gallery, one of our staff members, Chips Mackinolty, opened the exhibition of Roy Yaltjanki from Docker River who is one of my constituents in the electorate of Macdonnell. Chips first worked at Maruku Arts based at Mutitjulu in 1985 as an artist’s advisor, as well as marketing work from Anangu artists at Uluru. He worked on the western run of the communities including Kakukatjara (Docker River), Warakurna, Wingellina, Piplyatjarra, Kalka and Amata. Chips also worked with Anangu at Mutitjulu on a poster for the hand back of the Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park to traditional owners titled Nyuntu anangu maruku ngurangka ngaranyi the design which ended up as the logo of the National Park. The same design was used on a 1985 mural Chips painted on the old ininti store at Mutitjulu titled Pukulpa pitjama ananguku ngurakutu.
Chips had the pleasure today of opening Roy Yaltjanki’s exhibition at Karen Brown. Roy is an old man from Docker River and, today, coming to his exhibition, was the first time he had ever been out of Docker River to fly to Darwin. It was an absolute joy to see him here. He said the flight, the journey from Alice Springs to Darwin, was a bit frightening. He saw his country from up above. He said thank you to everybody who was there. He was excited about his paintings and the work of some of the other artists exhibited. I thank Chips for opening this exhibition, and Karen Brown.
Ms SACILOTTO (Port Darwin): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, this evening I pay tribute to Anzac Day which we recently celebrated on 25 April 2008. I commend the RSL and Darwin City Council for the well-organised and attended dawn service. It was endearing to see whole families out together early paying tribute to our Anzacs, and our current Defence personnel who do such a great job in so many areas - not just what is normally considered the core business of Defence. There were many children present, including the involvement of schools in my electorate - Darwin High School and Darwin Middle School. I thank the principals of these schools, Mrs Marion Guppy and Mr Marcus Dixon, for encouraging participation by students. As always, the students were fantastic ambassadors for their schools and the whole Darwin community. The students’ participation was greatly appreciated.
The Anzac Day march was moving. I was proud to see so many men and women of Defence marching through our city. I know that, in the days leading up to Anzac Day in other jurisdictions, there was a little controversy as to whether the children and other family members should march alongside their fathers and grandfathers. I was not aware of any such controversy in Darwin. It was wonderful to see the old and the young marching together. I am very proud that my son, Luca, marched for the Darwin First Sea Scouts and proudly wore his great uncle’s – that is my grandfather’s brother - medals from World War II on his right side, including the Military Medal for bravery in the field. My great uncle was always very proud of his medals and his service in the military; however, he could never muster the strength to march on Anzac Day. It was just too painful a day reminding him of the demise of many of his mates during World War II.
The RSL played host to a large crowd after the march, and downstairs was a traditional two-up game enjoyed by many. Upstairs there were the traditional few beers going down and lots of stories and reminiscences, not only from the old Diggers, but now the stories are flying from our young Diggers who have been involved in the many conflicts of recent times.
We are lucky in the Territory to be so close to our Defence community. Defence personnel and families make up about 10% of the residents in my electorate community, including HMAS Coonawarra at Larrakeyah. Defence members and their families make a great part of our sporting community, our social community, our school community, and are consistent contributors to our economy.
Considering the sheer number of Defence men and women out on the town celebrating their day, there were very few incidents, which is why I was ashamed, as an Australian citizen, that one of our local bars, the Deck Bar, thought it necessary to introduce a not-so-special Anzac Day entry policy. This is how it was explained to me by the bar manager, Michael: from 6 pm the bar would not be allowing entry to any uniformed Defence personnel. I asked Michael if the policy should, instead, be a no-entry for intoxicated people policy, as per legislation. He advised that at 6 pm on Anzac Day, anyone in uniform would probably be drunk - a generalisation that I did not agree with. As a question of policy, three women wearing Navy uniforms were turned away at the door. They were not visibly intoxicated, nor loud or unruly - not even being a little silly, but totally composed and well-groomed.
I also watched as a very composed young soldier was turned away. He wore a chest of medals, including the Campaign Medal from Iraq. On the day he should be proudly displaying his uniform and the medals signifying how he had put his life on the line, on this very day he was turned away from a public place. I felt sick. In fact, the behaviour of the Defence personnel at the bar was highly respectful and professional. When informed of the policy, members from all three services, who were not in uniform, chose, with dignity, to quietly vacate the premises in protest at the treatment of their fellow soldiers, sailors and Air Force personnel.
Being a former business person, I respect the rights of business to make reasonable policy in order to manage their establishments. However, I see the economic and social advantage that Defence provide to businesses in Darwin, and I feel that a no entry policy for uniformed Defence personnel policy on Anzac Day is not only highly discriminative but utterly disrespectful. I feel so strongly about this that I will be writing to the management of the Deck Bar to express my disgust at this treatment of our men and women of Defence.
Mr BURKE (Brennan): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, last Friday morning I had the pleasure to attend the Bakewell Primary School Walk Safely to School Day. This was an extremely well attended event by all, well most, of the school’s children. Not only was there a breakfast put on, fruit as well as pancakes, the school was graced with the presence of Hector the Cat. After getting their fill of fruit and pancakes, a big bunch of the students gathered around Hector the Cat and walked around to the front of the school to one of the crossings and everyone crossed over, as you should when there is a school crossing available. They did all the right things, looking both ways before crossing and walking not running.
It was a fantastic day. It was great to be a part of it. I try, as often as I can, to be part of the assembly on the Friday morning at Bakewell Primary School. A large number of merit awards were handed out at the assembly to all the children who had been doing great work. It is always good to visit Bakewell. Every assembly someone has done something to merit recognition.
I was also at the Palmerston Christian School Harmony Day, which was another fabulous event. I congratulate all the classes that participated. I really enjoyed being there, seeing the great work the schoolchildren had put together which was put on display. Congratulations to all of them, their teachers and, of course, the principal. It is a lovely school and I know many of my constituents’ children attend.
Another of the great events I attended was the Try Soccer Day at Gray Primary School oval, where children from all of the primary schools that I can think of - Gray, Driver, Moulden Park, Woodroffe Primary School, Sacred Heart Primary School, Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School, and Durack Primary School were there. It was great to see the children on the soccer fields, both boys and girls, doing their darnedest and having a great time. The oval was pretty much ringing with laughter. It was good to see the large number of young children who were there who had not played soccer before and were giving it a go. From that day a team was chosen for the Palmerston and rural regions to play in the inter-schools championships.
I took the opportunity to say hello to some of the students I know and teachers. As I said, we have heard in the Youth and Sport committee statement today about encouraging young people to play sport, showing them the benefits of being fit and healthy. This was a great day to do just that.
We recently had the Red Cross Doorknock Appeal. I was very willing and privileged to be asked to assist, and assist I did doorknocking a large part of the suburb of Gunn collecting for Red Cross. I acknowledge the generosity of the people in Gunn whom I doorknocked and spoke to. It is amazing how much people are prepared to give for a worthy cause. It is humbling as well when you are there. People are a bit stand-offish at first wondering why their local politician is on their doorstep, till you say ‘I’m collecting for Red Cross’ whereupon they immediately go diving for their change tin or their wallet or purse. I thank all of those people in Gunn who were so receptive and generous.
The Palmerston Markets have started up once again. Last Friday night was the first night they were on and it was fantastic. There was a large crowd and some great events. We had a gymnastics display and there were a few other things going on around the place as well. I was at our usual stall, talking to many people. Families took the opportunity to get out and enjoy a night together. It is not a very expensive night. I know that the YMCA Drop-In Centre was doing a fantastic business with many young people from Palmerston attending the markets, as well. I echo what has been said earlier about the great work that John McLean and Chris Lovett and others do at the drop-in centre.
I acknowledge the fantastic work that the Chief Minister’s Palmerston office is doing now. It is great to have Wayne Zerbe there. I know he has hit the ground running and is getting involved and making the Chief Minister aware of things that are brought to his attention; as well as to myself and, I am sure, the member for Drysdale. I mean to attend the upcoming Palmerston Regional Business Association budget response which is presented each year. It is usually delivered by Mr Leon Loganathan. I will be listening with great interest to what he says about the budget which was delivered not a couple of days ago.
I cannot fail to mention the fantastic announcement of the primary school and middle school in Rosebery. It is something I have lobbied colleagues for and spoken to Cabinet minister after Cabinet minister about for ages; especially, the Chief Minister and the minister for Education as he was initially. It was a great announcement for Palmerston, looking after the short- to medium-terms, the immediate needs and the needs coming up with the expected growth. Palmerston is growing at a great rate. It is now the second-largest centre in the Territory. With the announcements in the budget about stamp duty reduction and the increase to the HomeNorth scheme, I am hopeful that we will see even more people wanting to move into Palmerston because it really is a great place with much to offer young families.
Mr HAMPTON (Stuart): Madam Deputy Speaker, I acknowledge tonight those people in my electorate whose work often goes unnoticed by the larger community. This is because the nature of what they do is behind the scenes. Work often done in small steps, continual and difficult to measure in the usual ways, but, nevertheless, work that contributes immensely to the fabric of our society and communities.
These people are the language workers who work in and for their communities keeping language and culture strong. They are quiet achievers. Earlier this year they were recognised at an award ceremony held at the Katherine Regional Aboriginal Language Centre. The Katherine Regional Aboriginal Language Centre works to provide support to language workers in the region. This year it held its inaugural awards ceremony, the first of many we hope, to acknowledge and celebrate the great work being done by these dedicated people. There were eight categories and around 32 nominees for the awards in what will become an annual event for the language centre.
From the Stuart electorate I acknowledge Helen Morris from Kalkarindjiwho was named Language Worker of the Year. Helen has been a language worker for a year-and-a-half and is very enthusiastic about language and literacy work. She is a consummate story teller and was recognised for her dedication and achievements.
Also congratulations to the 15 students from the KalkarindjiCommunity Education Centre who were presented with Certificate 1 for Information, Communication and Technology earlier this year. These students undertook the Certificate 1 on top of their regular school commitments in 2007: Maria Jimmy, Helma Bernard, Devina Jimmy, Clifford Edwards, Tiannah Bernard, Nigel Bernard, Isiah Bernard, Tracey Alec, Francene Alec, Daniel Law, Nathaniel Jimmy, Naverone Morris, Darius Smiler and Kirsty Smiler. Also congratulations to their teachers, parents and staff at the school for the great support given to these students.
The teachers of Pigeon Hole School are very pleased with the high student attendance rates this year. All the students are working well and very hard. There are three students who deserve special mention: Kendrick Hector, Christischa Anzac and Jayden Isaac. These students have been doing exceptional work with their reading and writing. Keep up the good work!
The final person I acknowledge is a respected elder who passed away late last year. I will read from the Katherine Regional Aboriginal Language Centre media release. I will name the lady as IH.
I go on now to discuss the Warlpiri Triangle Group in my electorate, Lajamanu, Yuendumu, Nyirripi, and Willowra. First, a bit of history of the Triangle. I speak of it since last week the Education minister announced the Warlpiri Triangle is one of two community partnership education boards under the transformation of indigenous education in the Territory. They certainly are proud of this announcement.
The 1999 Warlpiri Triangle in Willowra was dominated by the announced closure of the bilingual education program. The Warlpiri, at this workshop, decided unanimously that Warlpiri schools would continue to teach bilingually in both Warlpiri and English. Incorporation of the Warlpiri Triangle to formalise its objectives and rules was raised at this workshop and initiated at the next workshop in 2000 in Yuendumu.
The 2001 Warlpiri Triangle in Lajamanu was the largest yet, with some 90 Warlpiri participants including many senior Warlpiri who are involved in the schools. Warlpiri participants are now taking a leading role in workshops, and the workshop is noteworthy for the high participation of senior Warlpiri elders. The first AGM of Warlpiri Patukurlangu Jaru was held during this workshop in 2000.
The name Warlpiri Patukurlangu Jaru was named by the Yapa who decided unanimously that it should be named in honour of a lady who passed away, Kumanjayi Namatjira Ross. This gives the name even more meaning for the communities of the Warlpiri Triangle.
I also mention the ladies and workers for their ongoing efforts with Warlpiri Triangle: from Yuendumu - Nancy Oldfield, Barbara Martin, Enid Gallagher and Alice Nelson; from Willowra - Maisie Kitson, Carol Kitson, Hannah-May Caspar, and Dora Napaljarri Kitson; and from Nyirripi - Alice Nampijinpa Michaels, Pauline Gallagher and Fiona Gibson.
Ms McCARTHY (Arnhem): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I would like to share with parliament my recent travels across Arnhem, beginning first with acknowledging Moira O’Brien at Coodardie Station near Mataranka. It was great to see Moira at the Cattlemen’s Association dinner recently. Also, huge congratulations to her mum, Clair O’Brien, for the good work she does which was recognised in the Australia Day Honours.
Recently, I had the pleasure of taking Senator Trish Crossin on a trip to some of my communities. We usually have a good trip. Each time the Senator comes, there is some kind of story to tell, as I know she has similar stories to tell with other bush colleagues she travels with, in particular, the member for Macdonnell.
On this occasion, Senator Crossin with her staff, John Pryor and Amanda Crossin, travelled with me to Barunga and Beswick. I especially thank the people who gave their time on that trip, in particular Reg and Martha at Beswick, at the new Wugularr School,. I was proud to see after intensive lobbying in the last couple of years the new school at Wugularr. It was wonderful to see the children in the new school; especially after the many years of floods the community has endured and how the school went under so many times. So, a huge thank you to, the Northern Territory Cabinet and Education minister for their support in getting the school built, particularly the former Chief Minister and the former Education minister.
The last trip Senator Crossin had with me to Beswick I had to get her on a grader to cross the flooded waters of the Waterhouse River so she could get into the community and see how tough it is for people who live there; what they have to accept as normal. Which echoes strongly what we have said and heard many times in this parliament: accepting the abnormal as normal.
This time we were able to drive in without having to get on a grader. The river was down and we could see a wonderful new school built. So, well done to all concerned. In particular, to Stuart Dwyer, Head of Group Schools for the Katherine East West Region, and to Reg, who has taken on the job as principal there this year. It is a huge job. I know he will do well. Beswick is really appreciative to have Reg and Martha there, as both are teachers who have been in the area for the last six or seven years.
From there, we went on to Jilkminggan. To Lawrie Webster at the school, thank you for your time and for letting us know your concerns with the staff room and the need for an extension to the kitchen. I am happy to say to Lawrie and your staff at Jilkminggan, with the recent budget announcement you will have good news.
We went on from there to Ngukurr. The Roper River was up, but it was not so much the Roper which was the issue. It was Outen River. I had to drive along to find an area where we could get into a boat and take Senator Crossin across the river into Ngukurr. That was a bit of an adventure in itself, but we were able to get there quite safely. She was able to meet the people in Ngukurr. A big thank you to Gary Cleary, the new CEO at Yugul Mangi Council for his support and welcome there. We stayed the night with Gary and it was heartening to be able to hear what was happening in Ngukurr.
We were then able to come back to Darwin flying to Ramingining and Milingimbi. In Ramingining, I was able to take some of the children in our family that we have cared for over the years. It was holidays at this stage, so I took them with me. My nephew, Jordan, my sister, Caitlin, and my son, Grayson, travelled with me. There was a special ceremony on there, sorry business for a particular elder who was instrumental in setting up and establishing the Muwangi industry there.
Muwangi outstation is an important outstation to the Ramingining people. It is the location where Ten Canoes was shot. The three children I had with me were very excited to meet the actors from Ten Canoes. Richard Birrinbirrin, for those who have seen the movie, is a honey ant eater in the film, and a very delightful character. The other character that the children had the chance to meet was Gudthaykudthay, a well known artist in Ramingining and across the Top End, who played the part of the sorcerer in Ten Canoes. So while it was a special treat for the kids, it was an even more special treat since we could pay our condolences to the family who were burying an important man in the region.
From there, we flew to Milingimbi, and I thank MAF. MAF is the Missionary Aviation Fellowship that flies between Ramingining and Milingimbi. They are the only aircraft to do that run. I thank the pilots who take me across quite regularly between the two communities.
In Milingimbi, we were able to see the grand final and what a wonderful day it was. In fact, on par I would have to say, with the Tiwi grand final. So maybe the member for Arafura might come and see the Milingimbi grand final next year. We even had the police from Bulman and Ramingining who flew to Milingimbi for the day to make sure it was a happy, safe and successful day, in particular, for the Crows who just won against the Tigers. I say congratulations to the Milingimbi council and the community and, in particular, to Keith Lapulung. Keith is the council chair. A couple of thousand attended from outlying outstations coming from Maningrida, Ramingining and Elcho. So it was a very heavily populated island that day.
In closing, I acknowledge a special person who stays in our hearts and minds of my family, in particular. It is the anniversary of the passing of my brother. I would just like to acknowledge that he remains a special man in the hearts of my people, my family and many more. He has played a significant role in my very short life so far as a politician here, in the House. I just wanted to acknowledge his passing.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arafura): Member for Arnhem, I acknowledge the anniversary of your very strong brother.
Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I would like to tell you about some very innovative and interesting developments at Maningrida CEC, a success story from the Arafura electorate. Often when we stand here we do not hear of success stories but there are many in our bush electorates. Often we and our communities do not take the time to reflect on what they are doing is successful and innovative; how the rest of Australia does want to know what they are doing. Amongst all of the negativity, all the doom and gloom we tackle when we talk about critical issues in our communities, when we see areas in our education system where there are some successes we should applaud and celebrate them. It is not often we have many things to celebrate.
The Maningrida CEC, over the last four years, has developed a subject called ranger studies which involves senior students studying contemporary issues in science. Bear in mind that with Maningrida, like many of our remote Aboriginal communities up until when we came to power in 2001, secondary schooling was not even on the radar of the former government. I acknowledge the work that has occurred since we came to power in 2001. The work, too, of the former education minister, Syd Stirling, and the role he played implementing all the recommendations. There was the major review into secondary education into the Northern Territory which laid the foundations for Kalkaringi where we saw three graduations. Maningrida, too, has shown this is one area where there has been a lot of success.
The secondary senior students work closely with the renowned Maningrida Djelk ranges and the Queensland Museum. The science teacher there is a clever young man. He did not have a science lab to work in so he took his students into the surrounding bush. It is a move that has brought intense scientific and media interest in Maningrida. I will get to that shortly. The natural environment around Maningrida and its outstations is providing the theme for scientific studies. The topics include long neck turtle trapping, buffalo disease control, foreign fishing vessels, a crocodile hunting proposal, mining, studies into disease affecting camp dogs, biosecurity, quarantine, customs, protected area management, weed control and spiders. These young people are our future eyes and ears and carers for that part of our Territory. However, like all our coastal regions, that investment in our young people will make a difference because they are the future.
The spiders have become the stars of the ranger studies. You may already have heard about the discovery of 45 new species of spiders. This story went to air on the ABC’s 7.30 Report, Stateline and Behind the News television programs. The Outback magazine, The Age newspaper and The Sydney Morning Herald also ran stories. The students are revelling in the practical investigations while, at the same time, using rigorous scientific methods. They have conducted amazing tests and had fantastic results such as the diesel vibration test, comparing night versus day spiders, and bush land versus burnt area habitats. Dr Robert Raven from the Queensland University has been there to cast his professional eye over the results.
The ranger studies program has provided excellent outcomes and results for students - so much so that two of the graduates have been put on full-time salaried positions with the rangers due to their knowledge, skill and interest in the field. The bright and committed science teacher, Mason Scholes, won the 2007 Eureka Prize for Science Teaching. The Eurekas are known as the Australian Science Oscars. Recently, the biggest find has been a new species of tarantula, not new to the students but new to science. They have yet to be scientifically described and identified. They are handsome spiders. There was a male and a female in a glass box. I wondered out loud what their names were going to be but as I understand, that honour will go to the students who will be consulting their elders who will then name those spiders. They will be listed and recorded once the elders think about the names.
There is more exciting news on the way. I am flying out to Maningrida tomorrow. I will be meeting with Mason and all the young senior men who are involved in this project. I will also take an opportunity to hand out badges and awards to all of the young people who graduated with their NTCE. I am particularly looking forward to having a discussion with Mason and many of the teachers just to see how they are going and what is happening in Maningrida CEC.
With projects like this, we can be innovative and creative. We can do things differently and engage a lot of our kids with science and maths which people often believe our kids think is boring and have no wish to learn. But, at Maningrida, they have found a way to engage these senior students with both maths and science. These young men and women are attending every single day. I am looking forward to also meeting with the Queensland museum people and other people from the university to have a look at that whole project. It is fantastic and it is a success worth bragging out.
Dr BURNS (Johnston): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I pay tribute to Norm Slade who sadly died at the end of last month. I knew Norm from my days of volunteer work at St Vincent de Paul. He was a little bloke with a big heart. He will be sadly missed by everyone with whom he came in contact.
Norm came to Darwin about 10 years ago. As I will outline, Norm had a very interesting life doing many things including being a nurse, a seaman, as well as being an accomplished chef, certainly not a cook. On coming to Darwin, he volunteered his services to the NT AIDS Council and manned the reception for many years on and off. An old friend, Bill McMahon, recalls how it went and I quote: ‘NT AIDS Council. How may I help you? Norm speaking’. He became the voice of the Council. At least, that is the way Bill told it. Shane Kilford from the NT AIDS Council recalls that Norm would happily tell those discourteous callers who rang up demanding this or that, where to go in no uncertain terms: ‘No, he did not care what organisation they were the executive director of’, before hanging up the phone.
Norm, as a young man, studied nursing at Gladesville Hospital in Sydney and graduated as a registered nurse. He went to England and worked as a nurse for about five years. Then Norm heard the call of the sea and joined a P&O boat as a steward. He worked his way up to be purser. He had many hilarious stories about his adventures on the boats. He must have enjoyed it; he was at sea for about 25 years.
Bill tells me he never worked out why Norm came to Darwin, but he thinks it was his sense of adventure. He felt he fitted in here. He found we are an accepting mob. He did not have to explain himself, he was just Norm. A few years ago he visited Sydney to reconnect with his family; it was not successful. He decided we, his Darwin friends, were his family.
The member for Fannie Bay also knew Norm and relates how he was very active in the Fannie Bay Senior’s Group, attending their monthly meetings on a regular basis. Over the 10 years he spent in Darwin, he very generously donated his time as a chef at Ozanam House in Stuart Park where he worked on and off as a volunteer. He maintained very strong control of the kitchen and the conduct of guests. Many a time we feared for his safety as he lectured six foot, inebriated guests on good manners. I saw him turf a few of them out; there was no arguing with Norm.
Shane Kilford recalls that St Vinnies was always packed when Norm was on because he would fill up everyone’s plate and have enough for seconds, which he would dish out himself to ensure that everyone got some. He never cared about over-ordering because there were so many mouths to feed that nothing ever went to waste. And watch out if someone stood in line for a third helping! Once again, Norm would tell them where to go in no uncertain terms. Norm was a great cook - I mean chef - and his food was excellent. I only heard one person complain about it. That was on the basis that Norm always cooked chicken. The reason was simple: a large pallet load of frozen chicken was donated to St Vinnies. The complainant was dealt with very quickly: the plate was taken away from him and he was told to leave - once again in no uncertain terms - and go to the takeaway next door and buy what he liked. Mick Fox recalls Norm working at both the Bakhita Centre and Ozanam House as a chef for many years. He was very fastidious about cleanliness in his kitchen, and extremely generous with his time.
Norm was very grateful to move into his new unit at Fannie Bay Seniors Village where he was able to enjoy more privacy. However, he always made sure his neighbours at Kurringal never went hungry. He would bring food home from Ozanam House to feed them. Shane Kilford recalls that, in his final years, Norm continued volunteering for anything he was able to do and I quote from Shane: ‘If he could get out of bed and get there, he was doing it’.
Mr KNIGHT (Daly): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, the member for Johnston is certainly a magnet for these colourful characters of the Northern Territory.
Tonight, I pay tribute to two long-serving Alice Springs public servants who, after 55 years of combined service have moved on to other things.
Mark Coffey started out in the Country Fire Service in 1981, moving into the Northern Territory Police Force in 1985. Since that time, Mark served at numerous locations throughout the Territory. Mark continued to move up the ranks of the Northern Territory Police until, three years ago, he became the Centre’s top cop, the Southern Region Commander. In his time at the top, Mark played a pivotal part in helping government deal with the unique and challenging issues of policing in Central Australia. Last year, Mark was awarded the National Medal with a first class recognition for his 25 years of combined service.
Mark has stayed on in the Alice Springs, taking up a role with the federal government as the Regional Director of the Indigenous Coordination Centre. I am pleased to say that he continues to play a key role in the Alice Springs community and is working closely with the Northern Territory government as part of his new role.
Last Saturday night, I had the pleasure of joining Mark and his wife, Kate, at the Alice Springs Cup Ball. It was great to spend time with them and fantastic that they remain firmly loyal to Alice Springs. It is people like Mark and Kate who are dedicated to the community that make Alice such a great place.
John Baskerville arrived in Alice Springs in 1985 while working in Darwin at the Northern Territory Electricity Commission. He was meant to stay for three weeks but, as with many long serving Alice Springs residents, he came to Alice Springs and never went home. He continued working his way up through the public service until, in 1992, he became the Executive Director of the Department of Chief Minister’s Southern Region, a post he held until his retirement just a few months ago. John was a key part of major government projects in Alice Springs with both the former and current governments. John was the driving force behind the Alice in 10 project and was at the helm for the delivery of the new projects under the Moving Alice Ahead strategic vision. John also played a leading role in the creation of the Desert Knowledge Project, a project which is going from strength to strength to bring about a sustainable future for the Central Australian region and economy.
After 15 years at the head of the Department of Chief Minister in Cental Australia, John and his wife, Lynette, have retired to the Adelaide Hills for some well deserved rest and relaxation. While I did not have an opportunity to work directly with John, his reputation preceded him. He was highly regarded within the government and within the Alice Springs community as a highly principled man with a passion for the Alice that was second to none. John’s departure leaves some big shoes to fill, but I know his successor, Tony Mayell, will do everything in his power to maintain John’s high standard of achievement.
I can say with absolute certainty that both Mark and John will be sadly missed, both by Central Australians and by the Northern Territory government. To Mark and John, I congratulate you both on years of public service and your many achievements over the years. On behalf of all of us here in the parliament, we wish you the very best in your future endeavours
I move on to my own electorate. I mention some wonderful students in the schools. The member for Goyder and I take pride in the schools that encompass students from both of our electorates. One of those schools is Berry Springs Primary School. We both sponsor book vouchers, which are awarded to the outstanding students of the month. In March, those students were Joshua Verity, Lilymay Buckland, Shellee Davis-Cooke and Kelsey Pocock. I congratulate those students on a great achievement. I hope they keep trying and we see some of the other students win the Outstanding Student award.
The Jump Rope for Heart event will be held tomorrow morning at the school. Students will be hoping to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most people skipping at one time for three minutes. This will be a combined school event across Australia. Currently the record stands at 7362. Good luck to all the students in breaking this record.
The school council at Berry Springs is up and running in 2008. I acknowledge the outgoing chair, Tiffany Markey, and the committee, who have done a fantastic job during 2007. I also congratulate the new committee and the new appointed chair, Julie Barnes. The fundraising committee is led and coordinated by Audrey Godwin and Jenny McNamara from the preschool. They are planning an auction at the school at the end of this month. I have donated goods to auction and plan to attend that night. Last week’s fundraising event was an art display. The art then went on sale and over $600 was raised for this one event alone. This is fantastic work both by the students and by the fundraising committee. Congratulations and I hope I can support you in the future with your fundraising.
On to Taminmin High, where I shared some awards with the member for Goyder. For the month of March, the award recipients are Andrew Owens, Chris Pharm, Tim Steffenson, Caitlin Boulter, Stephanie McManaway. Today, we presented book vouchers at the Middle School assembly. Those awards went to, in Year 7, Jacob Moore; in Year 8, Britney Culgiari; and Year 9 went to Chloe McCarthy.
A competition was announced at this morning’s assembly for Year 7, 8 and 9, to document ‘Growing up in the rural area’. Students are encouraged to either submit 10 digital prints, write a poem, a song, or a short story that depicts the idea of growing up in the rural area through their eyes. I cannot wait to see what those students come up with.
Moving up to some of the smaller Daly electorate remote schools, at Amanbidgi, Simeon Waterloo received an award for the most improved student at the month of February. Congratulations to Simeon. Kellisha Oscar received an award for March for her consideration and care towards all people at the school. Well done, Kellisha. April’s monthly award goes to Adelina Waterloo in Year 3 for her continued levels of improvement in Maths, Reading and Story Writing.
Reg Robinson is the teaching principal at Amanbidgi and does a great job with the kids there. Reg and his wife, Fran, have been at Amanbidgi for eight years and, although there has been some very, very trying times, Reg is keen to see a better, realistic and sustainable future for our remote students. I applaud Reg for the loyalty he has shown to that very small school and a community struggling with a number of issues. Congratulations Reg and Fran. Your work there does not go unacknowledged.
The Batchelor Area School: my monthly award goes to the tidiest veranda at the Batchelor Area School. Each class has to ensure that their part of the veranda is cleaned, swept and generally kept tidy especially after recess and lunch breaks. The class winner for March was Preschool/Transition Hooper, and Year 3/4 Wallace were the lucky recipients of the April award. The incentive for the classes is working very well in keeping the school area clean. It is a joint effort. The class get to choose how they would like to redeem their prize, as in an excursion, a special treat to a movie afternoon, or a prize at the teacher’s discretion.
While mentioning the good work at Batchelor school, I acknowledge the fantastic work done by the Batchelor Area School’s outgoing principal, Randall Cook. Randall has taken up a new position in Darwin and it will involve travelling to homeland schools all around the Northern Territory. Randall has said that he will miss many things about the school, in particular, the students. But he is looking forward to the new challenge. I am sure the school will also miss Randall. In the interim, the fantastic Mrs Lisa Bickley will continue to lead the school. Randall, we only had you there for a little while but you brought that school back together again. I am sure your efforts across the Northern Territory and remote schools will be just as noteworthy. To Lisa, I hope your role as principal continues a long way into the future.
Braydon Thomas is the Peppimenarti School’s recipient of the March award for most improved. The April award goes to Liam Tulunga for most improved in literacy.
Apart from parents and family members, teachers are the most important educators in our children’s lives. I commend all the teachers for their dedication to our children. I applaud the teachers in the rural and remote areas. Getting teachers in the remote areas can be very difficult and it is certainly very hard work. To all those students, teaching staff, and the general staff, I congratulate you all for your efforts. I hope to be out and about the electorate as we move into the Dry Season to see you all.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
VISITORS
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Year 7 Darwin Middle School students, accompanied by teacher, Mrs Merryn Brown. On behalf of honourable members, I extend a very warm welcome to our visitors.
Members: Hear, hear!
MINISTERIAL REPORTS
Trade Mission to Japan, China and Hong Kong
Trade Mission to Japan, China and Hong Kong
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure I report on my trade mission to Japan and China in March, as well as Hong Kong. The key message on that trade mission was: ‘the Territory is the place that gets thing done and we are open for business’. In meetings with our hosts, we discussed the great investment opportunities here in the Territory, particularly the potential for an expanded gas industry. Strengthening our political and cultural relationships in the region was also an important part of my visit.
In Japan, I met with the Senior Vice Minister and the Director General of the Ministry for Economic Trade and Industry. The ministry is a major shareholder in the Japanese company, INPEX, which is developing the Ichthys gas field in the Browse Basin, with whom we are endeavouring to secure onshore development in Darwin.
I also met with Australia’s Minister for Resources and Energy, the Hon Martin Ferguson, who was in Japan at the same time, to get his support to push the case for the Darwin option. I met with the Chairman and the President of INPEX following the signing of the Project Facilitation Agreement on 27 February. This was a great opportunity to further develop our relationship with the company and to promote the case for Darwin. I stressed the advantages of the Darwin option, including certainty and security, as opposed to the site in Western Australia. I emphasised the fact that we are a capital city, have a deep water port, an international airport, direct links to the National Highway and rail networks, and have land available at Middle Arm.
I also met with senior management of a number of leading potential Japanese customers for future LNG from the Northern Territory, including the Tokyo Electric and Power Company, a major consumer of LNG internationally, a minority shareholder in the Darwin LNG project, and the main end customer of the project. The company purchases some two million tonnes per annum. I also met with Tokyo Gas, which has nearly nine million customers and is also a minority shareholder in Darwin LNG, purchasing one million tonnes per annum.
I also met with Osaka Gas, one of the major players in the international gas industry. I would love to see its large Senboku terminal receiving LNG from Darwin. The company already gets some of its LNG from Australia, although not yet from Darwin. Given it has shares in several gas reserves, including Greater Sunrise; I hope this will come to fruition in the near future.
I also took the opportunity to visit the National Museum of Art in Osaka and view the Emily Kame exhibition, entitled Utopia and curated by the National Museum of Australia. Utopia tells the story of one of Australia’s greatest contemporary female artists and is the largest collection of works by a single Australian artist to tour overseas. The jewel of the 120 works on display was arguably Emily’s piece titled Earth’s Creation, which sold for what was then a world record of $1.056m. I believe it remains the highest price ever achieved for a piece of art work by any female artist, indigenous or non-indigenous, in Australia.
I am very pleased to announce that Earth’s Creation may be hung later this year in Parliament House in Darwin, following a kind offer from its owner, Tim Jennings. This will be a fantastic opportunity for Territorians to see a world renowned work of art by a Territorian in the people’s parliament.
In Shanghai, I met with the Vice Mayor. The meeting allowed me to build on our economic ties with Shanghai and to strengthen our government-to-government relations. I also met with senior executives of the China Development Bank, noting that almost all significant investment in Australia by China is related to the China Development Bank. My government and the China Development Bank are working towards a formal agreement to increase Chinese investment in the Territory.
I also met the Chairman and representatives of the Stone Group which is a major diverse investment group in China. I had the pleasure of meeting its Chairman, Mr Duan, who is best known for his success in the information technology and health sectors, and who sees considerable promise in the exploration of resources in the Territory.
I also hosted an investment attraction event for invited guests at the Australian Consul’s residence in Shanghai. Whilst there I took the opportunity to visit the Shanghai Museum which is working with the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory to develop an exchange program.
In Hong Kong, I met with the Noble Group which was identified by Invest Australia as a potentially significant investor in the Territory. The Noble Group has a 30% stake in Territory Resources which operates the Frances Creek iron ore mine near Pine Creek.
In summary, my trade and investment visit was characterised by high-quality appointments that were directly relevant and beneficial to the advancement of the Territory’s business, political and cultural relationships in China, Japan and Hong Kong. It is an important part of my job to tell the region about the wonderful opportunities that we have here. The Territory is a place that gets things done, and we are open for business.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, that is a good report. It is good to see the Chief Minister presenting the Territory on a number of fronts within the region, particularly looking at business opportunities and broadening into the cultural connections. Once again, we need to recognise that in order for trade to occur it is relationships - that is, Asian Relations - that leads to trade. I commend you, Chief Minister, for that initiative of working on a broader front.
The Territory certainly has much going for it. There is an immense opportunity and a great future for the Territory. However, we really do need to get it right. When you look at the INPEX website, they acknowledge having an interest in the Territory as a place to bring gas onshore - I think from 2004. There have been plenty of opportunities to get the Territory properly prepared for this level of development in the Territory and have it in the right place.
I need to have it clear from the Chief Minister whether the intention of INPEX coming to the Northern Territory, with the only space that has been made available through the lack of proactive planning, includes being tied to downstream production or is it just that we are talking about LNG and the only other space available for any related downstream industry - because the two ideas are connected and we do not have any clear reference to where else heavy industry can go in the Northern Territory. It appears to be only at Wickham Point. There appears to be no other provision made. Is there an understanding from INPEX that there will be a feed into the downstream industry or not?
You can say the Territory is open for business, but we need to know where we stand and on what foundations these plans resting so that we can, as a community, move forward. Make no mistake, the Country Liberal Party supports this level of interest, but we must get it right.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his response. He really is trying to straddle the barbed wire fence by saying he supports this time of investment, but also says to INPEX they cannot go to Middle Arm, which means that INPEX would go to Western Australia. That is very clearly what Sean Kildare from INPEX said on ABC radio this morning:
- We have been presented with an opportunity for development at Middle Arm. We are considering that opportunity very seriously, and there are no other sites being considered for the Ichthys field development.
This government, deliberately set aside Glyde Point as a zone not to develop so as to protect its environment. Middle Arm has been zoned for industrial development. Even under the CLP government this was the case. What the Leader of the Opposition is doing very clearly to INPEX is putting up the sign ‘Northern Territory closed for business’.
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Visitor
Visitor
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of the son of the member for Port Darwin, Luca Sacilotto. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Northern Territory Children’s Commissioner
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Child Protection): Madam Speaker, I speak about the position of the Northern Territory Children’s Commissioner, which was established by the Care and Protection of Children Act 2007, to ensure the wellbeing of protected children through monitoring the administration of the Care and Protection of Children Act 2007, and the implementation of the government’s decision arising from the inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse. The establishment of this position was a major recommendation of the inquiry.
As part of the new act, the Children’s Commissioner will make an annual report to the Legislative Assembly. The advertising and recruitment process was undertaken in January and February 2008, resulting in a strong field of experienced and well-qualified applicants.
Dr Howard Bath was considered to be the most suitable candidate for the position. Since the early 1970s, Dr Bath has been involved in services for young people with complex needs and challenging behaviours. Initially, he started as a youth worker coordinator and then held a number of management roles.
Dr Bath is a former Regional Manager of Barnardos Australia in the Australian Capital Territory, and manager of a number of Barnardos services between 1982 and 1989. He was the Executive Director of the Marymead Child and Family Centre from 1993 to 1999, and Director of the Thomas Wright Institute in Canberra from 1999 to present. Dr Bath was the inaugural Chair of the Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia, the National Association of Child and Family Welfare service providers. Dr Bath is a registered Clinical Psychologist, and has studied and taught in Australia and the United States of America. He is widely published in the areas of behaviour management, out of home care and family preservation. Dr Bath has taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and has presented at numerous conferences and workshops.
His current clinical work focuses on the treatment of young people with sexual behaviour problems. He is a professional instructor with the Cornell University of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention project, and is accredited under the Child Sex Offender Counsellor Accreditation Scheme. He also recently completed the Northern Territory Community Services’ High Risk Audit for the Department of Health and Community Services.
Dr Howard Bath will be appointed for a period of four years and will commence his role in June 2008. Dr Bath has challenges in front of him, and I am sure all members of this Assembly will welcome him to the Northern Territory and wish him well in the tasks he faces.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Madam Speaker, I thank the minister for her report. I join with her in welcoming Dr Bath to the Northern Territory. I believe he is a very sound appointment. It is probably good that someone from outside the Territory has come in, because fresh eyes, new ideas can only benefit this area. I welcome the announcement. I hope to catch up with Dr Bath in the next 24 hours or so.
I note you said the appointment of the Children’s Commissioner was a recommendation of the Little Children Are Sacred report. In fact, it was an idea floating around on both sides of politics from about 2004. Either way, it is welcome. I hope that the position lives up to what we - and I mean each and every of us in the Chamber - want the Children’s Commissioner to achieve. Reporting to parliament is good. Like any new job, there will be difficulties in the interim but, over time, let us hope that the appointment and creation of a Children’s Commissioner does, in fact, produce better outcomes and is not just an appointment for appointment’s sake, and I am not suggesting that you would do that.
I welcome Dr Bath. We look forward to hearing from him as the years roll on. I very much look forward to meeting with him in the next day or so.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Madam Speaker, it is good news that the minister has appointed a Children’s Commissioner. I believe that with the number of problems that have been highlighted within the Territory, there has been a great need to have an independent private body, and I hope that is just what he will be. Most importantly, I hope he is able to travel the Territory to meet a number of people. I also hope you have given him the support he needs from an administrative point of view to be able to do his job adequately.
There are many people in communities who have faith in this appointment. They wish to see recommendations come out of his appointment so that things will improve on the ground for all people, not just children, but also their families. We welcome his appointment and look forward to meeting him.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Family and Community Services): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Araluen and the member for Braitling for their comments. It is a very important position. It is fantastic to have bipartisan support. The protection of our children is absolutely critical. We know the task facing Dr Bath is huge. Member for Braitling, he has been given a lot of support. That will continue. He is looking forward to travelling the breadth of the Northern Territory to talk to various members, to meet with the different stakeholders, but also to focus, particularly, on children who are in the care of the minister. He is looking forward to commencing that labour. I thank all my Cabinet colleagues who have supported this, and this parliament. It is an important undertaking to help move the Territory forward in the protection of our children.
Sporting Events in the Territory
Mr BONSON (Sport and Recreation): Madam Speaker, the Territory is a great place to live, work and raise a family. This government is committed to making our lifestyle even better. That is why we want to bring the best in national and international sporting events to the Northern Territory.
Budget 2008-09 provides $25.8m for sport and recreation throughout the Territory. Budget 2008-09 is all about delivering for Territory families. Over the next 12 months, we will help deliver the following events for Territory families: The V8 Supercars next month; the Arafura Games in May 2009; the Masters Games in Alice Springs in October; a three match, one day international cricket series against Bangladesh starting in Darwin on 31 August; a pre-season national Rugby League match; high quality AFL matches, including a premiership match in Darwin next month; the Heineken Hottest 7s in the World Rugby tournament; and, later this month, at the TIO Stadium, we will host one of the greatest motorcycle shows in the world – on 31 May, the Crusty Demons will make their second appearance in Darwin.
The Crusty Demons are a group of daredevil motorcyclists from countries around the world, including Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The Crusty Demons rose to international prominence in the mid-1990s, helping to create the sport of freestyle motocross, which is today regarded as the most popular of the extreme sports. If anyone has cable television, you might see them on some the cable channels including ESPN and Fuel, etcetera. If you have not seen the Crusty Demons before, you only have to look at their website to see why people around the world want to see them perform. Given their popularity, the Northern Territory government is delighted to help bring the show to Darwin. The Northern Territory government is providing $50 000 to make the 2008 show a reality. That is right - $50 000. We believe in investing in these types of events.
This includes a $30 000 sponsorship fee and $20 000 for traffic management and other venue services. I am told that the Crusty Demons recently performed to sell out crowds in cities across Great Britain. We will be treated to the full international show with seven of the world’s top 10 riders coming to Darwin. So, out of the 3 billion people on this planet, we will be getting seven of the top 10 recognised riders of their ilk. What a fantastic opportunity it is to see the best of the best.
The line up includes world number one freestyle motor rider, Nate Adams; ex Games gold medallist, Adam Jones; world No 3, Mike Mason; Nicky Danielson and Jim McNeill. None of these riders have ever been to Darwin before and, I am told, they are really looking forward to the visit. Two years ago Territorians showed how much they loved the Crusty Demons. Territorians voted with their feet in 2006 with some 11 000 people showing up for the first Crusty Demons show on the dirt in the Northern Territory. Organisers are expecting another huge response from Territorians and ticket sales are already booming. Some 7000 tickets have already been pre-sold for the show on 31 May. As we know, people from Darwin and the Northern Territory are notoriously known for turning up late, so 7000 pre sold tickets is a great indication of what type of support the Demons will get.
This will be a far bigger event than in 2006 with more ramps for the Crusty Demons to use to get airborne and perform their breathtaking stunts. There will also be more pyrotechnics as part of the back drop to the performance by the riders. There will be more than 50 different tricks in this year’s show. It will apparently take three full days to set up the TIO Stadium for the event. I can inform the House that the Northern Territory government has taken every measure to ensure the protection of the ground at TIO Marrara Stadium. I can assure everyone there were no issues with the surface of TIO Stadium after the last Crusty Demons show.
Sport is an important part of our great lifestyle and helps makes the Northern Territory the best place to live in Australia. This government is proud to work to deliver great entertainment of the Crusty Demons to Territorians. Events like the Crusty Demons are all about the government’s commitment to deliver for the Territory families. Madam Speaker, I hope to see every member of this House at the event.
Mr CONLAN (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, there is no doubt that sport is an integral part of our lifestyle. I acknowledge all the events coming to the Territory over the course of the next 12 months. The minister mentioned making our lifestyle better by investing in national and international sport. The Masters Games is a huge part of not only Alice Springs and the Central Australian community but right across the NT.
It is shame, though, that the minister has not fought harder in Cabinet to provide shade facilities at Charles Darwin University which is a vital venue for the Alice Springs Masters Games, not to mention for Charles Darwin University itself and Central Australian Senior Secondary College. I do not know whether the minister for Education is aware that I have written to the minister for Sport about this, as I am yet to receive a reply. However, I would have hoped that the minister for Sport would have brought that to the Education minister’s attention.
It is used every single day of the school year. It is used as well all year round for cricket and footy, often in baking 40C plus heat, yet you look at the oval and see there is not an ounce of shade. By about 5 pm you get a bit from a tiny tree in the corner at Stott Terrace.
There was nothing from the minister about the completion of the Traeger Park Grandstand. I know that is an ongoing battle between the Alice Springs Town Council and the Northern Territory government. Who owns it and who is taking responsibility of it? That remains up in the air, so it would be nice to see the minister addressing that. As I said in this House before, it was $1m two years ago; however, I am not sure what it will cost now to complete the top level of the Traeger Park Grandstand which holds AFL and NRL games.
Anzac Oval is going to need some attention down the track if we are going to continue to bring NRL teams and soccer to Alice Springs. I know Adelaide United have been flagged to come to Alice Springs. We need a proper square oval facility in Central Australia. We have a great oval, we just need some more facilities like change rooms and a grandstand and the like so we will stay on that as well.
Thank you, minister, for your report.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I am still wondering what a square oval looks like. I will be working on that. I thank the minister for his statement. There is no doubt he has one of those great portfolios. As you can imagine, he could go on forever talking about the benefits of sport, however, we should not forget the people who do not get the facilities they require. I know the minister just said we are going to spend $50 000 on getting the Crusty Demons here and that 11 000 people are going to see that. I wonder if that event needs that much money from the government if it is going to have that many people turning up.
When I go to football grounds in places like Canteen Creek and Alpurrurulam I see they are dust holes. I wonder why we do not try putting more effort into creating better facilities in those communities. We have great facilities at Freds Pass. We could do with some more money to make them even better. We have great facilities in Darwin, but if you looked at what many of the communities have in relation to sporting facilities we do need to put much more emphasis on this sort of thing. I would rather see the $50 000 go towards grassing the Canteen Creek football oval than helping the Crusty Demons.
Mr BONSON (Sport and Recreation): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex and the member for Nelson for their contributions. Obviously, like me, they have a passion for sport and recreation.
We make no apology for the fact that we are supporting the Crusty Demons. We believe that $50 000 is a great investment. We believe that 11 000 people of the Northern Territory will get a benefit from that.
In regard to the issues raised by the member for Greatorex about the Masters Games, we can assure everyone in Alice Springs that we fully support the Masters Games and recognise its importance. The member for Greatorex has raised this in the past with me. We will continue to be supporting the Masters Games as best we can.
Regarding the other issue about Charles Darwin University; yes, I recognise your letter and, yes, my office has spoken to the Education minister about that and will be following those matters up. As a good local member, that is what you should be doing as an advocate. In terms of Traeger Park, we will be working with the council to try to resolve those issues. As you might be aware, they have been long-standing and, I believe, the council should handle that.
Member for Nelson, you are perfectly right; we have put $1m extra into the capital grants project to take it up to $3.8m. The NT government will continue to work towards fixing those problems …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Reports noted pursuant to standing orders.
ELECTRICAL WORKERS AND CONTRACTORS AMENDMENT BILL
(Serial 150)
(Serial 150)
Bill presented and read a first time.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Employment, Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
The purpose of this bill is to amend the Electrical Workers and Contractors Act to address the common expiry date of 30 June for contractors’ licences and allow contractor licences periods of up to three years, as in most jurisdictions.
Currently, if a company or a sole trader applies for an electrical contractor’s licence this month, an annual licence fee is payable. No matter what date the licence is granted, it will expire on 30 June each year. As an example, a new contractor who applies for a licence in April is likely to have it approved in May and will receive a licence which expires in six weeks. The common expiry date also creates an enormous peak in workload for NT WorkSafe and the Territory Business Centres which receive all licence fees on behalf of the Electrical Workers and Contractors Licensing Board.
Currently, renewal applications are sent out in mid-May and processing commences by the end of May through to early October. There are 559 licensed electrical contractors in the Northern Territory. The proposed amendments seek to rectify this problem. The Electrical Workers and Contractors Licensing Board is supportive of amendments that would relieve this peak in renewal of contractor licences. The majority of contractors will also welcome the change, as the end of the financial year is a busy period for any business.
The bill also amends the act to provide an option for an extension of a contractor’s licence for up to three years. An extended term would generate further efficiencies and reduce the compliance burden for electrical contractors without compromising consumer protection. It is consistent with our government’s commitment to cutting red tape for business.
Madam Speaker, I commend this bill to honourable members and table the explanatory statement to accompany the bill.
Debate adjourned.
SENTENCING (CRIME OF MURDER) AND PAROLE REFORM AMENDMENT BILL
(Serial 142)
(Serial 142)
Continued from 30 April 2008.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Madam Speaker, the opposition indicated when the bill was introduced last week that we would support the bill for very obvious reasons.
I said last week that I had read the Bakewell case. I read it again this morning, and it is very clear why this amendment is required. I do not think I need, for the purpose of my contribution today, to go through at length the reasons given by the Court of Appeal.
However, I note in passing that the Attorney-General may wish - I assume he has not read the case - to take note of the words ‘may’ and ‘must’ in that decision - words which have been talked about, on your part very passionately, just a week ago.
I refer to the Attorney-General’s second reading speech last week when he introduced the bill that we are debating. He said:
- The purpose of this bill is to clarify the original intent of this parliament’.
- It was always intended by this parliament that prisoners who had committed the crime of murder would … serve a non-parole period of at least 20 years.
He goes on to say:
It has become necessary for this government to clarify precisely what was intended by the provisions of the act.
I am compelled to compare those words with the words of the minister last week when he concluded his contribution in the Youth Justice Bill. The minister accused me when he said my ‘speech was just bound up with lawyer grammar’. He went on to say: ‘This is not a court of law. This is a parliament. This is a place where the laws are made and intentions of laws are very clear’. He kept rabbiting on about presenting a lawyer’s point of view and attacking the government. Madam Speaker, what can I say?
The minister would be well served to temper his language, and to not go out of his way to hysterically grandstand in the way he does, particularly when he knew when he concluded the Youth Justice Bill that this bill was coming into parliament. You knew. It was disingenuous to say the least, Attorney-General, that you went to town, as it were, on 1 May with the Youth Justice Bill and then you accept absolutely that a bit of lawyer grammar is important with legislation that we, as parliamentarians, pass. Attorney-General, as the Northern Territory’s first law officer, you should be ashamed. However, I do not think that much shames you.
I was compelled to raise these points. We should not have had to come back to the Chamber. I accept that court decisions mean, over time, that some legislation does need to change but, in relation to the Sentencing (Crime of Murder) and Parole Reform Amendment Bill, that the government seemingly exhausted themselves when spinning it out in the public arena. I would have thought, with all of the resources of government, both above us and outside this building, more care may well have been taken.
It does, I believe, raise the point, Attorney-General, that it is incumbent on all of us in this place to raise concerns in the best way we can about legislation that we, as parliamentarians, pass. We are legislators. If proposed legislation has, in my view, and the opposition’s view, difficulties with it, then you can rant and rave in whatever way you like, but I will continue to do my job as best as I can. You, Attorney-General, as the Territory’s first law officer, would do well, I respectfully submit, to do your’s a bit better.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, there are two things that apply when a person breaks a law and is found guilty. They are told they will be punished and then told what type of punishment they will receive. Naturally, for serious offences, punishment will be more severe than for minor crimes. In the case of murder, under the previous government, it was mandatory life imprisonment.
In the case of prisoners who were sentenced before the Labor government’s sentencing laws were introduced in 2003, the sentence would have been life subject to (1) the Parole Board to review and make recommendations on life sentence prisoners’ cases after a period of 20 years has been served, and, thereafter, life sentence prisoners’ cases be subject to a three yearly review; (2) Cabinet considers all recommendations to the Administrator to exercise powers under the Criminal Law (Conditional Release of Offenders) Act in relation to the conditional release of life sentence prisoners; and (3) prisoners retain the right to petition the Administrator to exercise the royal prerogative of mercy and for release under the Criminal Law (Conditional Release of Offenders) Act.
Under the Sentencing Act 2003, the Labor government introduced the new sentencing scheme, which said that for murder you must serve a non-parole period of 20 years; and for more serious murder, you have a non-parole period of 25 years. You were still sentenced to life imprisonment. Minister, in relation to the legislation today, it appears the courts found there was a loophole in the Sentencing (Crime of Murder) Act 2003; which calls into question whether the act as currently drafted, fulfils its original intention. That is what the government is trying to fix today, by introducing this legislation.
Is this really the main issue? Is there something else going on? Unusually, the minister in his second reading speech has specifically referred to a prisoner, in this case Mr Bakewell, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1988 for murder and other serious offences, and is now serving time in a South Australian prison after being transferred from the Territory. On 18 June 2004, Mr Bakewell applied to be transferred from Darwin Correctional Centre to South Australia because his father was very ill and he wanted to be closer to his family. The then Attorney-General, Peter Toyne, representing the Northern Territory government, wrote to the Minister for Correctional Services in South Australia on 19 August 2004, that is nearly four years ago, approving the transfer; saying that prisoner Bakewell was eligible for parole after he had served 20 years.
I would like to read the letter from the Attorney-General. It was addressed to the Hon Terance Roberts, MLC, Minister for Correctional Services, Adelaide, South Australia, to the minister:
Northern Territory prisoner Jonathon Bakewell has applied for transfer to South Australia on welfare grounds pursuant to the Prisoners (Interstate Transfer) Act.
On 26 May 1989, in the Supreme Court Darwin, prisoner Bakewell was convicted for murder and other offences and sentenced to life imprisonment. The sentence was deemed to have commenced on 27 February 1988.
In November 2003, the Sentencing (Crime of Murder) and Parole Reform Act was enacted that allowed a Court to set a non-parole period when sentencing a person for the crime of murder. The legislation also affected existing life sentences. Consequently, prisoner Bakewell has been given a non-parole period of 20 years, and is eligible for consideration by a parole board for release on the 27 February 2008.
Supporting documentation states that a transfer, if approved, will allow him greater access to his family, principally his very ill father and siblings.
Prisoner Bakewell’s application and all relevant information for your consideration are enclosed.
After careful consideration, it is my view that the transfer would be in the interest of the prisoner’s welfare. Accordingly, I seek your consent to his application for the transfer.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker. Could I ask the member for Nelson to table that letter? I do not have it with me. I would like to read through it. I was listening to what you were saying, but I would not mind a copy, member for Nelson.
Madam SPEAKER: You are willing to table that?
Mr WOOD: If I can get a copy back; that is the only copy I have.
Dr BURNS: Yes.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, of course.
Mr WOOD: That is all right with you?
Dr BURNS: Of course.
Madam SPEAKER: Attendant, please photocopy that very quickly.
Mr WOOD: I am happy to table that document.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nelson.
Mr WOOD: Here we have a prisoner getting his hopes up over the last four years, behaving as a model prisoner, working outside the prison, expecting he would eligible for parole in 2008; because the Northern Territory told him that. Now, though, he is told by the same government, and another Attorney-General, through this legislation, that he is now not eligible for parole.
The Parole Board of South Australia also believed the prisoner was to receive a non-parole period of 20 years. I read from this memo from the Parole Board of South Australia:
- It was advised to Jonathon Bakewell through the Manager of the Adelaide Pre-Release Centre, with reference to your submission and interview, the following decision was given by the parole board. Sentence in the Northern Territory Supreme Court on the 26 May 1989 to date form 1988; to life imprisonment for murder, aggravated unlawful entry of a dwelling house, aggravated sexual assault and stealing.
Then it says:
- Non-parole period of 20 years commencing 27 February 1988; transferred to South Australia on 15 April 2005.
That is signed by the secretary.
I support serious punishment for serious crime. I supported the government’s bill when it came through parliament. However, I also expect the prisoners to be told what their sentence is and what their non-parole period is. In this case, the prisoner was told what his non-parole period was by the number one law maker in the Northern Territory. The South Australian Department for Correctional Services acted on that information and treated the prisoner accordingly. If the prisoner has not caused any problem in gaol, has done everything required of him and has been assessed as being eligible for parole, then I believe this is an exceptional case and the government should leave it up to the Parole Board to decide his future.
We must remember the prisoner is always sentenced to life imprisonment and a breach of parole conditions may mean the parole orders may be revoked or cancelled. He may not even get parole. The issue is not about whether the prisoner should be released, it is about whether the prisoner should be eligible for parole. Under these exceptional circumstances, I believe the Parole Board should assess the situation. This was not the prisoner’s fault; it was the fault of the Northern Territory government. The number one law maker told the prisoner what the non-parole period would be and the South Australian Parole Board and the South Australian Department for Correctional Services were also told that and accepted it.
That is why I say let the Parole Board make the decision, bearing in mind the government caused the situation. The Parole Board would have to take into account all those matters they would normally have to take into account and I would presume it would take into account the debate that has occurred in the Northern Territory today about this decision. There may be a good reason to introduce legislation to fix the act because it could mean other prisoners may use the existing legislation to appeal as to when they could apply for parole, but when the bill is introduced on urgency, and when a specific prisoner’s name is used in the second reading speech, you wonder whether this is about political expediency to cover up the fact the prisoner was given information by this government four years ago; the same information was given to both the South Australian Parole Board and the South Australian Department for Correctional Services that the prisoner could apply for parole in 20 years.
Our justice system involves punishment and I support the strong punishment for murder, but it also involves rehabilitation and, by its very nature, has to be just to both prisoner and victim. In this case, justice would be better served by the ruling of an independent body, not a political fix. I recognise this is not the ideal scenario the government hoped would come from the bill it introduced. But, there is an exceptional circumstance here and I believe that exceptional circumstance requires an exceptional response. In this case, the use of the Parole Board would be the correct way for this matter to be handled, rather than via a political fix.
Dr BURNS (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I thank members opposite for their contribution. Starting first with the member for Araluen, I appreciate her support within this legislation. Basically, as I said in my second reading speech, there are two elements to this legislation. One of them is clarifying the issue of the sentencing for transitional lifers and our intent has always been very clear as a government: if there is an aggravating offence, it is at least 25 years. If there is not an aggravating offence associated with the murder that it should be 20 years. The aggravating offences are: if the murder involves a person under 18 years of age, if there is a sexual element, a sexual offence associated with the crime of murder - and in Mr Bakewell’s case there was rape as well as the murder; whether someone has prior convictions for homicide or whether there is multiple murders. That covers all the elements that need to be taken into account in terms of aggravating offences.
Although I appreciate the member for Araluen’s support, I did try to draw a parallel between the word ‘may’ as used in this amending legislation and the debate we had here last week about the Juvenile Justice Act. However, I say to the member for Araluen - who, obviously, got it so horribly wrong last week where she did not even know that serious offences were prescribed within the Juvenile Justice Act - to have another look at the amending legislation. We are talking about section 19(1) which says:
- Under application to extend or exclude the non-parole period, section 19(1) omit ‘the Supreme Court may’ …
So, the words ‘the Supreme Court may’ - we include the word ‘may’ as being omitted, and substitute the following words: ‘subject to this section the Supreme Court may’. The word ‘may’ still appears there.
Member for Araluen, let us not play semantics and lawyer grammar with the word ‘may’ because, when the first legislation came in, in 2003, in debate - and I will quote from your participation in the debate, where you were talking about section 19(3). We are talking about a specific class of prisoner here. We are talking about what we call transitional prisoners. These are the prisoners who were convicted of an offence before this law was introduced in 2003 and came into effect. In other words, people like Mr Bakewell. The member for Araluen said:
- … a judge will be obliged to impose a longer non-parole period of up to 25 years under clause 19(3). The court will have no discretion. It is mandatory - and I might say in passing, that the government’s hypocrisy on this is really extraordinary - however, what it means is you have prisoners in gaol, that have an expectation they were going to serve 20 years. Under this bill, there is a sudden change, and it is a case if the DPP makes an application, those prisoners may end up serving an additional five years if their crime fulfils the requirements ...
In other words, the member for Araluen recognised in this legislation in 2003 - even though it contained the word ‘may’, and still does contain the word ‘may’ - there was no discretion; it was obligatory for them to serve at least 25 years if there was an aggravating offence. We need to dispense with some of these lawyer semantics. The word ‘may’ still appears in here because there are some options under the following circumstances that the Supreme Court has to consider. There are a number of options. One of those options is they can, if the evidence is there - as it is in the case of Mr Bakewell because he was actually convicted at that time of a sexual offence, along with the rape - the court is actually obliged to sentence that person to a period of at least 25 years. There are other options for the court. If the evidence of an aggravating offence is not there, of course, the court cannot impose 25 years; they have to impose 20 years.
That is why the word ‘may’ appears in this legislation, even though it completely removes the discretion of the court and makes it very clear what this government’s intentions were. It actually excludes the Supreme Court’s power to dismiss the application under the subsection if the aggravating offence is established.
That is why the word ‘may’ is in this legislation. The word ‘may’ is used in the youth justice legislation, as I explained last week, for similar reasons, because there are different pathways, if you like, that the court can take. However, it makes the legislation no less tough. It provides a clear pathway. It does not provide a layered approach, it provides a clear pathway of decision-making once those aggravating offences are said to be present.
The member for Nelson raised some good points. He tabled a letter from Peter Toyne, as former Attorney-General. If you just hold on a minute, member for Nelson – yes, my advice is that, in terms of the letter the former Attorney-General wrote, that until the 19th year that you mentioned, the parole periods are not set, so in terms of either 20 or 25 years. That is the answer I can give you on that.
I appreciate Mr Bakewell’s position in this. I understand that he has been a model prisoner and he has rehabilitated himself. However, I can only restate government’s clear intention, which was in the second reading speech when this legislation was passed in 2003, that if there are aggravating offences, that person should serve 25 years. I am sure Mr Bakewell and his lawyers are very aware that he committed an aggravating offence. He raped a 20-year-old girl and took her life. My position, and the government’s position, is that people who commit these sort of offences with an aggravating offence should be serving 25 years. That is why the government is moving retrospectively in the case of Mr Bakewell. There is another prisoner I understand could be in a similar position in that they have already been dealt with by the court and given 25 years or more and, basically, they may feel that they have been unfairly dealt with.
In the case of Mr Bakewell, the evidence is clear. He committed murder, he committed a rape, on top of that, he took the life of a 20-year-old woman and he should be serving at least 25 years. I appreciate the issues you have raised here, member for Nelson, but, as Attorney-General, I can only state the government’s position. I thank members for supporting this bill.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
In committee:
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
Mr WOOD: Madam Chair, I would like to ask some global questions about the changes, and in relation to some of what the minister has previously said.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Chair, in terms of processes, as Leader of Government Business, I suggest that we actually put the formal words, and that the member for Nelson be afforded the opportunity to ask his global questions after the putting of the words without the passage of the motion.
Mr WOOD: Madam Chair, the reason I went to committee is that I need clarification on these changes to the Sentencing (Crime of Murder) and Parole Reform Act; specifically to prisoner Bakewell’s case, because you mentioned his name in the second reading.
I need to get a better understanding - the Attorney-General said, ‘the legislation also affected existing life sentences, consequently, prisoner Bakewell has been given a non-parole period of 20 years and is eligible for consideration by the Parole Board for release on 27 February 2008’. Now, he actually specified a date. You said in response to my response to your second reading that does not mean he was eligible for parole in 20 years because there has to be a decision made as to whether his crime was one that required a punishment of 25 years. I am trying to see whether that is exactly what the Attorney-General said. Whilst I agree with what you are saying generally, is that what the Attorney-General said to the Minister for Correctional Services?
Dr BURNS: I thank the member for Nelson for his question. What we have to do is look at the process that prisoner Bakewell embarked on. He went before the Supreme Court to have his matter heard. That court found that he had to serve at least 25 years. That is my recollection of what the Supreme Court said. He did not go straight to the Parole Board. Maybe this letter should have been clearer. Still, I believe, we need to look at the legal process that prisoner Bakewell undertook. He and his lawyers went before the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. Even though he is incarcerated in South Australia he went before that court and they said ‘25 years, aggravating offence’. There was an appeal then to the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory and the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, in their view, found that they had discretion to allow Mr Bakewell to appeal to the Parole Board.
My understanding is that Mr Bakewell has appealed to the Parole Board of South Australia. That hearing, as I said last week in this place, is scheduled for mid-May. I see the letter that the former Attorney-General, Peter Toyne, wrote. I understand where your argument is coming from. At the end of the day, there is no way that Mr Bakewell could ever go straight to the Parole Board. He did not go to the Parole Board; he went to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court under the intent of the legislation that we are amending today said 25 years. Mr Bakewell and his lawyers did not accept that and then they went to the Appeal Court of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory and he was granted leave to appeal to the Parole Board.
That is the best way I can answer your question, member for Nelson.
Mr WOOD: Thank you, minister. That is the answer I wanted to hear. The only other thing was the Parole Board seemed to have the same impression. They stated that prisoner Bakewell was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, aggravated unlawful entry of dwelling house, aggravated sexual assault and stealing, and obviously under our existing law he should have received a non-parole period of 25 years.
But then it said straight after that, I presume based on their interpretation of what the Attorney-General said, a non-parole period of 20 years commencing 27 July 1998, transferred to South Australia on 15 April 2005. If you were to pick up these two letters you would say that the prisoner has been given that interpretation. That is partly perhaps the reason why that there has been some consideration since 31 May for the prisoner to be given placements in various prisons in South Australia. This letter is from the Department of Correctional Services and they developed a plan for him. The plan was he would be at Yatala Labour Prison until 31 May 2005, to Mobilong Prison until 26 February 2007 and then to the Adelaide Pre-release Centre until 26 July 2008. That gives you the impression the South Australia Parole Board believed he would be entitled to ask for parole in his 20th year.
I am not trying to diminish the fact that a prisoner should serve serious time for serious crime. I believe the processes have to be correct for everybody, whether it be a prisoner or a victim. It appears from the prisoner’s point of view that he was expecting to, at least, be given the opportunity to apply for parole.
Minister, I wonder whether you have seen all the documentation in relation to this issue; whether there needs to be more clarification when letters are sent - I do not know how prisoners have been transferred; whether there needs to be more clarification given to another state in relation to what is meant by ‘non-parole of 20 years’ to make sure this does not happen again.
Dr BURNS: Member for Nelson, I take your concerns and I thank you for raising these issues today but the response of government has to be that our intention is clear, it always has been clear in terms of those with an aggravating offence serving at least 25 years. I have tried to explain to you the process that prisoner Bakewell has embarked on through the Supreme Court to set his non-parole period which was set at 25 years. He then appealed and that appeal was upheld by the bench of the Supreme Court, the appeals bench. Government, though. is amending this legislation to make our view clear. I thank you for raising these issues today. You have done it in a very proper way and I can only restate what government’s position is.
Mr WOOD: Madam Chair, could I ask the minister for some points of clarification in relation to a prisoner that has been transferred under the Prisoner Transfer Act as to: (1) whose jurisdiction is the prisoner still under?; (2) which Parole Board would then assess that prisoner when it came to the period of finding out whether a person could have parole?; and (3) which jurisdiction actually classifies the prisoner, for instance, if he is our prisoner and he goes to South Australia, who actually makes the classification of that prisoner? I will leave it there; I have two other questions that are related. I just need to know how all this works, especially in relation to this particular prisoner.
Dr BURNS: Madam Chair, I thank the member for Nelson because they are very important questions. First, as I understand it, although these prisoners that are transferred are incarcerated within institutions in other states or territories within Australia, they are actually still under Northern Territory sentencing law. So, the sentencing part of their incarceration is still under Northern Territory law and that includes Mr Bakewell. In terms of their parole hearings and the parole processes, it is my understanding that the parole process occurs under the jurisdiction in which they are incarcerated, but, of course, that parole process must have reference to the sentencing regime within the original jurisdiction. You asked about classification and it is my understanding and my initial advice that prisoners are classified within the institution and the regime where they are incarcerated. So it would be under South Australian prisons rules.
Mr WOOD: My other two questions are: which jurisdiction says whether a prisoner can, for instance, work outside a prison; and which jurisdiction determines which prison he will be accommodated in? As I mentioned before, there is Yatala, Mobilong and the Adelaide Pre-Release Centre. So, basically, what happens is a prisoner who is transferred, his sentence stays exactly the same. If it was a 25 year non-parole period sentence the South Australian Department for Correctional Services must abide by that ruling, but the manner in which the prisoner is managed within the South Australian correctional facilities and the decisions about parole are all done under the jurisdiction of the South Australian government?
Dr BURNS: Yes, member for Nelson that is correct, but as I say it is still under the umbrella of Northern Territory Sentencing Act.
Mr WOOD: That is all the questions I have, Madam Chair.
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.
Bill reported; report adopted.
Dr BURNS (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
APPROPRIATION BILL 2008
(Serial 141)
(Serial 141)
Continued from 7 May 2008.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, since I was privileged to be elected to this parliament eight-and-a-half years ago, my main aim has been to make a real difference for Territory families. Indeed, it was my motivation for joining the Labor Party; a party whose central philosophy has always been concerned with improving the lives of working families throughout the Territory. Since becoming Chief Minister, making that difference for Territory families has been, front and centre, the primary objective of this government.
Budget 2008-09 will deliver for Territory families. Budget 2008-09 maintains the Territory’s great reputation as the lowest taxing jurisdiction for small and medium business, with reductions again in payroll tax and stamp duty. It is delivering for Territory families throughout the Territory through record expenditure on infrastructure; bringing Labor’s total infrastructure investment to $4.3bn since 2001. This year’s budget provides a record spend of $719m for education and training, up 51% since 2001. Budget 2008-09’s health allocation also stands at a record $915m, an increase in funding of 89% since 2001.
I will speak now in relation to my portfolio responsibilities, first Police, Fire and Emergency Services. The pursuit of the right for all Territory families to peacefully enjoy safe, secure neighbourhoods has always been the hallmark of Labor in government. We inherited a police force in the Territory that had been cynically allowed to rundown in personnel and equipment. It has been a long and difficult process to overcome the decade of neglect that had been dealt to the Northern Territory community under the CLP. However, strengthening and growing our police force is a task we have committed ourselves to over the years since then, with the force now expanded by 200 personnel - and there is more to come.
Budget 2008-09 will provide a further boost to police numbers in the Territory, maintaining our police force as the fastest growing in the nation. Sixty extra police will be trained and employed as part of our $9.3m Safer Streets plan, with $4.2m towards this in 2008-09. This initiative will boost the police in uniform to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in the streets of our urban centres. In addition, the police will take on an extra 10 auxiliary positions. With the 40 extra police provided through Closing the Gap, Budget 2008-09 provides for 110 more police resources by 2009-10 than last year.
Budget 2008-09 will see the commencement of a major technology upgrade to police communications with $5.16m this year towards a $13m program expansion on Police, Fire and Emergency Services’ digital radio network. This will make a major contribution to police response capacity in making our streets safer. Another $650 000 will be dedicated to monitoring the Darwin CBD closed circuit television network. An additional $2.5m will go towards a $7.34m allocation to the new Casuarina Police Station.
Increased community safety in our remote regions is a centrepiece of Closing the Gap. The Child Abuse Task Force, a joint project with Family and Community Services, will see a $4.2m expansion in Alice Springs and Darwin. Alongside this will be $2.3m to enhance remote area policing as part of Closing the Gap.
The road toll is an ongoing concern for all of us in the Territory. This year will see continuing funding of $1.32m towards the highway and remote areas patrols based in Alice Springs and Katherine. Our Fire and Emergency Services personnel are a crucial element in ensuring community safety in the Territory. This year will see ongoing allocations of $500 000 for the major appliance replacement program.
In the coming year, this will see new tankers for the Pine Creek and Batchelor Fire and Emergency Response groups. There will be a further $310 000 this year, to enhance the capability for the Northern Territory Emergency Service, with $270 000 ongoing 2009-10.
Close cooperation with the Commonwealth is important in a number of areas. There will be ongoing support of $4.43m from the Australian government for the Airport Policing Initiative and, in 2008-09, the Commonwealth will contribute $3.44m to upgrade temporary police stations in Central Australia. This is in addition to the $7.76m to build the Galiwinku Police Station and accommodation. This will provide a permanent police presence to our third-largest remote township.
Security of Territory citizens remains a key responsibly for government. In 2007-008, the government moved to appoint a senior executive to oversee the Territory’s strategic level coordination of security, counterterrorism and emergency recovery. The Territory government continues to work closely with federal government to ensure our joint approach to security and counterterrorism is seamless, and we have appropriate mechanisms and capabilities in place to deal with potential threats. The new initiatives include the establishment of a Territory Crisis Centre to facilitate communication with other jurisdictions in the event of a serious emergency, and the establishment of a Cabinet sub-committee with specific responsibility for security and emergency matters.
I would like now to speak about major projects and trade. As I told the Assembly last week the Territory is at the threshold of both consolidating and diversifying our economy; with long-term benefits for Territory families. Of course, we have benefited from global shifts and activity to the Asia Pacific, and the sustained growth of economies such as China and India. In this, the Territory has a competitive advantage in being the logical trade gateway to the north, but our current good fortune has not happened by accident. It has come from a careful, level-headed approach to strategic economic growth through major projects, while spinning off maximum benefits to small and medium size Territory companies. It has come through an absolute commitment by us to creating an environment that actively encourages investment by the private sector, big and small. Attracting new industries to establish themselves in the Territory, such as onshore gas-based developments and opening new international trade markets will be the catalyst for long-term economic benefits. This will result in direct infrastructure investment and construction activity, new job and training opportunities, new downstream manufacturing growth, and support for goods and services from existing Territory-based businesses. This means increased wealth generation and improved quality of life for Territory families.
Development of major gas fields in the Timor Sea and beyond is an integral part of government’s plan for the economic development of the Territory. We have a vision and a strategy in place on how Darwin should develop over the next five to 10 years. LNG expansion and the establishment of downstream gas industries are two priorities within that plan. Of course, attracting INPEX to Darwin is part of that. As the Assembly is aware, my government signed a Project Facilitation Agreement with INPEX on 27 February 2008, and I met with the Chairman and President of INPEX in Japan on 14 March 2008. Both were aimed to promote Darwin’s case for the Ichthys Project.
Whilst we are still the underdogs, we will continue to work hard to make a strong case for Darwin and to facilitate INPEX’s consideration of the Middle Arm site. This project alone will involve two new trains of gas coming onshore, $12bn-worth of direct investment, 3000 to 4000 jobs during construction, several hundred jobs when operational, and provide further downstream manufacturing opportunities.
The AustralAsia Trade Route: government has taken steps to strength its whole-of- government coordination of key development priorities and strategic challenges facing the AustralAsia Trade Route. The new strategic challenges being immediately addressed include the capacity of Darwin and its port and rail infrastructure to cater for future growth and bulk mineral exports; FreightLink’s capacity to handle international container trade; the impact of new gas industry developments at Middle Arm; further growth of the Darwin Business Park; and, consideration of private sector investment proposals.
Establishing shipping links with Indonesia and greater South-East Asia to support our mining supply trade has been a clear priority for government in developing the AustralAsia Trade Route. We have been actively facilitating the interests of a range of regional Asian shipping lines and Indonesian mining procurement executives to consider Darwin as a logical place of supply and service.
The second Indonesian Mining Procurement Forum was held in Darwin 13 April 2008. The highlight was the attendance of six major Indonesian miners, who delivered keynote addresses to the 150 delegates from local and interstate companies; looking at the opportunities to supply products and services to Indonesia via Darwin.
Perkins Shipping announced its first cargo call to Balikpapan, Indonesia in April this year, handling project freight to be delivered to mining companies. Swires Shipping has announced their Asia to Darwin service. Shipping frequency will provide a fortnightly service commencing in May 2008. This will offer a regular direct service from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam to Darwin. In addition, Swires Shipping has upgraded its service frequency from the Australian east coast export service to South East Asia to two sailings a month. These will now see the company making four calls each month at East Arm Port. MOCEAN Shipping continues to provide direct services between Indonesia and Darwin. Operations commenced in July 2007, and MOCEAN has introduced a second vessel joining the Territory trade of sailing between South East Asia and northern Australia. This service has also begun to call at Hai Phongin Vietnam, providing regular shipping connections for companies supporting oil and gas drilling programs based in Darwin.
In addition, Northern Territory companies are now provided with direct links to Surabaya as the gateway for the mining support products and services destined for the large mining and oil and gas operations in eastern Indonesia. HaiWin Shipping established a regular monthly service to China and Darwin in January 2006. The monthly service is operating well with a record cargo volume of 700 containers being discharged in Darwin in December 2007, demonstrating high growth and the importance of direct linkages in the China trade. HaiWin introduced their own charter vessel, MV Blankenese, in March 2008, operating between Shanghai, Qingdao and Darwin every month.
This is also a budget that continues to build on our investment in the Port of Darwin with an additional $60m in the 2008-09 financial year. The Darwin Business Park continues to be a key part of the development of the AustralAsia trade route. Fourteen parcels within the Business Park are currently contracted or subject to formal or informal reservations. Latest construction activity includes over $40m completed or under construction including: Toll’s $3m transport and logistics base - development now complete; Shaws Transport’s $8.5m developments of new transport and logistics warehouse facility - now complete; Gwelo Development scheduled to commence construction of a 7000 m warehouse storage facility in June 2008; Dawson Diesel’s $8m, 7 ha development including 2 ha under roof facilities, commenced January 2008; AMCOR’s $1.5m warehouse currently under construction; Top Class Fruit’s $4m, temperature-controlled warehouse facility proposed for handling of import/export of fresh produce will commence construction later this year; the Arnhem Progress Association joint venture with Metcash, a $20m warehouse facility has commenced construction; and, Glimmer’s $1.5m warehouse is expected to commence construction late this year.
That is an amazing roll call of developments at the Business Park. It is fantastic to see and I urge members to get out there to see the work that is taking place.
Another key trade development is with bulk mineral ore exports being unlocked along the rail corridor in the Territory and southern Australian regions. The first bulk manganese exports to China from Bootu Creek commenced in May 2006. We have directly facilitated this trade through the new $24m bulk handling facilities at East Arm Port. In February 2008, East Arm Port handled Territory Resource’s sixth shipment of Frances Creek iron ore to China, a total of 420 000 tonnes handled by the new bulk loader.
In July 2007, Oxiana Resources committed to ship 250 000 tonnes of copper concentrate per annum from their Prominent Hill operation in South Australia to Asia via Darwin. First exports are scheduled for mid to late 2008. IMX Resources and Western Plains Resources are South Australian-based companies developing iron ore resource projects in the Coober Pedy region and expect to produce 2m tonnes of iron ore for Chinese markets over the next 10 to 15 years. IMX and Western Plains are proposing to use Darwin’s bulk loading facilities and intend to commence production and export in early 2009.
My government is clearly focused on developing new trade opportunities for Territory business. International trade just does not happen by accident. It is the result of continued efforts and relationship building. We have a clear agenda and specific markets to focus on. Our efforts are consistent and concentrated. Our key markets are China, Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam. Notwithstanding this, Territory business can and will seek opportunities in all corners of the world. My government will continue to support those activities primarily through our Trade Support Scheme. This scheme provides direct financial assistance to Territory-based businesses conducting offshore international marketing activities, but also through direct support and coordination of other industry-led trade missions, such as the recent International Business Council delegation to the Guangzhou Trade Fair in April.
The most recent Territory government trade missions include:
- Japan and China led by myself in March this year. This mission focused on high level meetings about gas and general investment and trade opportunities in the Territory; and
- the mission to Vietnam lead by my colleague, the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries which focused on pursuing live cattle exports. My department conducted follow-up activities concentrating on international education and tourism opportunities. The tourism minister has just come back from China, following up on the very successful television documentaries about life in the Northern Territory.
As we say in our Skilled Worker Campaign, the Territory is the best place to live, work and raise a family. We are experiencing strong economic growth and our economy is set to perform solidly over the coming years. Our skill shortages are exacerbated by the export boom and a series of major infrastructure construction and minerals projects. We are addressing the Territory’s skilled worker shortage through a number of key initiatives including investment in education and training, targeted incentives to employers and students, the Overseas Business and Skilled Migration program, and our Skilled Worker Campaign.
Our Skilled Worker Campaign, coordinated by my department, began in 2005 and has run every year since. The key objective of the campaign is to bring as many workers to the Northern Territory from interstate as possible. The 2007 Skilled Worker Campaign included an extensive advertising campaign and interstate information evenings. At the information evenings, participants learned about how many jobs were on offer in the Territory, how to find jobs and how to get information about accommodation, education and health services. The 2007 Skilled Worker Campaign resulted in 1100 people registering their skills and work experience in the potential candidate database. This information was then provided to the Northern Territory recruitment sector.
‘The Territory’ website has played a major role in the campaign. In August 2007 alone, the website received over 46 000 hits. Of these, around 2500 viewed the Skilled Worker Campaign section of the website and 350 people registered their interest to work in the Territory. This year the Skilled Worker Campaign promoted the Territory at the Mitsubishi Jobs Expo in Adelaide. The campaign promoted the benefits of living and working in the Territory to the Mitsubishi workers from the factory which will close down this year. The Skilled Worker Campaign will continue in 2008 with advertisements featuring in national newspapers and magazines.
The Chamber of Commerce was briefed about this year’s campaign in April and has indicated strong support for it. Other industry associations will be briefed over the coming months. All business will benefit from the Skilled Worker Campaign. This year, the campaign will make the potential candidate database available to the private sector. This means that Territory businesses will have access to hundreds of interstate workers who have registered their interest in working in the Territory.
I would now like to talk about the Darwin City Waterfront. It is an exciting year for the waterfront development. Completion of the convention centre, wave lagoon and other water recreation facilities, promenades and parks, hotels, restaurants and residences will open up a whole new playground for the community, tourists and business in the city. The operators of the convention centre, AEG Ogden, have now taken possession of this first class facility and are preparing for functions to commence with 26 conventions, three exhibitions and numerous banquets already booked to bring in excess of 8000 delegates into Darwin. Significant opportunities for tourism, business and showcasing our wonderful city will spin off from the functions soon to be held at the new convention centre.
Water recreation will be a fantastic aspect of this precinct. The opening of the much anticipated wave lagoon later this year is certainly exciting and will be a great way to beat the heat next Wet Season. Vibe and Medina Hotels will also be completed later in the financial year, as will the first stage of residential and commercial developments. These developments are fully funded from the private sector and will deliver substantial returns to the Territory. Local companies have enjoyed in excess of $170m in contracts being awarded thus far on the waterfront and the gross state product of this great project is expected to generate $350m.
I would like to speak now about my portfolio of Climate Change. I established the Climate Change portfolio last year as a direct signal to the Territory as to the importance we see climate change having on Territory families. The Climate Change Policy and Coordination Unit within the Department of Chief Minister was set up with funding of $200 000 for two years. The role and resourcing of the unit will be reviewed following the launch of the Territory’s climate change policy in February 2009. We have also established a climate change focus group with broad community representation. Government is leading the way on reducing its carbon footprint. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure will provide more details but government has allocated $2m in the 2008-09 minor new works program for energy efficiency improvements in government buildings.
An analysis of actual savings in 2006-07 resulting from agency investment in energy efficiency projects found an average 2.9-year payback period equivalent to a 37% return on investment. This very positive level of financial return reflects findings in recent national and international studies: that investment in building energy efficiency is one of the most effective methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Minister for Business, Economic and Regional Development will provide more details on the new program to assist small to medium enterprises improve their environmental performance and business competitiveness through more effective use of energy. Part of the program will involve training for energy management professionals, particularly energy assessors - a new and growing business opportunity - and tradespeople, particularly electricians and plumbers. Energy efficiency is usually the most cost-effective way to reduce energy use for business. Experience in other jurisdictions shows that this type of education and intervention is required to stimulate the market. There will be further development and implementation of the ‘Energy Smart Schools’ program which builds on the success of the Schools Energy Blitz project. The Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage will explain how we are developing a range of initiatives to help households focus on improving our energy efficiency at home.
I now turn to Information, Communications and Technology Policy. I took on the responsibility for this portfolio because the particular circumstances of the Territory mean this is an area in which we should be at the forefront of development in Australia and internationally. With our small population spread sparsely over a large area, the Territory’s use of advanced communications and computing technology is essential if we are to overcome the challenges of geography and demography. The Territory can and should be a leader in electronic services delivery, particularly in the areas of health, education and e-government support to business.
A fundamental requirement is access to adequate telecommunications infrastructure. This is an important issue for the Territory. We are the only remaining jurisdiction in Australia where the interstate fibre optic links are owned by one telecommunications provider. This makes it difficult for any other provider to provide competitive broadband services with resulting higher costs. The issue is more serious in remote areas of the Territory. Only 13 of 113 remote communities with a population of over 100 people have access to terrestrial cable telecommunications. Whilst a number of communities have access to broadband via satellite, the maximum capacity currently achievable is insufficient to operate health or police information systems. Satellite links also provide insufficient capacity to support two-way interactive video for virtual classroom learning, remote court sessions, case conferencing, or remote professional support and training. Most people take e-mail and Internet access for granted, yet many cannot access these services. The absence of such basic services makes remote recruitment and retention of staff for essential services even more difficult. It has the potential to limit the development of remote enterprise and, hence, limits the creation of local employment.
While traditionally telecommunications infrastructure was a Commonwealth policy and funding responsibility, because of the importance of this issue for the Territory, I have asked the Department of Corporate and Information Services to explore options for us to engage with the Commonwealth and with industry to achieve improved telecommunications access. The Commonwealth has recently tendered $4.7bn for ‘fibre-to-the–node’ telecommunications infrastructure. Whilst designed to cater for 98% of the Australian population, it may result in little benefit for Territorians.
I have met with Senator Conroy, the Commonwealth minister for Communications, and written to the Prime Minister about this issue. There is another Commonwealth $400m earmarked to respond to the needs of the remaining 2% of the population, including most of the Territory. Our representatives have appeared before the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee charged with making recommendations to the Commonwealth on telecommunication needs of remote Australia. We will be providing a submission to this committee before July.
If the Northern Territory is to be a leader in electronic services delivery, we need service applications appropriate to our needs in areas such as health, education and e-government to support business. We have started with services provided through the Territory Business Centres. The Education department has had distance education programs for a number of years. The Department of Health and Community Services is a national leader in the development and implementation of electronic information systems for health services. It is time to build on these achievements and take them to the next level.
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Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, do you mind if I interrupt to recognise these students? I advise honourable members of the presence in the gallery of Years 10-12 Intensive English Unit at Darwin High School, accompanied by their teacher, Ms Jenny Jenkinson. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, Chief Minister.
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Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I warmly welcome, together with my colleagues, the students to the parliament today. It is great to see you.
Madam Speaker, we want Territorians to have access to the same electronic information and educational resources as the citizens of New York, London or Paris. In remote areas, it will be essential to develop capacity to deliver some schooling by means of virtual classrooms with two-way interactive video. It will be essential to provide distance support and training to remote professionals. We need to be able to transmit diagnostic images from remote health centres and regional hospitals to specialists in bigger hospitals. DCIS will tender for a consultancy to assess the current state of development of electronic service delivery in the Territory, and to map the key steps we need to take to advance electronic service delivery. Territorians have demonstrated that we can be at the forefront of innovation, and can be a leader in the development and implementation of electronic services which are adapted to our particular needs and circumstances.
Speaking now of Multicultural Affairs, one of the most exciting things about living in the Territory is our multicultural community. It is what makes us unique. Where else but the Territory would there be such great events as the Glenti Festival? Support for the vibrant Northern Territory multicultural communities continues to be strong in 2008-09. The Northern Territory government will provide:
- support for projects which promote cultural and linguistic diversity in the Territory through grants under the Multicultural Affairs sponsorship program where $755 000 is allocated. This includes Cultural and Linguistic Awards totalling up to $50 000 for individuals and ethnic community groups to undertake research, further study or specialised training in languages or other cultural activities related to their ethnic origin; operational assistance to migrant and ethnic community organisations, including the Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory and the Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia;
- the Charles See Kee Awards will recognise and celebrate people, organisations and initiatives that have made an outstanding contribution to advancing multiculturalism and counteracting racism in the Territory;
- a further $250 000 will be allocated under the Ethnic Communities Facility Development program. Members will be aware that under this program ethnic communities can access funding for repairs and upgrades to their premises; and
- a total of $20 000, over and above the $755 000 for grants, will be made available for appropriate projects under the National Action Plan to Build on Social Cohesion, Harmony and Security. Previously, funding under the National Action Plan has assisted the Islamic Community of the Northern Territory to hold their Islamic Awareness Week and similar projects.
Major Events: one of the things that makes the Territory the best place to live, work and raise a family is through the events staged and assisted by the Major Events Company. It gives Territorians access to events that simply would not be available to us. BassintheGrass and BassintheDust are great examples of this. The Northern Territory Major Events Company is a government-owned company established under the corporations’ law. The company’s charter is to concentrate support to the largest events available to the Territory, as well as events that have the greatest growth potential. The role is to attract, develop and support special events providing economic benefits, tourism, media and social enhancement. The government is building the Territory as being a place to live and our diverse range of lifestyle events strongly appeal to Territorians.
Major Events is involved in the organising, management and funding of: the Arafura Games; the Alice Springs Masters Games; V8 Supercars; BassintheGrass and BassintheDust music festivals, the Finke Desert Race; the Barkly Muster and Gold Rush Campdraft in Tennant Creek; Garma Festival; and the Hottest Rugby 7’s. Major Events also provides in-kind support and sponsorship to the World Solar Challenge, Elton John, and the Anaconda Mountain Bike Event in Alice Springs.
Budget 2008-09 delivers for Territory families but, just as importantly, will continue to deliver into the future. Budget 2008-09 builds on seven years of solid work by this government; seven years in which we have turned the Territory around from a stagnant economy to one which is the fastest growing in Australia. Budget 2008-09 gives further confidence to the private sector to continue and expand investments, from small business through to national and international investment. Budget 2008-09 increases public safety, improves our health and education systems, and delivers on community services. It continues to deliver significant tax cuts and ensures that our small and medium businesses are the least taxed in Australia. Budget 2008-09 also, importantly, delivers on Closing the Gap.
Madam Speaker, I congratulate the Treasurer and I commend Budget 2008-09 to the House.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Deputy Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I support the budget and congratulate the Treasurer on her first budget. It continues to build on the strong fiscal management that has been the hallmark of budgetary management under the Labor government since its first mini-budget in late 2001, while, at the same time, continues to move the Territory ahead with a focus on delivering for Territory families. It takes the long view, especially with its emphasis on the Closing the Gap program. What this means is simple: while this budget provides immediate benefits across many portfolios, including my own, it also continues to build the foundations for long-term benefit for the Northern Territory.
I now turn to my portfolios. Employment and Training: this year sees a record budget of $719m, an increase of 51% since 2001 and an extra $53m or 8% on the 2006-07 actual costs. Education makes up the most significant spend at $621m, with Employment at $33m and Training at $66m.
Our school system will serve 33 390 students in 2008-09 from preschool to senior school. A further 10 000 students attend non-government schools. Additional operational funding of $7.3m in 2008-09 has been provided as part of the five year commitment of $43.6m in operational funding and $37.8m for infrastructure to close the educational outcome gap between indigenous and non-indigenous students.
Budget 2008-09 continues to boost education infrastructure. New building programs include $2m for Alawa Primary School, $2m for Leanyer Primary School, $1m for Malak Primary School, $2m for Ross Park Primary School, $2m for Nakara Primary School, and $9.5m has been provided for headworks to prepare for a new primary and middle school at Rosebery. Budget 2008-09 will see $6.3m provided for minor new works and $26.81m for repairs and maintenance to schools.
Further Budget 2008-09 education highlights include: funding of $9.38m to continue the Building Better Schools initiatives to improve the quality and delivery of secondary education programs; $2.6m for the National Accelerated Literacy program to improve the literacy skills of students who have failed to make appropriate literacy gains in school; and $1.9m to continue the Back to School payment to parents to assist with schooling costs.
Other points of note for 2008-09 include:
- in 2008-09, the government will provide $48m to Charles Darwin University and $10m to the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education to provide vocational education and training that will enhance opportunities for employment;
- this will be the first full year of middle years education, focused on improving Year 7 to Year 9 student learning through education tailored to the specific needs of young adolescents and providing the opportunity for maximising senior year achievements;
- we will see the phasing in of the new Certificate of Education, the NTCE, to be developed jointly with South Australia, commencing in 2009 for Year 10 students, 2010 for Year 11, and 2011 for Year 12 students;
- this year will see the implementation of the first year of the new National Assessment programs for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9;
- trialling alternative distance learning education delivery methods, including a virtual schooling trial where a Darwin teacher delivers the same material through a virtual and electronic medium for a class of students learning Japanese in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy;
- additional funding of $1.7m ongoing to assist students with intellectual disabilities and students with high level behavioural and emotional difficulties; and
- early childhood and childcare services previously under the Department of Health and Community Services is being integrated into the Education arena at the start of 2008-09 focusing on learning in the early years.
Transforming indigenous education: the 2008-09 Budget provides a sound foundation for the implementation of the Transforming Indigenous Education projects I announced in the Assembly last week. Budget 2008-09 provides $19.34m to implement initiatives aimed at Closing the Gap of Indigenous Disadvantage including:
- $6.2m to upgrade community education centres at Yuendumu, Yirrkala, Ramingining, Ngukurr and Alekarenge;
- $5m to convert Alparra and Yilpara Homeland Learning Centres to schools;
- $650 000 to target students with poor attendance records and an education campaign on the value of schooling;
- $1.5m for four new mobile preschools servicing 20 remote communities to encourage indigenous learning and attendance at an early age, and increasing to six mobile preschools by 2011-12 servicing 30 communities;
- $1.5m for 10 additional teachers in remote areas, increasing to 26 by 2011-12, to respond to expected increase in enrolments and attendance;
- $500 000 for four additional student counsellors to improve child protection outcomes, increasing to 10 by 2011-12 and $800 000 to provide confidential office and interview space;
- $120 000 to expand the Wesley Lanhupuy Scholarship Program from 10 to 15 places to recruit and train more indigenous teachers; and
- $1.12m to move 16 CDEP jobs, supporting Territory schools to mainstream Northern Territory public service positions.
In terms of employment and training, the Northern Territory has the highest per capita commitment to employment and training programs in Australia. In 2008-09, we anticipate 2650 apprenticeships and traineeships commencement, exceeding the four year commitment of 10 000 commencements as part of Jobs Plan 3, which this year will be funded $5.76m as part of the government’s four year commitment to Jobs Plan 3. In 2008-09, there will be 3300 apprentices in training, while this year we will have 22 500 VET enrolments with nearly 2000 in more than one VET program.
Moving on to work health and safety: there will be further and additional outlays in the area of work health and safety with an additional $770 000 for the Working Safer package to support the commencement of the new Workplace Health and Safety Act.
Moving on to my portfolio responsibilities for families and children: on 1 July, the Northern Territory Families and Children Division will be formed within the new Department of Health and Families. This will bring together services that now include child protection, foster care, youth support and juvenile diversion. A key element of the new arrangements will be an additional $2.5m for youth at risk by building on existing family and youth services and the new Family Responsibility program. An additional $550 000 will be available for the implementation of the new Care and Protection Of Children Act 2007, specifically for the Children’s Commissioner, Children’s Services regulations, and support for young people leaving care.
The appointment of the Children’s Commissioner is a specific recommendation of the Little Children are Sacred Report. The Commissioner will focus on investigating complaints relating to protected children. Closing the Gap initiatives have $4.1m allocated towards them. Further highlights of the portfolio include: $1.7m for additional child protection workers across the Northern Territory; establishment of a therapeutic services team and residential care; an additional $850 000 to develop and fund culturally secure Aboriginal child protection and family support services in regional centres that are able to support vulnerable families to better care for their children; and $200 000 for indigenous family violence programs. The programs will support the continued development of community-based anti-violence programs in remote areas of the Northern Territory.
Additional funding of $500 000 is allocated for the expansion of the Child Abuse Taskforce, first established in 2007, including formalising arrangements in Alice Springs and Katherine. Additional staff members will increase investigative activities in remote communities in conjunction with police, and a further $0.3m to fund the expansion of the sexual assault referral centre service in Darwin as well as to enhance services to remote regions; establishment of a new sexual assault referral centre service in Katherine, and new accommodation and expansion in Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. The final instalment, $2m, of the five-year Caring for Children reform package will be made to continue the enhancement of service support programs for children in the care of the minister.
Budget 2008-09 will also see $640 000 additional funding provided to the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program in 2008-09 to address the needs of individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and to respond to family violence in remote communities. There is also $250 000 funding for parenting and intensive family support for refugee families in Darwin, through the Melaleuca Refugee Centre in Rapid Creek.
I move on to the Office of Indigenous Policy, Closing the Gap. On 20 August 2007, the Northern Territory government launched Closing the Gap of Indigenous Disadvantage: A Generational Plan of Action, aimed at addressing the gap in outcomes between indigenous and non-indigenous Territorians within a generation. The government has committed more than $286m to the implementation of Closing the Gap in the first five years, in recognition of the importance of overcoming indigenous disadvantage and addressing child abuse.
An operational group, comprised of senior public servants at the Deputy Chief Executive and Deputy Secretary level, are managing the implementation and monitoring of Closing the Gap. The group will then report on progress and outcomes to the Chief Executives’ Taskforce on Indigenous Affairs. Agencies have commenced implementing the various initiatives in Closing the Gap, and are making good progress so far. Some of the highlights include:
- a Child Abuse Team (Southern Region) has been established in Alice Springs;
a witness assistance service has been established in Katherine;
four additional Alcohol Compliance Inspectors have commenced with funding from Closing the Gap, with a further eight funded through the Northern Territory Emergency Response;
51 additional police are currently deployed under Closing the Gap and the Emergency Response, with 16 temporary police stations established and two existing ACPO stations upgraded to Themis stations - that is a total of 18 Themis stations;
funding for 12 additional Community Sport and Recreational Officers has been approved;
$16m has been committed under Closing the Gap to construct 32 government employee dwellings across the Territory, and these will be completed by August 2008; and
six mobile teachers have been recruited to be deployed quickly at remote schools in response to increases in attendance.
The Australian government is directing funds towards Closing the Gap. Through Closing the Gap, we identified areas for negotiation with the Australian government. The Northern Territory government and the Australian government are working in partnership to develop a long-term approach to addressing indigenous disadvantage that goes beyond the Australian government’s current intervention.
On indigenous population mobility and urban drift, significant effort is currently being focused on understanding the extent and reasons for urban drift, particularly given the widespread assumption that this drift is being caused by the Australian government’s intervention. The findings, to date, can be characterised as anecdotal and/or based on very broad and, potentially, unreliable population increase estimates from several non-government service providers. In Alice Springs, Tangentyere Council proposes to undertake qualitative research projects relating to the Northern Territory Emergency Response with funding for this report to be shared between Oxfam and Caritas Australia. The focus will be on the collection of qualitative data in the form of case studies that portray the personal and social impacts for individual Aboriginal people living in the town camps of Alice Springs. Case stories of 25 people from Alice Springs town camps will be documented, and it is anticipated that this report will be finalised to coincide with the Australian government’s review of the Northern Territory Emergency Response.
Northern Territory Treasury and the Department of Justice are currently working on a project which will provide evidence-based research through a statistical snapshot of urban drift from current data sources in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs. The results of this research are anticipated in May this year.
In relation to the CDEP review, the Australian government’s welfare reform agenda introduced a range of policy changes to CDEP, including the progressive closing of CDEP to permit income management under the Northern Territory Emergency Response. The new Australian government has suspended the unfinished program of CDEP closures, and has announced its intention to reforming the current system of CDEP delivery. Last week, the Commonwealth announced the interim restoration of CDEP to the 30 communities and towns from which it had been eliminated.
The Commonwealth has sought the Northern Territory government’s views on a revised CDEP program. In March 2008, the Northern Territory government, through the Office of Indigenous Policy, or OIP, prepared a CDEP discussion paper. Interested stakeholders, including communities and interested individuals, were invited to have their say through a submission process. The deadline for submissions closed on 26 April 2008, and a consultation process is being planned to refine the understanding developed from the original discussion paper and the submissions received in response to that paper. It is anticipated that this CDEP consultation will be closely aligned with the consultation process required for the development of an outstation policy following the transfer of responsibility for outstations to the Northern Territory government, effective from 1 July 2008.
I turn to the Homelands Policy Development. The Northern Territory government acknowledges the critical role that homelands or outstations play in the economic and social fabric of the Northern Territory today. Since self-government in 1978, responsibility for the delivery of essential and municipal services on homelands has lain solely with the Australian government. Under an MOU signed in September 2007, the Northern Territory government will assume this responsibility on 1 July 2008. This shift in responsibility provides an opportunity to work with homeland service agencies and residents to improve the quality of services provided. To that end, the Office of Indigenous Policy is working across government to develop a comprehensive and evidence-led whole-of-government homelands policy.
Given the importance of this reform and the complexity of its interrelations with other policy and program reform in Indigenous Affairs, it is essential that our policy process be conducted in a staged and evidence-led manner. We are, therefore, developing our policy over an 18 month period. There are, of course, immediate matters at hand and the government is actively dealing with these issues.
My colleague, the Minister for Local Government, has advised outstation resource agencies that those historically in receipt of Australian government funding for essential and municipal services to homelands, and who will not be absorbed into the shires from 1 July, that their current funding arrangements will remain in place for the 2008-09 financial year. This has provided those on the front line of service delivery with the necessary peace of mind for effective operations and forward planning. We are also engaging in a comprehensive community engagement strategy, involving key stakeholders in workshops across the Territory, providing the detail of our homelands policy process and an understanding of the work that is ahead of us over the coming 18 months.
Leasing for government infrastructure on Aboriginal land: the Northern Territory government has decided that all government infrastructure located on Aboriginal land should be underpinned by a form of leasing appropriate to its use and economic life, and section 19 leases under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act are such a mechanism. Standard template section 19 leases are being developed to underpin different categories of government infrastructure, commencing with housing. Discussions are under way with land councils to that end. Ultimately, the term of each lease will have to be negotiated on an individual basis. It is preferred that, as a starting point, rental is based on the unserviced value of the land, or peppercorn value, where there is significant community benefit accruing. Apart from leased rental, there will be associated government expenditure in terms of strategic and town planning, and survey requirements. Template leases will facilitate expending the significant investment committed by both Australian and Territory governments in construction of housing and infrastructure in remote areas and town camps, and ensure smooth delivery of the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program.
In terms of the strategic intervention sites, for the past three years, the Northern Territory and Australian governments have worked in partnership to improve the coordination and delivery of services to select indigenous communities across the Northern Territory. This initiative stems from the Overarching Agreement on Indigenous Affairs between the governments signed in April 2005. This cross-government work in strategic intervention sites predates the Northern Territory’s emergency response of the Australian government by several years and, importantly, includes local community as the primary stakeholder with the Northern Territory and Australian governments.
The strategic intervention approach to specific communities has provided increased resources, for policing in the case of Wadeye, and improved coordination of both governments service delivery. At present, this approach has been adopted in various forms in the indigenous communities of Wadeye, Mutitjulu, Galiwinku and Groote Eylandt.
At Groote Eylandt, the Northern Territory government has been working closely with the Australian government and the Anindilyakwa Land Council to develop a regional partnership agreement. The cornerstone of the agreement is the long-term leasing of the communities of Angurugu, Umbakumba and Milyakburra. Flowing from this are a wide range of community benefits, safeguarded with housing, health, community safety and economic development. At Galiwinku, the Northern Territory government has adopted a similarly intensive approach and, along with our partners the Australian government, has again worked closely with the local community to design an effective approach to government service delivery to the community. Guided by the community, the particular focus of our joint efforts at Galiwinku has been on the community’s safety initiatives. In practice, this has resulted in the Northern Territory and Australian governments entering into an agreement in relation to the construction of police facilities on the island and their policing by the Northern Territory government.
Moving on to my portfolio of Arts and Museums. Responsibility for the Arts and Museums Portfolio includes responsibility for two of the Department of Natural Resources Environment and the Arts Output Groups, specifically, within the Scientific and Cultural Collections Output Group the Outputs of Museums and Art Galleries of the NT and Archives and both the Arts and Screen Sector and Araluen Centre within the Arts and Screen Industry Support Output Group.
Budget 2008-09 sees a continuation of the significant support and funding this government has given to the preservation and understanding of the Territory’s history and culture, providing opportunities for Territorians to benefit from our cultural richness as a source of inspiration, innovation and personal and economic growth.
In addition to ongoing funding to operate our cultural institutions such as the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, which receives $11.3m, the Strehlow Research Centre which receives $0.5m and the Araluen Centre which receives $4.2m, this budget incorporates some significant initiatives in the area of Arts and Museums.
I have announced the development of Building Our Museum Sector - a 10-year plan for the museum sector. Two major collections, MAGNT at Bullocky Point and the Araluen Centre in Alice Springs were both established 20 to 25 years ago. This budget includes a commitment to ensure we continue to have a Museum and Art Gallery for all Territorians with $1.3m in capital works to completely replace the airconditioning in the museum at Bullocky Point, Darwin. Effective climate control is central to the collection, preservation and public enjoyment of our wonderful museum. The new system will enable Territorians to have access to national and international exhibitions such as the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, the joint program with the government of East Timor, From the Hands of our Ancestors, and an exchange program with the Shanghai Art Museum in 2010.
This budget is the first in which the Northern Territory Archives is part of my portfolio. NT Archives preserves and provides access to government and community archive collections and fits well with the other scientific and cultural collections managed by the Department of National Resources, Environment and the Arts. NT Archives has an allocation of $1.6m.
This government has continually supported Territory artists and Budget 2008-09 continues this high level of funding and support for artistic development of the Territory, through the Arts and Screen Sector support output group with an allocation of $13.1m. This funding provides financial and other support to develop and promote the art sector in the Territory as well as support, develop and grow the Territory’s Screen industry.
Importantly, Budget 2008-09 contains continued funding for the Building Strong Arts Business initiative, a critical program aimed at assisting our highly talented indigenous artists develop economic opportunities and for whole communities to benefit from their art. Since 2003, the Building Strong Arts Business initiative has recorded many significant achievements. It has enabled the growing success of the Northern Territory Indigenous Music Awards which provides invaluable showcasing opportunities for indigenous musicians. It has provided continued support to the Desert Mob annual exhibition and marketplace which has helped to provide increased economic returns to artists working in the central region. The initiative has encouraged export opportunities for indigenous art and has fostered whole-of-government delivery of economic and social outcomes through the interdepartmental committee that meets regularly.
Many strategic initiatives have been funded which have provided increased employment and economic opportunities for indigenous artists across all art forms including literature and the performing arts. Funding of $4.2m is provided for the Araluen Centre output to deliver, facilitate and promote performing arts, cinema, visual arts and tourism programs and attractions for locals and visitors to Central Australia. Other events such as the Desert Mob exhibition and marketplace, the Alice Springs Beanie Festival, and the Alice Desert Festival Wearable Arts Acquisition Awards are key features of the Araluen program.
The Territory is the host of the 2008 National Regional Arts Australia Conference titled Art at the Heart which will be held in Alice Springs in October 2008. This conference is underwritten by the funding provided in this budget to the Arts and Screen Sector output.
Office of Women’s Policy: through the recently released Building on our Strength – A Framework for Action for Women in the Northern Territory, the Northern Territory government identified some priorities to be addressed and what will be continued to be done to improve the lives of all women in the Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can I just interrupt you. Do you have a lot more to go?
Ms SCRYMGOUR: No, I only have one page, Madam Speaker.
The Office of Women’s Policy’s chief task will be to engage with women throughout the Territory and to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Women’s framework. Combined with this the following will be provided:
- $24 000 towards the implementation of an Indigenous Women’s Leadership Program which was devised in 2007-08. This initiative is designed to improve the capacity and leadership skills of indigenous women in remote communities;
OWP will continue to support the activities that contribute to Territory women: White Ribbon Day, Tribute to Northern Territory Women, and the Alicia Johnson Memorial Lecture, as well as the Chief Minister’s Scholarship Award where $27 000 will be made available;
OWP has a continuing commitment to domestic violence community education. Ongoing funding will be available for television and radio advertising such as the Indigenous All Stars Stop the Violence campaign; and
at the policy level, further work will be carried out in devising the Northern Territory government’s new domestic violence strategies.
Debate suspended.
APPROPRIATION BILL 2008
(Serial 141)
(Serial 141)
Continued from earlier this day.
Dr BURNS (Health): Madam Speaker, I am proud to support today the Treasurer’s 2008-09 Budget. This is a budget that truly delivers for Territory families and all Territorians. It delivers better health and wellbeing outcomes, better safety in our suburbs and communities, and a stronger justice system to deal with wrongdoers.
Once again, there is a major increase in the health budget, continuing the precedent set when we first came to government, and acknowledging the work we had to do to build up a health system that had been suffering from years of neglect. The budget for health and families in 2008-09, from all funding sources, will be $915.1m. This is an 89% increase, almost a doubling of the allocation since 2001. It is a challenge facing health systems worldwide that, as we improve health outcomes and expand the range of services available, the demand for health services inevitably increases. That is why this $915.1m is carefully focused on the areas that will have the greatest impact to improve the health of all Territorians.
Most importantly, government is providing extra resources for the front line of the Northern Territory health system, more beds, more staff, improved facilities, new equipment, and state-of-the-art diagnostic tools. We are proud to have a consistently strengthened the frontline health workforce since 2001. Doctor numbers have increased by 137 to 409 full-time equivalents by mid-March this year, a 50% increase in doctors in our public health system across the Territory since 2001. We have continued to build the nursing workforce since 2001, increasing full-time equivalent nursing positions by 343, bringing the total to 1665 FTEs by mid-March this year, an increase of 26%.
That is in stark contrast to what the CLP did in the late 1990s, where they stripped 200 nurses out of the nursing workforce. I have here - and I have tabled it before in this House - an extract from the Territory Health Services Annual Report which shows, year-by-year, the decrease in nursing numbers within the Northern Territory under the CLP government. Maybe I will wait till estimates time. I will keep that graph there ready for when the member for Greatorex starts to make assertions about nursing workforce and workforce issues. I will be able to demonstrate to him completely and unequivocally, with an impeccable source which is the Territory Health Services Annual Report, just how the CLP stripped out nursing numbers – 200 nurses from our nursing workforce. We are a government that is investing in our nursing workforce. As I said before, 1665 by mid-March, an increase of 26%.
We are seeing positive gains from these investments in the most critical areas of need. We are seeing a strong, consistent improvement in the health status of Aboriginal people; a three-year improvement in life expectancy for Territory Aboriginal women; a 35% fall in the NT Aboriginal infant mortality rates; and survival rates for clients on kidney dialysis have significantly improved, particularly in Central Australia. There is, of course, much more to do, but it shows that we are on the right track, and we will, and must, continue to make significant gains.
I now turn to some of the specifics of this record health budget - a real record, a far cry from previous administrations that desperately resorted to winding back targeted expenditure in one year, simply to throw it into the following in an effort to claim record spending of health. I well remember when I came into this place as a newly elected member to discover, to my horror, that the previous CLP government, in a number of areas including health, had wound back the estimates of expenditure in the 2000-01 financial year. They wound it back by $6m, then they said they were spending a certain amount, which was exactly the same as the target expenditure, but they made it look as though they were actually spending $6m more in an election year. I said shame on them then, and I say shame on them now. It was a reprehensible thing to do. This is a government that is clearly investing extra funds into health, 89% since we came to power, and that record stands, unlike the record of the previous CLP government.
In Budget 2008-09, Acute Services will receive an additional $51.8m from last year’s allocation of $492.8m. This means a 10.5% increase, with over $544.6m in total provided for growth in services across all acute health services, such as our public hospitals and associated services. It is worth listening to what Budget 2008-09’s increased funding means for our five public hospitals: for Royal Darwin Hospital, an increase of 101% since 2001; for Alice Springs Hospital, an additional 109% since 2001; our small regional hospitals also benefited across the board - Katherine District Hospital - up 86%; Gove District Hospital - up 80%; and Tennant Creek Hospital - an increase of 90% since 2001.
The additional funding to Acute Services includes an extra $2m, or 18% increase to strengthen the Patient Assistant Travel Scheme, or PATS. The extra investment will enable all Territorians who need to travel interstate for surgery and intensive therapy to travel with a family member, friend or other carer. This can be a stressful experience, and having the caring escort there can provide many benefits and support for patients. We are also increasing the Commercial Accommodation Subsidy from $33 per night to $35 per night, making the Territory’s scheme equal top amongst Australian jurisdictions, and adding an extra allowance of $40 per return trip for travel between the airport and accommodation for interstate patients. The new funding for PATS will also provide an Adelaide-based coordinator to assist and support Territory patients and their families who need to access specialised services in South Australia. The scheme will be rendered more efficient through an enhanced IT system and additional administrative staff.
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Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise you of the presence in the gallery of Year 8 Clontarf Program students from Sanderson Middle School, accompanied by Mr Nathan Perron. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, the Territory government also continues to deliver on one of our key election commitments, additional hospital beds. In 2007-08, 12 new beds were added to Alice Springs Hospital, and a further 12 beds at Royal Darwin Hospital. In addition, in September 2007, the nine-bed Rapid Admission and Planning Unit at Royal Darwin Hospital expanded to 24 beds. In 2008-09, expansion of ward beds at both Royal Darwin Hospital and Alice Springs Hospital will continue. Government will provide an additional six beds at Royal Darwin Hospital to complete our election commitment of providing an additional 24 beds during this term, and those additional 24 beds at Royal Darwin Hospital do not include the extra 24 beds in the Rapid Admission Unit.
Similarly, 12 additional beds will be progressed at Alice Springs Hospital, with the progress of the $12.5m works program for the redevelopment of the Emergency Department and the fire safety remediation work there. Services at Alice Springs Hospital will be supported with initiatives such as $600 000 expansion of Hospital in the Home, and an additional $200 000 to expand Allied Health Services.
I am pleased to announce the introduction of a $280 000 Community Midwifery Program in Alice Springs in 2008-09 for women with low risk pregnancies. This program uses a midwifery-led model of care and will provide ante- and post-natal care in the community.
As part of the new Australian Health Care Agreement, hospital core services will be enhanced through this budget with an additional allocation of $3.35m. I am pleased to announce the following initiatives: $1.7m for radiology services across the Territory; $0.4m to enhance respiratory services; and $900 000 for specialist dental chairs at the Royal Darwin Hospital. This funding will also cover an improvement to the patient activity coding system, making our recording and accountability even more consistent. This government is committed to ensuring all our medical facilities meet the needs of Territorians. As part of this commitment, capital works will be undertaken to improve facilities around the Territory. We will continue our $2.1m program of refurbishing Royal Darwin Hospital, with painting of the busy public areas, plus Wards 2A and 2B; upgrading of the staff amenity area, and refurbishment of the lifts.
$1.7m will be provided for Stage 3 of the Tennant Creek Hospital upgrade. This is the final stage of upgrades to bring the entire Tennant Creek Hospital campus up to the Australian Fire Safety and Building Code standards. Stage 3 will involve the installation and commissioning of a fire suppression sprinkler system, new fire detectors and fire doors, additional display panels, early warning information systems, alarms and public address systems. The building and areas to be upgraded at Tennant Creek Hospital include the kitchen and stores, the high dependency unit, hall accommodation blocks and the renal unit. Other capital works to be funded from this year’s budget include: $4.5m for a new health centre to be built at Milingimbi - and I compliment the member for Arnhem, who has been a very strong advocate for this; and advocates very strongly for her electorate. We all look forward to that building commencing and finishing. I am sure we all hope to be there on the big day.
Members: Hear, hear!
Dr BURNS: The current health centre at Milingimbi was built in 1978, and is in sore need of replacement. The current centre is located in the storm surge area. The new centre will be built on higher ground. Budget 2008-09 also provides $4.2m for continuing works on the Kalkarindji, Yirrkala and Wadeye health centres.
I am pleased to announce that new sobering-up shelters will be built at Katherine and Tennant Creek at a cost of $2.6m. The existing facilities do not meet the requirements in fire safety and disability access; and it is impractical and uneconomical to modify these buildings. Katherine will receive a 22-bed shelter and an 18-bed shelter will be installed in Tennant Creek.
In 2007 we announced that over the course of the next four years this government will be tackling ongoing demand for renal services, through a three pronged attack, to better manage kidney disease in its early stages, increased dialysis facilities, and increased access to home and community based dialysis. In 2008-09, $2.45m will be provided to meet the demand for renal services, and increase the number of dialysis stations available. These monies include an additional $1m to establish a renal dialysis satellite facility in Alice Springs and provide services for up to 32 more patients; as well as the continuation of $750 000 towards the management of chronic and early kidney disease.
Our hospitals and health centres are often the public face of health. However, there is much more to health services and health budget than these acute services. Budget 2008-09 also includes funding for health and wellbeing services, such as mental health, support for frail aged, and people with a disability; public health services such as environmental health, disease control, research and alcohol and other drug services. I am pleased to advise that this year’s budget includes funding of: $35m for mental health services; over $73m for support services for senior Territorians, frail aged people and people with a disability; $54.5m for public health services and more than $124m for community health services including education, prevention, early intervention services and the delivery of primary health care. Along with the tangible and acute care achievements, funding for public health services and health and wellbeing services deliver vital support for Territorians, everyday.
The shadow health spokesman has vaguely attempted to prosecute an argument that we are not getting results from our recent record health spending. I challenge the member for Greatorex to name exactly what primary health programs, acute care infrastructure and frontline health staff he considers are not functioning with value for money. Or perhaps, they are part of the Leader for the Opposition’s $50m slashing of the public service! Maybe he is going to be slashing frontline health staff. We will find out more about that, I would say. Just looking at a partial list of government commitments done and delivered demonstrates the nonsense of the member for Greatorex’s argument. The member wants to talk outcomes, so let us look at a few outcomes.
There are 83 extra hospital beds across the Territory while Royal Darwin Hospital now has a Rapid Admission Unit, halving waiting times to admissions from the Emergency Department. We have new Emergency Department wing; expanded ICU; coronary care; high-dependency and operating theatres. There is a 12-bed hospice which I understand has won a number of awards. I get positive feedback from community members who unfortunately have had a loved one who passed away at the hospice. A state-of-the-art birth-centre; Ward 3B reopened with 24 beds, after the CLP closed it 15 years ago. How is that for an outcome, member for Greatorex?
Hospital in the Home expanded to seven days per week; a world-class National Trauma Centre and I acknowledge the previous Commonwealth government and their funding for that and also the ongoing commitment of the current Commonwealth government for the National Trauma Centre. A new Medical Records department at $2.5m, possibly there are some more public servants that the member for Blain, the Opposition Leader, could cut. However, the medical records are an important part of our health system.
Alice Springs is not left out of government commitments completed either. Important improvements being delivered include: Emergency Department redevelopment at $6m; hospital-in-the-home; expanded resources in the intensive care and coronary care area, $11m in 2004-05, and also the community midwifery practice this year. Renal services also in Alice Springs which subsequently improved many Territorians quality of life, have been dramatically expanded in urban and remote areas, but in Alice Springs in particular, as has the Territory’s remote heath centre network, Milikapiti, Daly River, Yuendumu and Nguiu, just to name a few.
St John Ambulance Services, which does a fantastic job often in very tough situations, has received increased funding each year since 2004-05 for extra ambulances and crews in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine. The 2007 elective surgery waiting list blitz reduced elective surgery overdue lists by 31% and the total list by 16%. We are now well under way with our part in the national blitz, focusing on regional and remote elective surgery patients.
These are concrete health service improvements that Territorians access and appreciate every day. They prove this government is genuinely delivering for Territory families no matter where they live.
The Leader of the Opposition yesterday was proposing to jeopardise the negotiations we have in train with the Commonwealth government for the development of two very important projects for Territory families: the radiation oncology unit and the Palmerston super clinic. I am referring to this piece in the NT News today which sets out a list of what the member for Blain, the Opposition Leader, is talking about. Under ‘health’ it says here he wants to build an oncology unit and then re-coup the funding from the federal government. I cannot believe he would actually say something like that knowing this government has negotiated with the Commonwealth government to receive the Commonwealth government funds - funds which the Commonwealth has set aside to set up a radiation oncology unit in Darwin.
That tender process fell through under the previous federal government, which is where it really stalled. However, the current federal government has said to the Territory government, we will transfer those funds to you and you can enter into the direct negotiations with the major proponents. This is exactly what we are doing. I announced an expert negotiating team last week, headed up by Mr Paul Tyrrell and Professor Michael Barton, an eminent radiation oncologist, to negotiate. They are reporting back, probably in the next three weeks or so, about the way forward there.
It is just a stunt by the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and say: ‘Oh I am going to build it in the next couple of weeks and then I am going to ask the federal government for the money back’. He is just so far behind the game; he is so far recycled in his recycling, that he is cycling backwards. That is what he is doing. He either does not understand or does not want to understand.
We are making progress with this. I know it has taken a long time, and I am acutely aware that we have been waiting since 2001 for this particular Radiation Oncology Unit. However, as I have said many times in this place, I am focused, as Health minister, to bringing this to fruition. It is silly of the Leader of the Opposition to say: ‘I am going to build an oncology unit and then recoup the funding from the federal government’. You are way behind the ball, Leader of the Opposition. You should remain silent on these things.
The Palmerston Super Clinic: the opposition yesterday also talked about – what did he say?: ‘Fund an after-hours bulkbilling medical centre in Palmerston until the federal super clinic is built’. He has obviously missed what I have been saying and the undertakings I have been giving that there will be services. What I am aiming for are medical services being delivered out of the current infrastructure at Palmerston by the end of this calendar year. That is where we are headed and, once again, he has not been listening.
This super clinic is not just about the provision of medical services to families and individuals. It is also about better integrating and providing hospital-based services such as outpatient services, specialist outreach services, allied health services; services usually delivered within the boundaries of the hospital for which people have to travel from Palmerston to Royal Darwin Hospital to receive. These are the sort of services we are talking about ultimately integrating into this centre.
This is a government that is delivering for families. This is a government that actually has its eye on the ball, on the future; on where we are going. The poor old member for Blain is playing what they call ‘catch-up football’, but he is already 10 goals behind. I just do not think he has the talent to kick any more. He is not even dribbling it through the behind post, it is just going out of bounds on the full all the time – the man shows a complete lack of skill. The young fellows from Clontarf would understand that. I am sure they are a lot more skilled in the way they play football than the way the member for Blain conducts himself as Opposition Leader and tries to put himself forward as an alternative Chief Minister.
The opposition is only offering temporary tack-ons to Palmerston health services, and fails to address the total health needs of the region. We pushed ahead with the super clinic with the Australian government. Our development will be much more than GP services, as he proposes, which would compete with other GP after-hours practices already in operation in the area.
We have commissioned a scoping study that has been delivered to the department this week. The study informs on the development of an integrated health service to include better access to urgent medical care after hours, better specialist outreach and allied health services, and better care coordination.
The Leader of the Opposition also claims he will introduce minimum sentences for people who assault health workers when we already have some of the toughest penalties in the country under section 155A of the Criminal Code. Once again, he is playing catch-up.
Getting into the Justice area with that last comment, I am also pleased with the increased funding for important components of the Justice portfolio. Of note, is the allocation of $2.09m in 2008-09 and 2009-10 for initiatives to combat antisocial behaviour. This funding will go straight to the front line to deal with those people whose offending and objectionable behaviour is causing concern in the community. These initiatives include the First Response Patrol, Return to Country programs in the Top End and Central Australia – which are an expansion of those existing programs – antisocial behaviour telephone reporting hot line, Darwin area Night Patrol, and an information and referrals office in Palmerston.
The Justice portfolio strategies under Closing the Gap will also receive $5.124m in 2008-09, which will: expand community courts to an extra 10 communities; provide additional court clinicians to assess offenders for suitability for programs and report on progress to the alcohol court, create more community correction officers positions to supervise offenders; start a witness assistance service in Katherine – this has already occurred or is in the process of occurring; implement regional alcohol management plans, establish rehabilitation programs for sex offenders to break the cycle of offending; and expand the elders visiting program in the Indigenous Family Violence Offender Program.
Importantly, Budget 2008-09 also includes a funding boost of $394 000 for additional prosecutorial resources for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The additional funding will allow for the engagement of a senior specialist prosecutor or visiting counsel, one other prosecutor and administrative support. The prosecutors will have expertise and experience in prosecuting incidences of child sex abuse and will focus on this difficult area of criminal law. They will also mentor and train more junior staff members and work with police investigators to improve the child forensic interview process.
Child sex abuse, wherever and whenever it occurs, must be stopped and perpetrators must be charged and prosecuted. This funding will help to achieve this goal. The extra funding will complement legislative reforms recently passed by the government, which assists children to provide evidence to court in a less traumatic and intimidating atmosphere.
The Territory government also reaffirms its support for victims of crime by allocating an extra $420 000 in 2008-09 and 2009-10 to support the Crimes Victim Services Unit quickly process and assess applications for assistance. The new administrative-based scheme which commenced in 2007 is proving very successful with the establishment of a comprehensive victims counselling scheme as well as reducing waiting times for victims. The whole process is proving much faster, easier and less intimidating for victims, and we want to keep it that way. This extra funding will also help support the operation of the victims register, which allows victims and other interested persons the opportunity to be kept informed of matters relating to an offender such as impending application for parole or transfers interstate.
Over the next few years, prisoners will also find themselves housed in a new 1000-bed facility in the Darwin region. The Territory government makes no apologies for its tough on crime policies, expanded police presence and increase in prosecution resources. That, of course, means more people going to prison. While this new facility is constructed, the rise in our prisoner population requires interim accommodation and higher recurrent costs. Government has therefore allocated $13.9m in 2008-09, and $9.66m in 2009-10 for capital works, and $6.86m in 2008-09, $9.51m in 2009-10; and $10.57m in 2010-11 for operational funding to cater for this increase.
Alongside this expansion, prisoners will be compelled to break the cycle of offending through $500 000 in 2008-09 financial year increasing to $1m in 2009-10 for increased rehabilitation and education programs.
The Leader of the Opposition is talking about boot camps. As I explained in Question Time, we are already doing that. There is a whole of range things - habitual drunks legislation, and we have our alcohol court legislation, which is on target for the numbers we foreshadowed. We have also said that we are looking at those who are in that revolving door, if you like, of protective custody and looking how they might be brought into the alcohol court process.
Budget 2008-09 clearly shows what the government will deliver for Territory families. It is based on a strong track record of fundamental improvement to our health system, infrastructure, police and education. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Mr VATSKALIS (Business and Economic Development): Madam Deputy Speaker, I congratulate the Treasurer on her first budget and commend the budget to the House. The budget delivers for Territory families. It invests in the future of those families in the Territory through increased expenditure. I have numerous portfolios that are the key to the future of the Territory and will be providing a summary of the budget as it impacts on these areas.
Budget 2008-09 backs Territory business. In fact, business-friendly budgets have been a hallmark of this Labor government since it was elected in 2001. The budget sets an excellent course to continued strong and sustainable Territory economic development. It builds on our economic development fundamentals and successes we have put in place for every Territory business: competitiveness, regional development and indigenous economic development.
This budget provides a platform for business growth, expanding our competitive Territory businesses to strengthen our economy. The reduction in payroll tax fulfils our 2005 election commitment. The reduction in the rate to 5.9% brings payroll tax down from the 6.5% we inherited and, combined with increase in the tax-free threshold to $1.2m, means that Territory businesses get to save millions of dollars. These millions saved, mean more jobs. The regime is one of the most competitive in the nation.
The reduction of stamp duty is also a massive boost for business. Businessmen and women, like all other Territorians, have to buy their homes. This will leave them with more money in their pocket. Importantly, it will leave Territorians as a whole with more money in their pockets so they can spend more on household goods, furnishings, food and recreation. That is great news for small businesses which provide the services and products.
Budget 2008-09 ensures that the Territory remains the lowest taxing jurisdiction for small to medium business, up to 100 staff, anywhere in Australia. That is an important milestone achieved by this Labor government and one which we have taken the greatest care to maintain.
The budget also provides a record infrastructure spend: $870m. This brings our total investment to $4.3bn, a staggering amount considering the size of our economy. This Labor government can genuinely call itself ‘The Construction Government’. We love to build, repair, maintain and develop the Territory. Our efforts which are a far cry from the paltry efforts of the CLP in the late 1990s will mean a flow on of jobs, more purchases, the need for more equipment, more goods. This means business benefits everywhere. Furthermore, the construction budget will be spent across the Territory – from Darwin to Borroloola to Alice Springs and Arnhem Land. That means business everywhere benefits.
The Territory has always faced challenges to our business environment, principally because of its size. In the last five years, these challenges have been overcome largely through prudent and sustainable economic management. This is the hallmark, again, of the Budget 2008-09.
Another major challenge for Territory business and our economic development is climatic change. I am pleased that contained within Budget 2008-09 is a specific new business support program, the Energy Smart Business Program, with more than $700 000 per year for three years to be allocated through the government’s Community and Business Centre Change Response initiative through NRETA. The Energy Smart Business Program is aimed to assist small and medium enterprises to accelerate energy reduction strategies and respond to climatic change processes in a practical and economically sensible manner. This program is part of the wider Territory government’s initiative on climate change and will be delivered by the Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development.
Business confidence in the Northern Territory is high, the highest small business confidence in Australia. Consumer confidence is also high at 56%, the second highest in Australia behind ACT at 61%, and well above the national level of 44%.
Within my agency we are continuing to support business throughout the Territory through our ongoing business development and support programs. $26.7m is the total budget for DBERD. This breaks down into the Office for Regional Development with $8.1m; Business and Industry Development with $14.4m; and Economic Development with $4.1m.
Our objective remains to enhance the economic development and growth of the Territory. To do this we will:
- continue business development through our Territory Business Centres, business information and licensing assistance services, the Business Growth and UpSkills programs and, of course, October Business Month;
fund the Regional Economic Development Fund – $0.3m and continue the implementation of the Building Stronger Regions – Stronger Futures Strategy implementation;
provide an Indigenous Business Development Grant Program – $0.6m; and continue the regional Economic Development Committees;
allocate $0.53m to the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy;
allocate $0.3m for industry development grants to support Territory businesses;
provide $1.2m through the Industry Development Support Program for peak industry groups; and
profile and promote Territory defence industry capability to defence and prime contractors while funding $250 000 to support a range of initiatives aimed at leveraging more business and economic development opportunities from the defence presence in the Territory.
The government will also fund $350 000 to support research and innovation in the Territory, including our ongoing grants program through the Research and Innovation Fund.
The Land Development Corporation has a 2008-09 budget allocation of $2.2m to continue its vital role in the development and release of strategic industrial land at East Arm and Wickham Point stage in the Defence Support Hub. The Land Development Corporation is the Territory government’s leading industrial land developer. It drives strategic industrial land development, stimulating economic growth in the region and positioning Territory industries to take advantage of major new and expanding industrial projects.
A contribution of $0.9m for Desert Knowledge Australia, and $170 000 to Desert Knowledge CRC has also been secured in this budget.
Unlike some of our counterparts in other parts of Australia, this government has a strong history of promoting successful forward planning for our essential services. That is why we are in the midst of an almost $1bn upgrade to infrastructure in this area. Budget 2008-09 continues this work. Having regard to the importance of this project as well as the significant investment required and the timing differences between expenditure on infrastructure and the return on investment, the Territory Government will assist Power and Water with this investment program through capital contributions and a dividend moratorium.
The government’s payment of up to $50m in 2007-08 and up to $50m again in 2008-09, will support Power and Water’s investment in electricity generation, water and sewerage projects. The dividend moratorium recognises that government is serious about ensuring that Power and Water continues to have the capacity to make the required magnitude of capital investment. While this major capital investment program began in the 2007-08 financial year, further refining has seen an additional $314m in capital investment comprising $177m additional to the program established in the period from 2007-08 to 2011-12 and $137m for 2012-13.
This funding increase will be a great benefit to Power and Water customers through more reliable services. The significant infrastructure investment program will also benefit Territory industry, with Power and Water giving priority to local development in its tender evaluations, and providing extensive briefings to local suppliers.
The gas supply to Eni from Blacktip is contracted to commence from 1 January 2009. This is a critical development. Blacktip gas will provide approximately 95% of electricity generation fuel for the next 25 years. Weddell power station is in the final stages of commission.
The first unit of Darwin’s efficient new power station at Weddell was commissioned in March 2008. The second unit at Weddell is planned to be in service in time for the 2008-09 wet season, as risk management to cover older generators and meet demand growth. Planning and initial preparations for the third unit at Weddell will commence during 2008-09 to enable completion in 2011-12.
The Frances Bay Zone substation is nearing completion; it will provide security of supply for Darwin’s CBD.
The construction of a new power station at Owen Springs on Brewer Estate, south of Alice Springs, has commenced. The program includes the relocation of the Titan and Taurus gas turbines from Ron Goodin to Owen Springs; and additional new generators will be installed in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. New generation augmentation of the Katherine power station remains scheduled for completion in 2009-10.
In light of the experience from Cyclone Helen in January 2008, which caused widespread power outages, the project for underground power lines to Darwin has been brought forward and increased. The return to service of Manton Dam has been included in the projection for 2010-11. The forecast cost is around $50m, as water treatment will be required. This project will allow existing recreational use to continue. Plans for the closure of the Larrakeyah outfall are on track.
During 2007-08, Power and Water continued planning for the Larrakeyah outfall by 2011 and upgrading the Ludmilla Waste Water Treatment Plant. Major developments near indigenous communities will significantly impact on Power and Water’s provision of essential services in remote areas on behalf of the Territory government.
The emergency response to Closing the Gap housing and infrastructure programs involve a significant change in demand for electricity, water and sewerage services in indigenous communities. It presents significant challenges for Power and Water which they have responded to. Power and Water’s ecological footprint will be measured in 2008-09, to benchmark it and identify opportunities to reduce it. Power and Water’s annual Statement of Corporate Intent will provide additional information on the corporation’s strategic directions, plans, financial projects and research will be tabled in this parliament during the June sitting.
The Housing component of Budget 2008-09, delivers on the commitment that we made to Territorians nearly seven years ago; to build and secure the Northern Territory as the best place to live, work and raise a family. Last year, we made a record $150m commitment in the area of housing and related infrastructure. This year, we are increasing our investment in housing to $176m for 2008-09, a 55% increase. This spend extends the length and breadth of Territory. The SIHIP, totalling $647m over the next five years, will roll out the overwhelming majority of new houses, upgrades, repair work, service and related infrastructure; across 73 remote communities in some urban areas.
To recap the key elements, the budget delivers: 750 new houses, including new subdivisions; 230 new houses to replace derelict structures; over 2500 upgrades for existing homes, essential infrastructure supporting new housing developments; and better conditions in town camps. Altogether, it takes in 3500 houses.
Budget 2008-09 represents the first rung of the Strategic Housing program ladder. This year we have committed $107m for the construction, refurbishment and maintenance of housing for indigenous people living in the bush. New houses and repair works, job training and economic development opportunities will come through the Strategic Housing program this financial year. We will mandate local employment and training with targets under the alliance contracting arrangements.
Our increased capital investment will coincide with wholesale changes to the remote housing management system. Housing in remote communities will be transformed from welfare housing to a strong mix of community and public housing, with long-term goals of private rental housing and home ownership. To this end, Budget 2008-09 holds $14.8m for the roll-out of the public housing framework in the bush. On top of all this work, we will support delivery of key services – health, education and policing, for instance, in the bush by investing $25m in the construction, upgrading and replacement of houses for government employees. We have committed $10m to the funding bucket to meet our Closing the Gap commitments; that is, to put more nurses, teachers and police officers on the ground in key communities.
I will now outline what the budget holds for aspects of indigenous essential services given that much of the work ties in with our increased investment in remote housing. Already, we have advanced around $5m for work to improve power generation for facilities across remote communities. This system will be installed in 2008-09. This work will complement increased investment of $10m from the Commonwealth government to improve essential service infrastructure in the bush. These projects are already up and running.
On top of them, Budget 2008-09 will boost the asset replacement program to $15.6m. Key work under the replacement program includes: $1.6m for the construction of a new power station at Bulman; $440 000 to replace the water storage tanks at Nauiyu; $0.5m to increase the fuel storage at Papunya; another $0.5m to extend the powerhouse and construct a control room at Willowra; $600 000 to upgrade the Yuendumu sewerage pond; and $2.2m to connect Wallace Rockhole to the Hermannsburg electricity system, and Rittarangu to the electricity system at Ngukurr.
Under Budget 2008-09, this government has set aside $45m for electricity, water and sewerage services in the bush. In total, we are investing $60m in essential services infrastructure in remote areas. This will underpin our increased investment in housing, school and police facilities in the bush.
On the urban front, Budget 2008-09 illustrates our across-the-sector approach to secure housing affordability for Territorians. We have several proverbial irons in the fire here. First, we continue from the previous year with strong investment in our public housing safety net. This takes in $24m for repairs and maintenance and minor new works for public and government employee housing; $2m for more significant upgrade for public housing properties; and a further $3m to redevelop older-style unit complexes to improve amenity, security and combat antisocial behaviour. We will continue to support public tenants with rental subsidies to the tune of $24.9m in 2008-09, and we will continue to back up the community housing sector with $1m to provide special support services to housing clients.
At the other end of the scale, this government will strengthen its investment in Territory families who are chasing the great Australian dream. We will put another $34m into the HomeNorth Loan Scheme and the scheme will, in turn, put a great many more Territorians into their own homes for the first time. The Treasurer has outlined the change to the scheme in her speech. This change will provide the opportunity for more Territorians to access this very successful home ownership scheme. Already, more than 1060 households have taken up the offer of a handout from this government since 1 July 2004. We have, so far, invested $204m in the future of those families. I expect that HomeNorth will continue to deliver for Territory families.
Tourism is a vital economic driver for the Northern Territory and has broad impact on many other industry sectors. Tourists contribute 6.7% in gross value adding to the Northern Territory economy, compared to 3.8% for Australia overall. Tourism accounts for 11.7% of Territory employment, compared to 4.7% for Australia as a whole. The tourism industry is in a strong position today compared to the depressed environment it was in five or six years ago. This is, in part, due to this government’s recognition of the importance of the industry exemplified by our ongoing additional funding of $10m per annum to Tourism NT. There has been total funding for the agency to $39.4m in 2008-09.
Holiday visitor numbers have reached 849 000 in the 2007 calendar, up some 13.6% since 2002. Some of the budget highlights for tourism this year are $1m to build on indigenous people’s interest in tourism by developing new products from emerging indigenous entrepreneurs, with the aim of increasing the number of employed indigenous people in the tourism industry. Indigenous culture is a major drawcard to the Northern Territory for a large proportion of international tourists, as well as a significant number of domestic visitors.
Climate change is impacting on business development and investment decisions around the world, resulting in a plethora of government and private entities entering the carbon debate. Over recent years, environmental lobby groups and the Northern Territory’s core international resource markets in the United Kingdom and Europe have been actively discouraging long-haul travel to Australia and New Zealand. There is evidence to suggest consumers of these markets are increasingly aware the contribution aviation and the travel industry make to global greenhouse gas emissions.
This year we gave $0.5m for environmental sustainability initiatives, including $300 000 for the Make the Switch grants program to encourage using sustainable energy sources in the Territory tourism businesses, and promotion of businesses utilising best practice initiatives.
There is $1.1m for aviation, to increase the Territory’s competitive positioning in terms of access from key source markets. These will include working cooperatively with airlines on marketing campaigns to drive business passenger numbers and tourists to the Northern Territory. There is funding of $29m for the marketing output, with continued marketing of the Northern Territory’s priority destinations through dedicated campaigns and programs to encourage increased visitation in regional areas.
Specifically, we have $600 000 for an ‘Australia, the movie’ global marketing campaign to leverage interest from the Baz Lurhmann movie to be launched in late 2008. This will highlight Darwin and the Northern Territory as a romantic destination, rich in natural and cultural attractions. I understand Fox Studios will promote Australia as their premium movie for the year, spending many millions on marketing the film globally.
There is also $1m for the Global Red Centre Way marketing campaign, leveraging from the National Landscapes Program and building tourism visitation to Central Australia. We will also have dedicated campaigns for the Katherine, the Barkly region and Kakadu.
I would like to return to the Centre region. The strengthening of the Alice Springs tourism program was developed in 2005, with 30 action items to improve Alice Springs as a tourist destination, most of which have now been completed. We will engage Charles Darwin University to undertake a consultation process which will include survey and focus groups, and, through this process, prepare a new action plan. This plan will be guided by input from Alice Springs tourism operators, the town council, Chamber of Commerce and government. We have allocated $40 000 in 2008-09 for that.
One of the significant challenges for the Centre region is combating the effect of negative publicity on the region. Last year, all the dollars we invested in marketing Alice Springs were counteracted 2 to 1 by negative publicity. The government invests heavily in tourism in Central Australia through dedicated marketing campaigns, funding Tourism Central Australia, funding regional development plans, funding Alice Springs accreditation mentors and sponsorship and marketing key regional events and so on. One of our key priorities here is to garner the support of all stakeholders in rebuilding domestic and international visitor numbers to Central Australia.
The Treasurer said the 2008-09 financial year is one full of promise for the Northern Territory in its engagement with our Asian neighbours. This government’s focus is to foster and build on the ever growing business and cultural links with our neighbours. Further developing links at the business and government level with our major trading partners of China, Japan and Indonesia will continue to be a priority for this government.
We will also look to build economic links with the emerging economic giant of India, with initial exploratory trade missions seeking opportunities for Northern Territory exports. The Northern Territory will continue its long and successful association with BIMP-EAGA. This government is currently reviewing its participation in this sub-regional grouping, considering the most effective method of future involvement with the group that will assist both with overall BIMP-EAGA development goals and the promotion of Northern Territory interests in the region.
The Northern Territory has also secured space at the upcoming Sabah International Expo, where the International Business Council will lead a delegation of Territory businesses to promote trade with the region.
The Northern Territory enjoys a long history of strong cultural links with our closest Asian neighbours of Indonesia and Timor-Leste. The potential of Darwin as a hub to service the growing mining industry in Indonesia is ever developing. This government will continue over the next year to facilitate trade in this area, following up on the success of the Northern Territory government-sponsored Indonesia Mining Procurement Forum, held in Darwin in April 2008 and attended by 150 business delegates. The Department of the Chief Minister will again coordinate the Northern Territory delegation to Ozmine Indonesia in February 2009 and is planning to lead the delegation to the Balikpapan Mining Expo in June 2008. There are proposals being considered to further develop the existing trilateral relations between Timor-Leste, the Indonesian province of Nusa Tengarra Timur and the Northern Territory at the people-to-people level through the medium of sport.
I wish to comment on the impact of this budget on my own electorate of Casuarina. The focus on education, health and safer streets will be of significant benefit to the families in my electorates. These areas are receiving record budgets. I am particularly pleased with the second stage upgrades to Alawa and Nakara schools which are receiving $2m each. I welcome the additional police and safety resources this budget brings. The efforts by the government to contain and reduce youth antisocial behaviour are welcome in my electorate.
In conclusion, Budget 2008-09 delivers for Territorians, it delivers for families, it delivers for businesses across the Territory, it delivers for the regions, it invests in our future and it provides record support for health, education and safer streets.
Mr NATT (Mines and Energy): Madam Deputy Speaker, I support of the Budget 2008-09 as detailed by the Treasurer. Within my portfolio of Primary Industry, Fisheries, Mines and Energy, the budget gives me much to be pleased about. As members would be aware, fishing is the lure of the Territory. Not only does it make an important contribution to our great lifestyle, but recreational fishing contributes more than $30m to our economy and more than 100 000 tourists say they will wet a line when they come to the Territory.
We have the highest level of boat ownership in the nation. Territory families enjoy a day on the water and that is why we are investing in these facilities. Anglers can look forward to better fishing opportunities with $1m being allocated in the budget to infrastructure projects and programs. This comes on top of a significant investment in infrastructure that will benefit anglers. Around $215 000 has been allocated for the construction of a new boat ramp at Channel Point coastal reserve. Territory business, Advance Civil Engineering, won the right to build this new piece of infrastructure. This semi-remote location on the coast near the mouth of the Daly and adjacent to the Perron Islands is well known for barramundi, jew fish, snapper and Spanish mackerel.
The new boat ramp will make access easier for many Territorians. It is anticipated this boat ramp will be finished by this Dry Season and the park and camping ground will cater for up to 10 vehicles and 50 people at any one time. Tenders have been called for the $450 000 floating pontoon at Dinah Beach. A major development for anglers in the Darwin Harbour is the $4.6m fishing facility at Hudson Creek, which is to be constructed by Ostojic Group. This facility includes the construction of a new 12m wide, dual lane boat ramp and associated facilities such as an access road, 30 parking bays for vehicles and trailers, a pontoon that will allow dry access to vessels, toilet facilities and flood lighting for night time access.
In addition, five industrial lots will be created for the Land Development Corporation. The conceptual plans of this development were put out some time ago and were commented on by the public. We received loads of public feedback on the construction of the ramp and some ideas about where we should go with it. We have made several changes to the original concept plan and it is great to see that finalised. I know the five blocks that are going to be turned off were an addition. They are going to be specifically allocated to marine service industries. There are a number of companies interested in getting in first to lease that land so that they will have first access to the fishermen and the anglers who will use that ramp. It is also going to cater for the Palmerston and the northern suburbs residents having great access to the harbour from that area. As such it will take great relief off the Dinah Beach boat ramp. Having driven past Dinah Beach on many occasions when the tides are good, it is amazing to see how many cars and trailers are parked outside the car park because they cannot get in there. This shows the popularity of the Dinah Beach boat ramp.
This government continues to support recreation fishing through ongoing annual funding to the Amateur Fishermen’s Association of the Northern Territory. This year the government will provide $175 000 to enable the association to continue to employ its executive officer and office assistant and administer a $10 000 small grants program for fishing clubs. While I am on the subject of support, the government has provided $40 000 to the Northern Territory Guided Fishing Industry Association for the past three years to enable the employment of its executive officer and pay for its business costs.
I am pleased to report that my Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines is drafting an issues paper in conjunction with the association which will propose a voluntary code of conduct and management plan for the guided fishing tourism industry. These drafts will be made available for public comment and input before the finalisation of the document.
This is an important industry to the Territory, catering for the increase in the tourist market. In 2006 over 20 000 visitors came to the Territory choosing to partake in the guided fishing experience. This important industry provides opportunities for tourists to enjoy a day on the water with an expert fishing guide aiming to catch prize barramundi or any other of our exciting game fish species on offer. We want to ensure we remain a premier destination when it comes to landing a barra or taking an exciting fishing tour.
I can vouch for the reliability of catching fish on some of these tours. I have had the pleasure of an eight day fishing trip on the MV Swordfish, which houses itself in the duck pond and steams out into the harbour and down the coast from there. Viv Thistlethwaite is the skipper of that vessel and we had an enjoyable eight days out on the water past the Perron Islands. I can tell you that the fishing is extraordinary. We got on to all sorts of different types of fish out in the sea and then went up some of the estuaries to try the barramundi where we managed to get a couple of them as well. It was a fantastic couple of days. Locally, a friend of mine, Hully Politis, is also a fishing tour operator. I understand he is getting worked to the bone at the moment with people coming up from down south. Hully has been fishing this harbour since he was a boy. He knows it in and out. I can assure you that any time you go out with Hully or any of these other experienced fishing tour operators you are guaranteed to catch a fish.
As I announced at the AFANT AGM, this government is now funding a new recreational survey which will be scoped and undertaken over the financial years of 2008-09 and 2009-10. This survey will ensure we have the latest information needed to continue to effectively manage recreational fishing and broader aquatic resources. The survey is a massive undertaking and will be run over a couple of years starting in 2009. While the process is lengthy, the information obtained will be invaluable to the running and management of our fisheries to ensure that the fishing experiences available today continues well into the future. This investment into the acquisition of much needed fishing data is yet another demonstration of the government’s commitment to local anglers and visitors alike. Recreational fishers will also benefit from our recent success in negotiating the buy-back of nine inshore coastal net licences. This significant buy-back of inshore commercial netting licences, removes a large proportion of commercial fishing effort from the potential harvest of key recreational species, such as blue salmon and queen fish.
With the removal of these licences, we have met our election commitments. Earlier this year, I announced the closure of Darwin Harbour and Shoal Bay to all forms of inshore commercial coastal net fishing. This is a real winner for recreational anglers, particularly as Darwin Harbour and Shoal Bay are the most popular destination for anglers. Talking to George Voukolous at his tackle shop last week, he commented how many visitors he has had to the Northern Territory. His business is booming. We are receiving fantastic feedback about buying back those licences within Darwin Harbour and Shoal Bay. Positive comments are coming from recreational fishing in and around Darwin. It goes to show how avid anglers are when it comes to fishing in our harbour and around Shoal Bay. Fishing is a great part of the Territory lifestyle and the allocations made in this budget will ensure that more families will be able to head out for a day on the water.
While fishing may be the lure of the Territory it is our minerals and energies industry that will provide a massive 40% of GSP into the next financial year. I am pleased to say that Budget 2008-09 delivers $5.5m to promoting mining opportunities in the Territory. Of that, our major investment and exploration attraction program, Bringing Forward Discovery, has been boosted by a $2.4m investment, making it now $14.4m over four years. This will increase drilling and geophysical surveys for under-explored frontier regions of the Territory.
We are in a highly competitive global market and, in order to ensure the Territory continues to perform solidly, we need more exploration and new discoveries. With the funding boost to Bringing Forward Discovery, exploration companies will be entitled to apply for 50% or up to $100 000 of their costs for drilling and geophysical surveys in greenfield regions. Applications will be assessed on their potential to open up new areas of exploration and to lead to new discoveries. This initiative promotes mining opportunities in the Northern Territory to companies across the world.
My department has also put together a special team which will conduct ‘on country’ meetings and information sessions to better inform Aboriginal people of what to expect when dealing with mining companies, and to introduce mining companies to communities and their expectations.
I announced today a new geophysical gravity survey that is to be undertaken as of today in Central Australia. The program will run for about four months at the cost of about $800 000 and will involve helicopters landing in specific spots in and around remote, unexplored regions, or under-explored regions of Central Australia. They will be taking gravity readings on the areas where they land and, from those gravity readings, they will be putting together gravity 3D information charts. They will all be collated and supply future explorers looking to get into unexplored areas. My division of Mines and Energy knows there are a number of areas that are highly prospective. The tests they will be undertaking with these gravity surveys will show these areas can be significant. It will be great information for future explorers. Let us hope we can get some greenfield discoveries.
The Northern Territory continues to be the only Australian jurisdiction with a dedicated China investment attraction strategy. In Budget 2008-09, $190 000 has been allocated to continue the four-year China minerals investment attraction strategy. This gives us a strategic advantage in the booming Chinese market and allows our experts to introduce appropriate Chinese investors and explorers to potential Northern Territory partners. So far, the strategy has been extremely successful and has seen a constant flow of Chinese delegations into the Territory, and several joint ventures already up and running.
I have had the pleasure of having two trips to China now. We have had terrific feedback from the China Mining Congress seminar we attended. I can say, for the first four months of this year, we have had more visits from Chinese companies than we had in the whole of the 12 months last year. It just shows that the program is working. There is intense interest in the Northern Territory. The Mines Division is putting together some wonderful information for prospective, interested joint venture companies that want to come to Australia. As I have just said, the significance of all this is that we are gradually starting to show the Chinese that the Northern Territory is a vast land, rich in resources, and has huge potential. A number of Australian exploration companies have benefited from joint ventures, and we hope that will continue into the future. I also understand that several Chinese companies are actually taking out exploration licences as well. We are going to see some exploration from Chinese companies into the future, so that augers well for that program.
As part of our strategy, my chief executive and team of departmental and industry experts are going to China this week to renew ties with Chinese businesses and government, and to meet potential new partners. I can assure the Assembly that this $190 000 is money very well spent.
Budget 2008-09 has also allocated $560 000 to promote exploration and mining investment opportunities, including $310 000 to continue our new Ore-Struck campaign. Ore-Struck is the marketing tool that we have been using to explain about the mineral and energy prospectivity of the Territory to potential miners and explorers the world over. The campaign contains the latest maps and geoscientific information, detailed reports and in-depth analysis of the Territory’s potential. It forms the backbone of our presentations at mining conferences, seminars and workshops. It also gives access to potential explorers and investors through an automated investment alert which they receive via e-mail, and the feedback I have been getting at many of the mining association conferences I attend is that the Northern Territory Mines Division is one of the best in Australia. I even read some quotes from the Business Review Weekly from Michael Kiernan the other day, saying how great it is to work with the Mines Division of the Northern Territory compared to some of the other states. We are really doing some great work out there.
The Territory has vast tracks of under-explored land, much of which is highly prospective. However, having the land does us no good unless we can attract companies here that are willing to invest substantial amounts in exploration and mining. The funds allocated in Budget 2008-09 will ensure that the vital message about the potential of the Northern Territory continues to be heard by the potential explorers and investors the world over.
Budget 2008-09 also delivers for Primary Industries, targeting growth and employment with an allocation of $37.5m. The government will spend a record $271m on roads, with $71m for repairs and maintenance to upgrade vital road links across the Territory. Four million dollars has been earmarked for a new road at Pine Creek, which will allow the area to be opened up and developed as a horticultural precinct, creating new employment and training opportunities for the local indigenous people.
I had the pleasure of attending the signing of a memorandum of cooperation. I attended that with the member for Stuart. We were out at Mulga Bore. The signing was undertaken with the traditional owners of that area. The traditional owners wanted to provide some hope and opportunity for the youngsters within their community. This precinct at Pine Hill is that opportunity. We are turning off three blocks there. One of those blocks will be given as an opportunity to the community to look after, and the other two blocks will be sold off. I know from the work we have been doing in that area, there is huge potential for table grapes. It is a great opportunity to employ the local indigenous people.
Just a few weeks ago, I went to the Ti Tree Research Farm, where we have been undertaking, in collaboration with Centre Farms, some training of indigenous people from the Ti Tree community. There are up to 23 taking part in a 10 week program. I was there in the second week, and attendance had been well over 20 each day. After that 10 week program, they will have the expertise and knowledge of how to work in a vineyard and various other aspects of horticulture. It is a great program. I am looking forward to getting down there to see how that program continues. We are doing some great work on the ground there, and I know the member for Stuart is keeping a close eye on that program to ensure that the potential is going to remain.
Recently, there has been much discussion about potential biosecurity issues as they affect the Northern Territory. In this budget, $1.8m has been allocated to Veterinary Laboratory Services for animal health testing for the livestock industries. This will ensure that the vital sentinel livestock program that tests continuously for emergency animal diseases across the Top End continues, and that pastoralists have access to world-class diagnostic and laboratory services.
Other equally vital areas of primary industries have not been forgotten: $1.5m goes to Entomology, Plant Pathology and Agricultural Chemistry Services; the pastoral industry has $1m for native and improved pasture research; $790 000 has been allocated for a range of extension methods to increase Territory pastoral knowledge; and the highly successful Indigenous Pastoral Program will have $740 000 to continue to increase the participation of indigenous people in the pastoral industry. So far, through the IPP program, 27 grazing licences have been issued, resulting in 28 000 head of cattle grazing on indigenous land.
The indigenous training scheme, or ITS, has also been established to pave the way for indigenous people into mainstream jobs. In 2008 alone, the ITS has trained and directly employed 21 indigenous station hands on mainstream pastoral properties in the Barkly, the VRD and the Daly regions. Outcomes like this are successes in anyone’s language and evidence of money well spent.
But, wait, there is more: $160 000 will go to expand markets for the Territory livestock. Almost 115 000 head of live cattle passed through the Port of Darwin this year, 80 000 of which were Territory cattle. Our up-to-date figures at the end of April 2008 show we are up by more than 60 000 when compared with the same time last year, with Territory cattle accounting for around 42 000 of that figure.
The Territory’s live cattle export trade employs more than 1000 people and is worth around $200m to our economy. The funds allocated in the budget will allow us to partner Meat Livestock Australia in a project to determine the main factors causing variation in growth rates of cattle on Territory cattle stations and to investigate and facilitate the opening up of new overseas markets for the Territory cattle. I had the opportunity of going to Vietnam to try to open up some of those markets. We had some very good discussions with the Vietnamese government and business people within Vietnam.
As I mentioned the other day we have visitors coming from Vietnam this month, within the next couple of weeks. They are going to spend a number of days in the Territory, having a look at our department and also meeting several livestock pastoralists. On their way home we are hoping we might be able to take them to a feedlot in Indonesia just to give them an idea on how it is all done. So we hope we might be able to open up another avenue for our live cattle exports overseas.
While the Territory cattle export industry is doing well, it is relying on one major market and that is Indonesia. As this project continues we hope other Asian markets will take more Territory cattle, thus spreading the risk and increasing exports.
I have recently visited Vietnam with researchers and experts from my department where we met with the feedlotters, government officials and conducted a series of best practice workshops. Another delegation will visit Vietnam to build on this work with the result that in the near future the number of cattle passing through the Port of Darwin should increase substantially.
Budget 2008-09 delivers for Territory families and is a great investment for the future. The Northern Territory government is delivering on strategic investment in the mining and primary industry sector, which will drive increased growth and investment. Record roads funding will benefit the pastoral and mining industries and we are spending on access for recreational anglers.
The budget delivers a range of programs and initiatives to ensure every opportunity within mining, primary industry and fisheries sectors are maximised to create more jobs and further boost our economy in delivering to Territory families.
I congratulate the Treasurer. It is a strong, economic budget that supports our fantastic lifestyle. It continues to recognise the importance of looking after families in the Northern Territory.
Debate adjourned.
MOTION
Note Statement – Sessional Committee on Sport and Youth – Progress Report
Note Statement – Sessional Committee on Sport and Youth – Progress Report
Continued from 21 February 2008.
Ms ANDERSON (Macdonnell): Madam Deputy Speaker, I support the statement by my colleague, the member for Stuart, as the Chair of the Committee on Sport and Youth.
Speaking generally, sport like football, softball and basketball is the life of people on Aboriginal communities. In many respects, it is the thread of our social fabric. It connects us across every race. It does not matter if you live in the Top End in Darwin, you live right at the bottom end of the Northern Territory at Docker River or Papunya or Alice Springs. Sport is something we all have in common and it connects us.
I believe it is vital we recognise how important sport is to children who have been taken over by substance abuse whether it is glue sniffing or petrol sniffing. Sport is something that every child and person in the Northern Territory attaches themselves to: it is something they feel comfortable with, it is something that they can compete and excel in, it is something that they can dream about.
Sport is also a conduit for healthy living. It is a conduit people use to keep fit; it is a conduit that pulls the youth to escape from negative influences whether it be substance abuse or violence in the home. I want to encourage this parliament and my parliamentary colleagues to have a look at sporting facilities. As a member of both the Substance Abuse and on Sport and Youth committees, it is very interesting to see the people who come before you. We have mothers, we have grandmothers, we have people who deliver the service on our behalf, all struggling and talking about the issues of how we can get better facilities in remote Aboriginal communities to encourage children and community members to participate in sports.
Like I said, it is a conduit to healthy and active living. Sport is something we all relate to; sport is something that we have all tapped into to make ourselves feel good. The Yuendumu Sports Weekends in the early 1970s and 1980s was just like preparing for the Olympics. Every community would bring their best footballers, their best softballers, best basketballers, best athletes, and best boomerang throwers. Whether they came on the back of cattle trucks or packed into a Holden ute, everyone would be at Yuendumu, all striving to get that individual recognition and the community recognition to be the best. That sports event still goes on. I know my colleague, the member for Stuart, encourages football activities and sponsors the Yuendumu football team even when they play in Alice Springs.
The other event we had was the Areyonga swimming and singing carnival. You would have many communities participating. That was like going to the Commonwealth Games for indigenous people in remote Aboriginal communities. They would all pile into the backs of old trucks and go to Areyonga to swim in the river and schoolchildren were encouraged to participate. It was all about the self-esteem of those children participating in those events. It was always about coming out the winner and saying ‘Papunya won’ or ‘Kintore won’ or ‘I won’. That is what we talk about when we try to encourage our own children and our community teams to participate in games like football, softball, basketball, soccer and netball.
The fact that sport promotes healthy lifestyles is one we need to take further. We need to encourage our community people to say no to drugs and take up the role of being a true sportsman actively - to give 100% on the football oval, the basketball field, or on the soccer field, and come out proud winners or, also, proud losers. It is about having fun. It is not always just about winning. It is about having fun; having parents on the sidelines running around and encouraging their children to be active in these activities as well. It is very important that this committee has taken the role.
I went to Adelaide as part of this committee to have a look at how we could embrace and put back into the school curriculum physical education classes. That is so important now. Statistics have shown us that obesity is rife in our children - our children are getting fatter. That is, maybe, because as parents we are not encouraging our children to be active in sports on weekends and after school. Or is it because it is absent from the school curriculum that children are not exercising during the six hours they are there?
I am proud to be on both these committees, because the two marry. We cannot combat substance abuse without talking about these activities and the active part of this committee on whose behalf I speak today, which is sport and youth. It has to be about marrying the two and how we can get the best possible result for our Territory lifestyle, our Territory children, to continue encouraging our Territory children to carry on that thread, that fabric, of being participants in sports activities.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I commend this statement to the House.
Ms McCARTHY (Arnhem): Madam Deputy Speaker, I support the chairman’s interim report from the Sessional Committee on Sport and Youth. It is a real pleasure to return to the committee and continue the terms of reference under the guidance of our new Chair, the member for Stuart, together with two other new members, the members for Macdonnell and Greatorex.
Already, we have had a chance to visit Katherine and listen to issues raised by sporting organisations and individuals in the region. There is an enthusiastic commitment to ensuring a sporty and healthy lifestyle for our youth across the Northern Territory by all members of the committee, led by the committee Chair’s desire to actually lead by example.
By this, I refer to the recent sporting match between the Sport and Youth Committee members and the Youth Round Table. The member for Stuart kept the team together and motivated them to move very quickly, thanks in part to the help of other parliamentarians such as the members for Nelson and Blain who, I might add, were our fresh pair of legs towards the end of the match. Unfortunately, we still went down five goals to two. The match was held on the Speaker’s Lawns next to Parliament House. I also add that I still wear some of the scars of such a fast and, yet fun, event. A big thank you to the members of the Youth Round Table who took us rusty politicians on. Thank you also to the staff who arranged the hats, and Madam Speaker and her staff for the oranges at half time. I actually think that there might have been more than two halves in this match. In fact, I think there were something like five quarters. Every time I thought we were finishing and shaking hands, we went on for another quarter. We did really want to win, or at least get a few more goals. Instead, we finished with handshakes all around, some icepacks on a few bruised legs, and a firm feeling we had to meet again - perhaps maybe not on the soccer field, maybe on the basketball court next time around.
It is this kind of event that sets the tone for not only what the Sport and Youth committee is about, but also how we can maintain a humorous and real link with members of the Northern Territory community in carrying out our responsibilities in regard to our terms of reference. It is a unique opportunity. Unlike other committees of the parliament we can go directly to the heart of guiding and influencing good qualities, improving and maintaining the health and wellbeing of our youth through sports.
The three areas which the committee is concentrating on are: the ability and effectiveness of existing structures and programs, from grassroots to elite; to deliver in urban, regional and remote areas; and recommendations for improvement. Also, the role and benefit of School Sport Northern Territory programs and demonstrated links between participation in sport and reduced antisocial behaviour.
As the Chair has outlined in his interim report, the federal intervention into Aboriginal communities across the Northern Territory meant the committee needed to rethink its approach in holding meetings in communities. Those communities had more than enough to deal with in trying to understand what the federal intervention meant. Now, though, we will continue our discussions in communities across the Territory, as most of them are more prepared to discuss the sport and youth issues with us, as they have a stronger sense of stability.
It is clear, both from recent discussions in Katherine and in my time previously on the Sport and Youth Committee, there is a general feeling that sport needs to play a far greater role in the lives of our young people. The excitement of winning fights and shoot-outs in video and computer games, and the intriguing world of the Internet, is hard to compete against, and we are now seeing the real consequences of childhood obesity due to lack of physical exercise. Obesity in our children is a real concern right across this country and is, indeed, a very real concern for the members of our Sport and Youth Committee.
Another area of particular interest is the question surrounding sporting opportunities for children with a disability. I am pleased to hear the evidence from key sporting organisations and individuals that there is a genuine desire to include opportunities for children with disabilities. The Arafura Games last year held the first wheelchair competition, with international teams such as Kuwait competing at the games. The opportunity to witness firsthand the elite sporting opportunities for disabled athletes gives great incentives for the Northern Territory government and families to ensure that disabled children do not miss out on their dreams, either.
I am always conscious of this fact, largely due to the needs of my own son, CJ, who strives to realise his dream as a wheelchair basketball athlete, wanting to one day represent his country at the highest level possible for disabled athletes, the Paralympics.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms McCARTHY: Such dreams come because of inspiring Territory Paralympians, such as Judith Green, and Olympian, Nova Peris. While we recognise not everyone wants to always strive to such heights, it is always about choice and opportunity. To know that a boy in Ngukurr can one day play for an AFL team, or a girl in Angurugu can play basketball for the Northern Territory side, or a young mum in Minyerri can train to be a coach of a softball team that competes across the Territory is what our committee is all about. It is also about parents, knowing that even though their child may not play much, if any, sports at home, that they will at school. It is what the committee is about - looking at sport, looking at sports at school.
Our committee is about promoting a happy, healthy and sporting way of life for young people right across the Northern Territory. The evidence taken so far by the School Sports Northern Territory, and the Northern Territory Institute of Sport and Recreation and some 70 individuals is greatly appreciated. As a member of the Sport and Youth Committee, I am greatly encouraged by the new and improved directions in the Northern Territory that we can take in terms of sports and youth policy. I commend the Chair’s interim report to the House.
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, it gives me pleasure to contribute to the Sessional Committee on Sport and Youth report, presented to this parliament in February by our new Chair. I have been on this committee since being in parliament, because I believe the terms of reference are very important in addressing many of the issues that face our communities, right across the Northern Territory.
The committee has changed somewhat in the past few months. I thank the previous members who contributed their energy. Fortunately, the terms of reference ensures that whatever changes in membership occur, the committee continues working towards its aims and objectives. In our committee’s instance we have welcomed a new chair, the member for Stuart, Karl Hampton, and committee members, the member for Macdonnell, Alison Anderson; the member for Arnhem, Malarndirri McCarthy; and the member for Greatorex, Matt Conlan.
I have had the pleasure of working on other committees with both the member for Macdonnell and the member for Arnhem and look forward to our continuing commitment to present some very important outcomes to government from this committee, the Sport and Youth. It has been particularly pleasing to work with the Substance Abuse committee. I agree with the member for Macdonnell that the issues that relate to sport and youth also seem to be linked with all of those issues we have found in our community consultations with Substance Abuse. We have been able to combine a great deal of our knowledge and information we have gathered. That has been a positive outcome for all of us.
Our community consultations across the Territory have been very interesting and provided us with valuable feedback from a broad cross-section of community members. Each person who presented to us has given positive feedback in the areas they considered would improve the delivery of Sport and Youth programs in their particular area.
The committee had three terms of reference areas to focus on. Due to the intervention, which drew so much publicity to regional and remote communities, we decided that it would be inappropriate at this stage to focus on the third term of reference. I have to admit that while I agree wholeheartedly with our committee’s unanimous decision, the third term of reference - which demonstrates links between participation in sport and reduced antisocial behaviour - is one area that I have always been keen to explore.
It interests me because I have observed with great interest a particular leadership program which was linked to AFL. This was trialled within the Katherine region under the guidance of Fred Murphy. Fred Murphy is now the instructor of Clontarf based at Katherine High School. I am deeply pleased with the contribution Fred has made to the youth and equally pleased that he is going to be continuing that contribution.
Next Thursday at 6 pm the Clontarf team from Alice Springs will be playing the Clontarf team from Katherine. This will be one of the fiercest matches. It will be a wonderful opportunity. The Clontarf Alice Springs has been established for quite a while. This is the first year for Katherine. This will be a wonderful experience for the Katherine students to be able to realise how much that they can learn when they see the experience and knowledge the students from Clontarf Alice Springs have garnered. I am looking forward to it. I will be barracking – I will not be too biased but I will be very pleased to see the game.
AFL is one of the favourite sports in regional and remote communities. The majority of young people relate to it very well, both amongst men and women, boys and girls. I was and still am deeply impressed by the positive outcomes of the leadership program that Fred has run. I feel sure it could be implemented through other sporting activities and communities across the Territory. Hopefully in the not too distant future, the committee will have the opportunity to address this third term of reference. I believe that it is a valuable tool for encouraging our young people towards achieving their full potential.
The Chair’s report covered well what we have researched at this stage. We have visited sporting facilities across the Northern Territory. There is a diverse range of facilities, from the almost non-existent in the remote regions to the very well supplied in the larger towns.
One of the issues raised with us is the challenge of financing sporting individuals and teams from regional and remote communities to travel to participate in their respective sports. We make choices about where we live in the Territory and the distances required to travel and the cost to do so are an impediment to many families being able to provide their young people the opportunities to further their sporting talents. I do not have to tell anyone in here how many talented young people there are in those communities. They have so much potential. It is very upsetting to see opportunities are not offered to those young people in the same way as chances are given to their counterparts in the bigger towns.
Those of us who live in regional areas know that fundraising by schools, sporting groups and individuals wanting to participate outside of their regional or remote town, and in their chosen sport, is just never ending.
The concerns that the wider community shares with the significant increase in obesity in young people in recent years, clearly shows that sport needs to be encouraged amongst our youth. Healthy young people have a much better chance developing into healthy adults who will contribute to our future economy. We must ensure that the opportunity to participate in as many sporting activities as possible is offered to our youth through school sporting activities and community sporting clubs.
In the Katherine area alone, we had quite a few people present to us from a broad section. I will list some of the sporting activities that happen within Katherine. There are opportunities for remote children to come into Katherine, which is not quite as far for them to travel as Alice Springs or Darwin. There is also the opportunity for those children at the boarding houses at Callistemon to take part. There is soccer, rugby, AFL, netball, softball, hockey, judo, cricket, boxing, off-road motorbikes and pony clubs, just to name a few;. There is much to do. There are opportunities there if only we can make sure that everyone has equal access to them.
I thank all of the community members who have participated in our community consultations to date. The committee has appreciated the time those people have given. Their input has been invaluable. All of those people who presented to us were as passionate about youth in sport as ourselves.
I also pay a special thank you to Pat Hancock and all committee staff who have assisted in the preparation of this report. I look forward to further deliberations of the Sessional Committee on Sport and Youth.
Ms SACILOTTO (Port Darwin): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, the Sport and Youth Committee has been working very hard to produce today’s report. I congratulate the new Chair of the committee, the member for Stuart, and the new committee members: the member for Macdonnell, the member for Arnhem and the member for Greatorex.
I thoroughly enjoyed participating and chairing the Sessional Committee on Sport and Youth. I thank the committee members who were current while I was the Chair – the members for Sanderson, Millner, Blain, Nelson and Katherine – for their commitment.
All members of the committee are passionate about the terms of reference and very enthusiastic about getting to the bottom of what are the keys to having our youth participate in sport.
The committee staff were fantastic, as always. I would like to provide my appreciation to Pat Hancock and Dr Brian Lloyd, and the rest of the committee staff: Kellie Trout, Kim Cowcher and Tamie Devine also, for their enthusiasm and their passion. They participated actively and were very pleased when we had good turn-ups to our public consultations. All of them truly enjoyed what they were doing with this committee.
It has been a really positive outcome with over 70 people presenting to us, all with one common thread. Although the sports were different, the locations of the sports and the teams different and their requirements different, the common thread was that these people had absolute passion for their sport and for bringing youth into them. They were so committed; they gave up a lot of their own time. Many of the individuals we spoke to in these committee hearings were not employed to do this; most of them were volunteers. Most of them were mums and dads or just people who wanted to get out and do something for the youth and for the sports that they were involved in. It was a true passion, a personal and, I guess, financial commitment as well because, much of the time, our committee meetings were during the day and they would have to take time off work. They were showing a true commitment to the youth and sport, no matter what the sport or where they were.
One thing that stood out in some of the more regional areas was the absolute passion for and the whole community’s involvement in sport. That really sums up the Territory. We need to capture and nurture that, to use it and make it part of our endeavours to make it as easy as possible to bring youth into sport. Whether that is putting sport as part of our curriculum to springboard the kids into these organised sports, that is up to the committee to decide that. It certainly came out in our hearings that that was the way it was looking. To get people into the sport in the beginning was the hard thing; to cross over and get someone into something new where they had not had that confidence before. However, it was apparent that those young people very quickly built up their confidence. They may not have been the best in the team, but they participated with gusto and felt like they were contributing meaningfully to the team.
Overwhelmingly, people thought participation in sport built self-confidence and self-esteem and diverted people from getting into trouble and/or the wrong things. That was one of our terms of reference. It was an absolute definite that sport was a good thing for people to do, a nice positive, physical thing.
The other members of the committee have spoken about obesity in children, and adults for that matter. It all stems from the base of being active as a young person, a finding that came through loud and clear from our report. There appeared to be large numbers of kids who had not been involved in sport but, once they started becoming involved in it, their health improved and as well as their self-confidence and self-esteem. These are the major themes we found through our committee work.
I will not go on for too much longer, but I will say that it is a really important committee. Youth and sport, from the outside, does not actually sound that exciting. However, to be honest, our youth are the absolute salt of what we are doing. We want to get these people out there enjoying themselves, having fun in the sun, meeting other people, and being real participants in the community. You cannot do that from a video game or from behind a computer; you cannot build those interpersonal skills. Participation in sport and getting those young people into it early are the most important things we can do.
Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I commend the report to the parliament and wish the committee the best of luck in the future.
Mr CONLAN (Greatorex): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, it is a pleasure to be part of this committee. As a new member to the committee, I have, essentially, come in on the back of it. Nevertheless, it is a terrific committee to be part of. With our terms of reference, we are aiming to assist government in developing policies to improve outcomes for young Territorians through sport.
The recent trip to Katherine demonstrated how sport plays such an important part in regional areas of the Northern Territory. In larger centres such as Darwin it might be a given that sport plays a big role due to its population base but, even in smaller regions such as Katherine, it is vital. I know firsthand how important it is to young Territorians and their families. Every Saturday morning in the Alice, you see thousands of people participating in sport - 1000 people at netball. Right next door to the netball courts there are another 700 boys playing soccer. These sports are played simultaneously so there are 1700 just in that one little precinct. There are similar amounts at Rugby League and AFL and, on top of that, we have baseball, basketball and tennis. A few young Central Australians have gone on to achieve great things through the Red Centre Tennis Academy.
As a member of the committee and also shadow spokesperson for sport, it is important to me that we encourage, nurture and develop any child’s ambition to participate in any form of sport; not just on the field but also off the field. There are many areas of sport, such as administration or being an official that young people can get involved in. It is very important for them and their families, as well. It is important to me as part of this committee that we foster and develop that side of sport, too.
It is my hope that this committee can assist government in developing options and proving those opportunities for young Territorians. I thank the previous Chair, the member for Port Darwin, the current members, the members for Nelson, Arnhem, Katherine and the member for Macdonnell and our new Chair, the member for Stuart. I am looking forward to our tour of remote communities throughout the year. We have a couple of communities earmarked to travel to between now and August, where we will continue learning more on how we can assist young Territorians develop into healthy, educated adults with a bright future through sport. I commend the statement to the House.
Mr HAMPTON (Stuart): Madam Deputy Speaker, I thank all the members for their contributions on the interim report on Youth and Sport. I also acknowledge, as previous speakers have, the contribution and the work of previous members, in particular, the member for Port Darwin as the previous Chair, the member for Sanderson and the member for Millner, as well as the Opposition Leader, the member for Blain. To all those previous members, thank you for your contributions towards this committee’s work.
For me, it has been a great privilege. Out of all the committees we have in parliament, this is probably the one that is the most fun and most challenging. The make-up of the current committee members provides a great cross-section of the Northern Territory community. We have members who represent a broad spectrum across the Territory, including Alice Springs, the remote communities, Katherine, as well as Darwin. It makes the committee a great committee to work on.
An example of how well the committee is working is the soccer game we had with the Youth Round Table. While it was great fun, I see a bigger message behind the fun. That message is about the need to engage, to communicate with young people. As a committee, we often get caught up in a silo situation where we continually focus on policy, on our work as elected members. We leave the people whom we are trying to make some sound policy decisions for behind us. There was a great message behind the soccer game. I hope it becomes an annual event. I am sure other members will be more prepared next time. The important message was for us, as members of parliament, to engage with the Youth Round Table and show that we are all Territorians, that we do have a shared vision in terms of getting young people out and active.
The member for Macdonnell’s contribution is invaluable to the committee. As a person who has grown up in a remote community, who has very strong language ability, not only in her Luritja Pintupi language, but many other languages, her experiences of growing up in the bush, coming through the education system and becoming a member of parliament are invaluable, not only to the committee but to this parliament, in particular, her contributions identifying the need for facilities in remote areas - as per her comments on Yuendumu Sports day. I believe there is a lot of work for us to do working with communities on how we can maximise such things as sport weekends, how we link these events into other things such as combating antisocial behaviour and improving education.
The example she gave about the Areyonga swimming carnival held in the river, illustrates the creative and ‘out-of-the-box’ ideas people in the bush come up with. We can talk about big dollars for facilities but often people in the bush come up with these creative solutions that can be simple and keep young kids occupied. That example represents a very important message for us here. It is about having fun and not always big dollars are needed for people in the bush to achieve that.
I agree with the member for Arnhem’s descriptions of the strong commitment of all members on the Youth and Sport Committee. As the member of Arnhem acknowledged, the impact of the intervention has meant many changes in our communities. In addition, the bill we had last night on local government reform will have a huge impact, particularly on those people in the remote regions throughout the Northern Territory as well as on the Youth and Sport committee’s work to date.
Athletes with disabilities is a very important aspect. We should all be pleased to see the inclusion of the wheelchair competition in the Arafura Games. The Territory is a great place of opportunities whether it is at the grassroots level or right up there at the elite level.
I thank the member for Katherine for her contribution. She has been a valuable member of the committee. Living as she does in Katherine she brings to the committee her local experiences. It was great to get down there as part of our consultation a couple of months ago.
The links to the Substance Abuse committee: the member for Katherine and the member for Macdonnell both acknowledged the strong connection between the two committees. In terms of putting strong policy directions forward to the government, both committees play an important role. It is great to have you on both committees where we can feed ideas and proposals to each other. The community context consultations were an excellent opportunity for us to engage with the wider community and regions. I am looking forward to going to the remote communities to engage with them as well.
The member for Katherine mentioned the third term of reference and how she is particularly keen to explore that. I mentioned in the interim report in February that the previous committee’s decision to hold off on those consultations in the bush was an important one. I certainly acknowledge that now. As the member for Greatorex said, now it is time that the committee starts moving down the track; of going out to the remote regions and looking at that third term of reference.
What clearly came out in Katherine was the strong link between sport participation and reducing antisocial behaviour. The Katherine council people acknowledged that as well. I am looking forward to moving further down that track and tackling that third term of reference.
The member for Katherine spoke about the impediments for parents and providing young people with sporting opportunities, particularly in the region and in remote areas. That was another clear message we got through our consultations in Katherine. I am sure we will get more of that sort of response from people as we go out to remote communities.
I thank the member for Port Darwin for her work and for her contribution today. As she said, it is not always about being the best in sport. It is about participation and that is a very important message we need to get out there, whether it is through our work as the committee or in general life when we are out and about in our electorates, also links to diverting young people, in particular, from antisocial behaviour, and linking sport to obesity. So, thanks to the member for Port Darwin.
It is great to have the member for Greatorex on the committee. He is a strong representative from Alice Springs and has much to say about our work as a committee. I look forward to working with him. He touched on the trip to Katherine and the importance of sport to the regions, which I certainly agree with. I agree with the point you made about Saturday mornings in Alice Springs. You listen to the ABC Sports Show every Saturday morning and there is so much happening. In Alice Springs, sport is a very important part of our lifestyle and our community. You go past the netball courts, as you said, and the soccer grounds - I am heavily involved in the Auskick program - but a great range of sports for people in Alice Springs.
That rounds up the contributions from most members. I thank you all. Before I finish, I thank the committee secretariat. Pat, thanks for your work as well with the previous committee; to Kellie Trout, and also Tamie Devine the research officer, who is unfortunately leaving us, I thank her for all her hard work. We will miss her research and advice.
We have talked a bit about the friendly game against the Youth Round Table. I acknowledge the project officer of the Youth Round Table, Vicki Schultz, and the chair, Katie Chatto, the vice chair, Gemma Benn, and the members, Chris Helmond, Felix Ho, Katharina Gerste, Matthew Renshaw, Pritika Desai, Kristian Goodacre, Gabrielle Morris, Amy Smith, Tess Snowdon, Amy Sherrin, Jack Hose, Emily Holyoake and Desmond Campbell. The Youth Round Table team had a good game against us, including some bruises on some of our legs. I acknowledge the Youth Round Table team, and thank them: Desmond Campbell, Katharina Gerste, Pritika Desai, Felix Ho Gemma Benn, Amy Smith, Katie Chatto and Vicki Schultz. Thanks once again to them. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the time keeping and the scoring and approval to use the lawns. It was a great event. Thank you to the scorer, the member for Katherine. Member for Nelson, thank you for your unbelievable goalie skills. We have some great photos. I do not know if I should table them; we might leave that embarrassment for later on. Thanks to everyone involved. It was a great event.
I am looking forward to getting out there in the bush with the committee and doing further work on the committee’s terms of reference. I have pleasure in moving that the progress report be noted.
Motion agreed to; paper noted.
TABLED PAPER
Remuneration Tribunal Report on the Entitlements of Magistrates and Determination Number 1 of 2008
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I table the Remuneration Tribunal Report on the Entitlements of Magistrates and Determination No 1 of 2008.
MOTION
Print Paper - Remuneration Tribunal Report on the Entitlements of Magistrates and Determination Number 1 of 2008
Print Paper - Remuneration Tribunal Report on the Entitlements of Magistrates and Determination Number 1 of 2008
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker I move the report be printed.
Motion agreed to; paper printed.
MOTION
Note Paper - Remuneration Tribunal Report on the Entitlements of Magistrates and Determination No 1 of 2008
Note Paper - Remuneration Tribunal Report on the Entitlements of Magistrates and Determination No 1 of 2008
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly take note of the report, and that I have leave to continue my remarks at a later hour.
Leave granted.
Debate adjourned.
TABLED PAPER
Power and Water Corporation Statement of Corporate Intent 2008-09
Power and Water Corporation Statement of Corporate Intent 2008-09
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I table the 2008-09 Statement of Corporate Intent, the SCI, for the Power and Water Corporation. As members are aware, the Power and Water Corporation became the Territory’s first government owned corporation, or GOC, on 1 July 2002, making this the corporation’s seventh SCI. The SCI is the annual performance agreement between the GOC and the shareholding minister on behalf of Territorians as owners of the corporation.
Again, consistent with previous years, information of a commercially sensitive nature has been removed from the SCI being tabled today on the basis that it would not be unreasonable to disadvantage the corporation by disclosing commercially sensitive information that no private sector business would be expected to release.
The SCI forecast nett profits after tax of $50.2m in 2008-09, compared with a profit of $53.3m projected for 2007-08. The lower profit forecast for 2008-09 is attributable to higher operating costs, particularly in relation to energy, personnel and maintenance.
The 2008-09 SCI contains plans for $748m of capital investment between 2008-09 and 2012-13. In relation to repairs and maintenance, some $258m is projected to be spent over the same period. This is an increase in the total infrastructure program announced last year, with $1bn now being committed. The increases are as a result of additional projects being undertaken, as well as revised costs for some projects. The infrastructure investment plan has been based on a rigorous assessment of capital and maintenance needs, and ensures that Power and Water Corporation infrastructure meets independent reliability standards. It represents the largest investment in essential services in Territory history. The operating costs pressures, coupled with the significant capital investment program, are placing additional financial pressure on the corporation.
The Territory government supports the Power and Water Corporation’s continued strategic focus on improving supply reliability and increasing capacity. Accordingly, the government has decided to provide capital contributions of $50m in both 2007-08 and 2008-09 to assist Power and Water with its significant investment program. The Territory government will also continue with its contribution towards the undergrounding of power lines project, with an additional $13.6m to a total of $16.6m in 2007-08, enabling the project to be extended to Millner. By the end of 2009, three suburbs most affected by supply reliability concerns - Rapid Creek, Nightcliff and Millner - will be fully undergrounded.
As members are aware, the government has a uniform tariff policy for most customers, including small business and households. This means that these Territorians pay the same for electricity, water and sewerage irrespective of how much it costs to provide those services with varying locations and conditions. Notwithstanding the decision last year to maintain tariffs in real terms, there remains a significant gap between the price Territorians pay for electricity, water and sewerage and what it costs the corporation to deliver the services. This gap is funded by government providing community service obligation funding, or CSO funding, and government accepting a lower rate of return for its investment in the corporation. Government will be providing CSO funding of around $60m to subsidise provision of power, water and sewage.
As the 2008-09 SCI will be considered by the GOC Scrutiny Committee, I will not go into any more detail here.
I move that the Power and Water Corporation Statement of Corporate Intent 2008-09 be referred for consideration by the Government Owned Corporation Scrutiny Committee to be established to examine the 2008-09 operations of Power and Water Corporation.
Motion agreed to.
SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly, at its rising, adjourn until Tuesday, 10 June 2008, at 10 am in Parliament House or such other time and/or date as may be advised by the Speaker pursuant to sessional order.
Motion agreed to.
TABLED PAPER
Environment and Sustainable Development Committee - Report on Invasive Species and Management Programs in the Northern Territory
Environment and Sustainable Development Committee - Report on Invasive Species and Management Programs in the Northern Territory
Mr WARREN (Goyder): Madam Speaker, I lay on the table the Report of the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee on Invasive Species and Management Programs in the Northern Territory.
MOTION
Print Paper - Environment and Sustainable Development Committee - Report on Invasive Species and Management Programs
in the Northern Territory
Mr WARREN (Goyder): Madam Speaker, I move that the Report on Invasive Species and Management Programs in the Northern Territory be printed.
Motion agreed to.
MOTION
Note Paper - Environment and Sustainable Development Committee - Report on Invasive Species and Management Programs
in the Northern Territory
Note Paper - Environment and Sustainable Development Committee - Report on Invasive Species and Management Programs
in the Northern Territory
Mr WARREN (Goyder): Madam Speaker, as Chair of the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development, I am pleased to table this Report on Invasive Species Management in the Northern Territory.
It has been quite a journey and there have been some pretty interesting sights along the way. This report is a story of great challenges and opportunities. On the one hand, we face a huge task to rein in those invasive species that have become endemic to the Territory, particularly weeds and feral animals. At the same time, there are also emerging threats that we need to fend off to keep our heads above water. The scale of the task is very daunting.
On the other hand, the Territory still retains precious environmental treasures that we must preserve. We have to fight to protect our unique and special environment from the threat that these exotic invasives pose to our environmental treasures. It is difficult to imagine the Territory without these treasures. Indeed, without them, we lose not just their unique and special physical aspects. We also lose our true identity, a loss of identity which is to the detriment of all Territorians, indigenous and non-indigenous people alike.
It is not just tourism I am talking about, although that is important. I am referring to what makes us who we are, what makes us different from all other parts of Australia. It is about ensuring our indigenous culture survives and flourishes. It is about ensuring our natural ecosystems survive in a sustainable living and breathing form. It is about ensuring our great outdoors-based lifestyle survives for our children’s children and beyond. It is about ensuring that we continue to live in harmony with our environment so we can sustainably harvest the jewels it offers.
Amongst the few words anyone could come up with to describe the Territory is that our environment is always going to rate very highly. Uluru, Kakadu, Litchfield, West MacDonnell Ranges, all the great places between and to the north, south, east and west of them. These places are such a big part of us and we have been entrusted to look after them. How are we going then? Should we be alarmed or complacent? This report shows we are at a decisive point. There are serious issues for the number endemic species and clear threats from others. But the good news is that there is still time to roll this back if we grasp the nettle now. We do risk falling behind the game, but a concerted effort from this point, followed through can still put us on track to a better footing within the next ten years. That might sound like an ambitious plan, but the report shows that we have made a start and suggests the path forward.
The Weeds Act got the ball rolling, bringing in a more modern approach to invasive species that is on par with the best legislation anywhere in Australia. This is the sort of legislation that fosters community concern and community input. That is good. Similar approaches have paid dividends in other jurisdictions, Queensland in particular.
However, we need more than legislation. We need to put some meat on the bones. This report shows that management of invasive species is a wicked problem that demands a sophisticated response. Again, there is room for cautious optimism. At the time of hearings for this inquiry, Territory government agencies were in the process of developing and fine tuning risk management systems. I am a great advocate of these systems which support decision-making in complex situations. In the past, simple approaches have proven over and over again they are just not up to the complexities of the situation. But no matter how good the legislation is, and no matter how appropriate these systems are, we are going to have to invest more resources needed to be successful. While we can get the legislation right and have good ideas for systems, we need to recognise the need to go further and guarantee they have the intended effect.
It is clear from what people said to the committee, that there are insufficient frontline people from government agencies supporting community groups and interested people. People are struggling, not only with the frontline work on invasive species, but also with the administrative burden that is placed upon them to win grants and fulfil their grant obligations. Because of this, the Territory is missing out on much of the important federal government money our community sectors could be utilising to fight invasive species.
The model advanced by the Weeds Act is one of partnership between government and the community. It is a good model. To make it work properly we need to make sure that all the players are putting in. If the people in the community feel the government isn’t whole-hearted in its approach to these challenges eventually they will give up. That must not be allowed to happen.
During our inquiry we found significant numbers of people who are passionately committed to rolling back the invasion of exotic species in the Territory. These were people from government agencies, pastoralists, indigenous organisations, small landholders, land care groups, local governments and every day Territorians, all who genuinely care. We also have a good pool of great research people covering this sector. All these people are great assets for the Territory. These are people already doing a lot and quite clearly ready to do more if they are given the right support.
In considering the management of invasive species in the Territory we found a process well begun. It has much potential but it needs to grow and expand if it is to live up to its promise. This is something that none of us can be complacent about. A brief walk along some of the roadsides - even here in Darwin - provides a vivid cross-section of the invasive species that could spread and choke the life out of our special and unique environment.
As a committee, we have discovered through our journey on this inquiry that there is a fine line between success and failure. There is no middle road. We hope this report impresses upon all parties the scale and urgency of the problem. We believe that all who read this report will be able to see the need to change the way we have attended to the problem of invasive species in the past. We also believe we have shown that change is possible, too. The committee believes an honest and frank assessment of the situation, as outlined in this report, can be a motivating factor for us to do better in the future.
For that reason the report and its recommendations focuses on a way to cut the problems down to size and to get the best possible value for money. It is clear that the Territory faces real challenges in tackling invasive species. We have a vast land area and a sparse population and we are a small jurisdiction.
To rise to the occasion we need every one of those passionate committed people who spoke to the committee and many others like them. We need to make sure we as a government are firing on all cylinders to do our part of the job. For a little more investment we can get a lot more back. We can continue to enjoy our Territory environment, savour its gifts and continue to share them with the world.
Madam Speaker, I move the Assembly take note of the committee’s report and I seek leave to continue my remarks at a later hour.
Leave granted.
Debate adjourned.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
Territory World-Class Parks
Territory World-Class Parks
Mr KIELY (Parks and Wildlife): Madam Speaker, the Territory’s 87 parks and reserves stretch from Garig Gunak Barlu National Park on the tropical north coast of the Territory, through Litchfield, Nitmiluk and the Devils Marbles to the West MacDonnell’s and Watarrka National Park in the arid Centre, with another 81 parks and reserves in between. The variety of scenery and wildlife experiences they provide is truly amazing. Visitors can go bush walking, camping, swimming, cycling, bird watching, fishing and canoeing or just relax and enjoy the peace and the views. They can experience the Territory’s living indigenous cultures or visit sites that tell stories of the Territory’s non-indigenous history. They can visit many places in two wheel drive vehicles or venture out on remote four wheel drive tracks.
The parks provide protection for many species of the Territory’s animals and plants and many are in heritage sites to help ensure that the future generations of Territorians will inherit the same rich environment that we did and have the same opportunities to enjoy them that we do.
This amazing network of parks and reserves is a major asset for the Territory. Their contribution to the Territory’s economy, to the protection of our important natural environment and to our very sense of what it is to be a Territorian is profound. They have been built up over many years and are something that all Territorians can be proud of.
I stand here today to outline how we will continue to build on the good work that has been done in the past to make our parks and reserves even better. Our parks, together with Kakadu and Uluru - Kata Tjuta cover just 5.8% of the Territory’s land mass, but they make a massive contribution to the Territory’s economy. The tourism industry in the Territory is estimated to contribute $615.7m in gross value added per annum to the NT economy and is the largest private sector employer in the Territory, directly and indirectly accounting for over 11 000 jobs or 11.7% of total employment. It is estimated that at least 90% of tourism in the Territory is based on the natural and cultural experiences provided by our parks and reserves.
Our parks are widely distributed across the Northern Territory, many in remote and regional areas. They are, therefore, well placed to provide foci for the socio-economic development of those remote and regional areas as well as the major cities.
Tourism NT has recently released a five year strategic plan for tourism in the Territory which identifies five themes that will drive the industry forward. The first of these is ‘developing the unique NT experience’ and the importance of our parks and reserves in delivering on this is detailed in the strategy. The tourism strategy identifies a need to:
- develop ‘Signature Experiences’ as draw cards;
establish authentic and sustainable indigenous tourism products;
increase employment of indigenous Territorians in tourism;
identify and develop new sustainable tourism experiences in national parks;
develop and expand niche specialisation: and
maximise heritage and history assets.
- $1m to upgrade visitor facilities in the West MacDonnell National Park to meet the demand from increased visitation;
$313 000 to develop the Larapinta Trail which has now achieved recognition as one of the great walks in the world and is already bringing new businesses and visitors to the Territory; and
$1.4m to upgrade visitor facilities in Nitmiluk to meet increasing demands for quality experiences.
My department will continue to work closely with Tourism Northern Territory and the tourism industry to plan for the future and to ensure that the parks and reserves are all able to continue to support the Territory’s economic development industry based on them.
One of the great achievements of this government has been the resolution of native title land claims over many of our parks and reserves through negotiation rather than litigation. The passage of the Parks and Reserves (Framework for the Future) Act in 2005 signalled the joint management of our parks and reserves cannot only assure the ongoing development of tourism, but can also build better tourism experiences and provide important employment and socioeconomic opportunities for indigenous Territorians.
The Northern Territory government’s joint management agenda for parks commits the Northern Territory government to work with traditional owners to ensure that there are increased opportunities for traditional owners to:
- gain employment as rangers in our parks to work on and look after their own country;
develop businesses supplying services to parks;
develop tourism businesses on our parks; and
have a say in how the parks on their land are managed.
Joint management has a long history in the Northern Territory and the success of the relationship between Jawoyn Association and Parks and Wildlife that has developed through the joint management of Nitmiluk National Park has resulted in the Jawoyn Association being a major supplier of services to the park and sole owner of Nitmiluk Tours which runs the highly successful boat cruises, canoeing and other tourist activities in the gorge.
In other areas, enterprise development is being nurtured through the joint management process. In many cases, involvement in joint management planning is, for the first time, creating real awareness of the opportunities available in the tourism industry for traditional owners. It is helping to link them up with Tourism NT and other agencies that can introduce them to tourism and provide development support. Coming out of the joint management process at Rainbow Valley, Ricky Orr, one of the traditional owners, has just started his own business, Rainbow Valley Cultural Tours, and has joined with an established local business, Alice Wanderer, to offer special high-quality art and cultural interpretative tours. Small beginnings like this will occur across the Territory, and we will support them to help them to build into strong ongoing businesses.
As well as creating jobs and business opportunities, joint management delivers many less tangible, but just as important, benefits to indigenous Territorians. Involvement of traditional owners in planning and management of parks on their land builds self-esteem and sense of control and joint management is helping to deliver this on 32 of our parks and reserves. Self-esteem and sense of control are important for Aboriginal people to be able to effectively deal with many of the issues facing them, and to effectively engage with governments to develop solutions. Joint management is a very positive way for government and Aboriginal people to work together and helps to build trusting and constant relationships that can spill over into other areas.
I was recently privileged to take part in a major joint management forum at Hamilton Downs, where 80 traditional owners from joint-managed parks across the Territory met for three days with Parks staff and staff from the Northern and Central Land Councils to review progress on joint management and develop priorities for the future. It was exciting to see the sharing of ideas and stories and the openness of debate, and the willingness to tackle the hard issues. The Territory took on a massive challenge when it decided to roll out joint management across 27 of its parks and reserves at the one time. This scale of joint management has never been done anywhere else in the world, and we knew that it would not always be easy, or run as smoothly as we might hope. However, the level of commitment and the quality of the relationships between all of the parties I saw at Hamilton Downs gives me great confidence for the future of joint management.
At Hamilton Downs, the traditional owners made it clear to me that they were pleased with how joint management was developing, but they wanted to continue to work to make it better, and they wanted government support to expedite the promised transfer of land titles. They wanted a commitment that the government would continue to support joint management. I can assure this House, as I assured the traditional owners who were gathered at Hamilton Downs, that we will continue our work with the Commonwealth government to get title granted, and that this government sees joint management as a way of building better parks with better experiences. We are fully committed to it and we will continue our financial support.
I also take this opportunity to formally acknowledge the enormous work that the staff of NRETA and in the Northern and Central Land Councils have done to bring joint management so far forward. The development of strong relationships between land councils and the government around joint management has been, and will continue to be, critical to its success. NRETA also recognises that many of the opportunities for Aboriginal people to work as rangers will not occur on our parks and reserves, but that we have high levels of experience in managing parks that we can share with community ranger groups to help them to look after their land better. To this end, we have funded an Indigenous Ranger Group Support Program that places an experienced Parks ranger with an indigenous ranger group, to work alongside and help to build the capacity of the indigenous ranger group. We currently have one ranger based with the Dhimurru Rangers at Nhulunbuy, and we have just placed another ranger with the Laynhapuy Yirrkala Rangers at Yirrkala. We have also committed the funding for another three more rangers to replace further groups over the next three years.
Indigenous employment involvement in the management of our parks and their own lands is making our parks better, and is helping to protect our Territory heritage. It is also directly contributing to delivering on this government’s commitment to achieving employment and social targets in Closing the Gap.
This government is also committed to ensuring the Territory remains the best place to live and to raise a family, and our parks are a key plank to delivery of that commitment. The outdoors recreational experiences provided by parks helps us to define us as Territorians. They are the places where we go to relax and enjoy those special Territory experiences, and it is no overstatement to say that they provide important physical and psychological health benefits to us all. Whether it is walking with the kids and the dog along the beach along Casuarina Coastal Reserve, having a picnic with families and friends at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, going out bush and camping at Policeman’s Waterhole in the Davenport Ranges, or heading out to Shady Camp in Mary River National Park, Territory families love our parks and reserves. They allow us to keep our connection with our natural environment, even when we are living and working in the towns and cities. They provide aesthetic and artistic inspiration and also provide healthy exercise and excitement and adventure - all which is part of who we are as Territorians.
We recently developed a new $35 000 boat launching facility at Point Stuart, and we are spending more than $1.4m building camping and boat launching facilities at Channel Point, which I will be opening later this year.
We have also recently announced a $5.2m upgrade for Leanyer Water Park, which will give the kids of Darwin exciting new waterslides and improved skate park facilities, as well as providing more shade and improved facilities to make it a more enjoyable place for everyone.
This government has also committed $300 000 from the Urban Enhancement Program to upgrade lighting and pathways through Casuarina Coastal Reserve.
Lastly, but by no means least, our parks and reserves provide a secure foundation for the protection of the Territory’s biodiversity. We are fortunate in the Territory to still have large areas of relatively intact landscapes, and it is easy to think that little needs to be done to look after our plants and animals, but changes in this landscape over the last 100 years have caused the decline and, in some cases loss, of far too many species. There are currently 203 threatened species of plants and animals in the Northern Territory and our parks and reserves are critically important in protecting them.
Parks and reserves established and managed by government are secure areas protected by legislation and assured of long-term funding. They are managed specifically for the preservation of the natural and cultural assets within their borders. Some of our larger parks, like the West MacDonnells and Watarrka are important for many species, whereas others, like Mac Clark Conservation Reserve have been declared to provide protection for single species. We have inherited these assets from previous generations and it is incumbent on us we make sure we protect them so future generations of Territorians can enjoy the same rich inheritance we do.
Conservation efforts cannot succeed if we only work on our parks and reserves, and NRETA will continue to work with other land managers and landowners to encourage and support efforts to protect our natural heritage on other lands, but our parks and reserves will continue to be the backbone of conservation in the Territory.
This government’s commitment to seeking World Heritage Listing for the West MacDonnell National Park signifies our intention to ensure the long-term security of our parks and reserves and the natural assets within them. Cabinet has also recently directed the West MacDonnell National Park be protected from mining by placing a Reservation from Occupation over the park.
Our Territory parks and reserves are a treasure that we should all be proud of and should all work to protect and enrich. They protect our rich natural heritage, and provide us with experiences that shape our lives as Territorians. They are critical for our economy and to closing the gap in the Territory. This government is committed to great parks and great experiences for Territory families to enjoy for generations to come and from which Territorians can build livelihoods. We will build on the work done so far to make them even better.
Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly take note of the statement.
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): Madam Speaker, today I talk about the parks statement the minister has delivered. When I saw it last night, I wondered what wonderful new things were going to be in this today. When I read it, I thought it was really just a little glossy upbeat. So, I thought, I will have a look to see what the minister has had to say about some aspects of the parks.
Today, I will talk about the parks’ hand back and the fraud that has been perpetrated upon all Territorians by this government. Needless to say, we are duty bound to respond to the government’s decision to hand over the parks to Aboriginal owners. The fundamental flaw in that debate has been the government’s refusal to table the justification for the whole charade. The Ward decision, and particularly the references in that decision, brought into question the declaration of some of the parks in the Territory Parks Estate. Most of those parks were quickly re-declared, however, the declaration of some other parks remain because of outstanding possible land rights claims over them. The government of the day then decided to hand over a swag of parks, the numbers of which, fortunately, have been dwindling, to potential claimants.
It is worth considering for a moment the term, ‘potential claimants’. Most of the parks identified for hand over were unable to be claimed or there was a potential for claim. The government said the policy was one of negotiation rather than litigation, so that such an approach was reasonable. I do not believe that it was.
In the case of Katherine Gorge, or Nitmiluk, there was a claim, and after that claim was established as being legitimate, then there was an entry into a joint management arrangement. Not in this case. What was proposed was a wholesale hand back. Based on what? Well, based on some legal advice the government had received, one from the Solicitor-General and another from another lawyer somewhere. Was this the same Solicitor-General who advised the Mines minister on the declaration of the open cut pit at McArthur River? Why, yes, it was. This is not a reflection on his professionalism or his integrity. What it does demonstrate is that the Territory Solicitor-General is capable of being wrong. Lawyers do not determine the law. Judges and courts do. Well, goodness me.
There are two flaws in the government’s approach. First, they were prepared to drop the ball at the first blush and second, they have refused to make the first blush, that is, make the legal advice public. Rumours are around now that the legal advice said there were only three parks at stake and they were not substantial. I challenge the minister to prove those rumours wrong and place on the table the legal opinions upon which they put so much weight. If they do not, your title of a fraudster is well deserved. The justification for this approach has been entirely bedded in the mantra that this government has chanted of negotiation rather than litigation.
It is worth considering for a moment what this means. In the case of the parks, the starting position is that we surrender before a single shot has been fired, and before all this any real attempt to attest a claim lodged against the people of the Northern Territory. In other native title and land rights matters, it has meant long delays and no results. The Larapinta Stage 4 development in Alice Springs took years to negotiate. At the end of the day, native title was extinguished and the native titleholders end up with money in the bank. Oddly, if native title had simply been extinguished earlier in the piece, the end result would have been that native title was extinguished and the native titleholders ended up with money in the bank. The end result was exactly the same except in the government’s approach the land was released three years late. That money could have been working for the native title owners for years. But no, government had their policy of negotiation rather litigation.
What was in it for government? A warm, fuzzy feeling and a photo opportunity. The other question to ask is why is the negotiation rather than litigation approach an on-off option for government? Where is the negotiation over the inter-tidal zones? No, to the contrary. Not only does the government litigate in the first instance, that litigation is advertised in full page ads in the Northern Territory News. What this means is that when the Country Liberal Party challenges a claim against Territorians, they are a pack of racists. But when the Labor government challenges a claim against Territorians, they are doing everyone a favour.
What about the native title claim over Darwin? It is worth considering what a native title claim is and how a court deals with them before we return to the claim over Darwin. A native title claim is lodged with the Native Title Tribunal in an effort by the local indigenous people to assert that their contact with the land remains intact and that a sufficient amount of their culture has withstood the ravages of settlement. In the case like Yorta Yorta, it has become established that proving those links is not as easy as many people would have hoped. They are interesting cases to read because what is on trial is not title, as one would first assume, but rather the integrity of the local people’s remnant culture. Where the evidence is lacking to support the culture has survived, the practical outcome is that native title has not survived.
There is a grim undercurrent that is not often mentioned. When a court does not find the survival of native title it says, essentially, that the link with the land is dead. What logically follows is the court is pronouncing the death of a culture. I ask members to stop and consider that for a moment. When a native title claim fails, the court, by implication, pronounces the death of a culture. It is not surprising that some commentators accuse the process of settlement or invasion, as some people like to call it, as a form of cultural genocide. It is not a view I subscribe to but I do understand the logic of that assertion.
There is another implication in all this that is less considered. A trial is an adversarial process. That means it pits one group of people against another. So, for each native title application there is one group asserting that native title exists and another that it does not. To defeat the assertion that native title exists there is only one real defence. That the cultural contact with the land has not survived uninterrupted. At some point, the culture died. If there is a culture as was found in Risk versus Northern Territory it is not enough. It has to be a continuous link. In that case, the Northern Territory contended the link had been broken. In some people’s language, the defence to the claim asserted by the Northern Territory government was that cultural genocide had been successful. This is from the lips of this government that apologised to Aboriginal people. Disingenuous applied to this situation does not go far enough.
Madam Speaker, I believe that claims against the people of the Territory should be tested. However, when that gets classified as racism by people who then engage in the same activity and advertise the fact in full page ads, I am absolutely amazed. At least, our position was honest. Honest does not necessarily mean accommodating. What it means is telling people what you expect from them and what your standards are. What this government does is tell them one thing; ‘we are sorry’ for example, and then rocks in the court fighting claims on the grounds of what some would call cultural genocide.
How many members of this Labor government have come in to this place speaking of their desire to protect the integrity of Aboriginal issues and people in this place and then they sign up to the High Court challenges and defences such as cultural extinguishment as a matter of course.
Where is the negotiation, rather than litigation, approach in that? I suspect there are people in this Chamber who have not read these decisions or contemplated at any length the implications of what these decisions mean.
Ms Lawrie: Have you?
Mrs MILLER: Yes, I have. Otherwise, I would not be saying this.
Members interjecting.
Mrs MILLER: The response over the decision - I have read them.
Members interjecting.
Mrs MILLER: Have all of you? I bet there are a lot of people in here who have not. The response over the decision to allow the McArthur River Mine to go ahead with members crossing the floor and Cabinet members refusing to vote pushed this government to the brink of self-immolation. That is because the issues surrounding the McArthur River Mine were drawn into sharp relief. It was impossible not to notice the underlying issues in that matter. The Blue Mud Bay and Risk decisions have drawn the issues into sharp relief. It is important to understand what the implications are there.
As the law currently stands, Aboriginal people have exclusive possession of the inter-tidal zones and the waters that flow over them. What the government is seeking to do is have those additional returns of territories judged as wrong or, in layman’s terms, overturn a decision that grants the zones to Aboriginal people. Are they doing this through negotiation? No. The attitude is ‘see you in court’.
The government is seeking to take away a right that has been established in law. Compare that position with the approach of giving away parks claims that had not even been made over most of the parks identified for hand over. What is the difference between the two? Well, the inter-tidal zones are often visited by people who live in the northern suburbs of Darwin. These people are called amateur fisherman. They have an association. There are many thousands of voters attached to that association and there are plenty more who are not members yet still visit the inter-tidal zone.
The parks, however, are also visited by people from the northern suburbs. Well, that is not quite true. Yes, many Territorians visit parks like Litchfield, but that is not one of the parks in the give away. Other parks were often low on visitor numbers particularly from the northern suburbs. I suspect a whole lot more people in Wulagi would go fishing than will visit Ruby Gap this year. The government has lofty standards, but only if they do not cost them votes. If they do stand to cost them votes, it is ‘see you in court’ and read about it in the full page ad.
The Country Liberal Party was tough from time to time, but it was a product of necessity and it was always honest. To read the statement about parks, about how great government is and they do not acknowledge where those parks came from what they are doing with them. Without talking about these other issues is not unlike wearing a T-shirt made by child labour - nice shirt, pity about hypocrisy.
I have no idea how the minister could honestly stand in this parliament today and say that the government is building on the good work done in the past to make our parks and reserves even better. How can you say that, minister? How could you look our hard-working rangers in the eye and tell them that you are supporting them, because I have just read this budget. I am sure your own park rangers would be rolling their eyes at your claims. I refer you to you own budget books.
Let us start with Budget Paper No 3. There are two outputs relating to your parks. The first output is Parks and Reserves, and the second is Biological Parks. If you do not know where they are, they are on page 234 in Budget Paper No 3. Let us start with the Parks and Reserves output which is listed at having $34.117m. That is what is left after you cut 3% from the Parks’ budget. That is right, minister, your very own Budget Paper No 2 details the 3% cut to operational and employee costs.
Minister, well may you stand in this House and announce what you are doing, but you give with one hand and take with the other. You are not even up-front about the 3% you slashed from park rangers. You did not even mention it in your statement. If you have the fortitude to stand up to your Treasurer - the Treasurer, I might add, who does not even understand superannuation …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mrs MILLER: He has the gall stand in this House and stand up for the public service whilst cutting their salaries and operational costs by 3%. Minister, if you had the fortitude, you would have had over $1m extra for the parks you say you are doing so much for. Why did you agree to slashing the Parks’ budget by 3% - because it is in the books? The maths is pretty simple: the increase and the output cost of $1.084m is not even enough to cover the CPI of 3.4% and the additional wage cost of 4%. Despite what you are saying, you have cut the Parks’ budget in real terms. There is not enough to cover the large increase or the CPI. How many rangers and support staff jobs are you about to cut? Have you told the park rangers that you agreed to a 3% cut to their salary and operational costs? I bet you did not, but we will. The public and the rangers need to know why you fiddled their budget, and why you have made those cuts.
When I look at the budget for Biological Parks - that is the Territory Wildlife Park in Darwin, the Desert Park in Alice Springs, and the Botanic Gardens - in Budget Paper No 3, I notice the total you have allocated is actually $3000 less than last year. How much did you cut from wildlife parks and botanic gardens? You cut over $300 000 from their budget - the wages and oncosts of three or four employees.
This is your promotion of your great lifestyle: not even enough money in the Parks’ budget to cover increased costs or even enough money to cover their wages. There is no coverage for CPI, or for the 4% wage increase. That is a pretty good one, minister. You stood here and sprouted about how much you have done for parks, and you have cut funding to the Desert Park in Alice Springs, the Territory Wildlife Park in Berry Springs, and the botanic gardens. I hope Darwin and Alice Springs residents and park employees know you have slashed their wages allocation. I hope they know you have cut the amount they can spend on basic operations at the parks.
Minister, the budget for the parks looks like a con job. It is quite obvious that the government pays lip service to the parks, otherwise you would have stood up for them. Your own budget papers shame you and your view that parks get great support from the government; they did not even get enough to cover your wages increase, nor enough to cover CPI. Some statement this is! If you were fair dinkum, you would be standing here explaining to the rangers and people who use the parks what you have passed. I look forward to the minister’s reply.
Debate adjourned.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr VATSKALIS (Business and Economic Development): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
Ms MARTIN (Fannie Bay): Madam Speaker, I want to speak tonight about the Ross Smith Guest House on Parap Road which is not far from my electorate office. It is a privately-owned guest house and has been privately owned for about 20 years. It was originally constructed as a Commonwealth government hostel. There are well over 100 tenants there, each living in what you would call a compact room, with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. Many of the tenants are long term, some as long as 20 or 30 years. Many are in the workforce, although most are on some kind of Centrelink payment, Aged or Disability.
The decision was made last year by the owners of the Ross Smith Guest House to put it on the market, and developers, Maximum Property, expressed interest in redeveloping the site with a combination of residential and holiday units. That development application has been heard by the Development Consent Authority and presently has conditional approval with a number of conditions to be met, such as a traffic management plan before full approval can be given.
Now, this all appears straightforward. Owners want to sell, and a developer has an appropriate proposal. The big sticking point for the tenants, and me as local member, is where on earth do the tenants go and, as I said, there are well over 100 of them? Rent at Ross Smith for a single room is about $140 a week. Finding equivalent accommodation is a very, very tough task. Boarding houses have disappeared in Darwin, but it is not just only here in Darwin. The problem is Australia-wide and one that the Rudd government has committed itself to tackling with incentives for the private sector to build low cost accommodation, and that is excellent for the future, but the Ross Smith problem is now.
Six months ago, I started working together with Housing and Health to identify all tenants needing assistance with finding alternative housing. It has proved to be quite a substantial list, and I want to thank Territory Housing for their positive response at a time when waiting lists are long. Those in need of priority have been identified; others are on the general waiting list for one-bedroom accommodation.
The non-government and private sectors have also been involved. Shelter NT, St Vinnies, and the Salvation Army are working with me to find any possible budget accommodation. The Salvation Army in Mitchell Street has been especially helpful and a number of tenants have moved there. Ryan O’Hanlon from the REINT brought a number of his members who specialise in rental properties to meet with me. We had a productive meeting and I thank them for that. As a result, Ross Smith residents now get quick notification of any private rental vacancies. Sadly, though, a number of residents have reported landlords simply won’t deal with them, even if they have good references, and that is because they come from Ross Smith, simply that, and that, Mr Acting Deputy Speaker is very disappointing.
So, at this stage, with an end-of-June deadline for the tenants still the most likely possibility, many of the tenants have not found anywhere affordable to go. Darwin’s rental vacancies are very low, rents are high, often totally out of reach of someone on a pension, or on a combination of pension and part-time work.
It was time a few months ago to think laterally. Territory Housing has been doing that and not that the results can be made public quite yet, but more accommodation, low cost options will be made available.
At this stage, I cannot say whether all residents of Ross Smith will find alternative accommodation. Some are feeling most disheartened and are seriously looking at moving interstate. They feel it is their only option, returning to family or friends interstate, when they would rather stay on in Darwin, preferably stay in Parap.
All this has made me think about the kind of public housing governments build and provide. The focus for new accommodation has been on medium density housing, usually two-bedroom, sometimes one, for which demand is significant, but there is also a growing and legitimate need, for public boarding houses, reasonably self-contained rooms with some share facilities like lounges or even kitchens. Many of the tenants at Ross Smith want to be able to go to accommodation very much the same as they have now – low cost, not too much space to look after, some share facilities, and other tenants to sit and chat to from time to time.
Governments and, importantly, the private sector need to take this need seriously. I am pleased to say Territory Housing is, but future building programs must not exclude the boarding house model. It is, though, not only a task for governments. The private sector has a significant part to play in building low cost accommodation and federal Labor’s incentives, when they come into place, should encourage that to happen. In the meantime, I ask the developers of the Ross Smith site to seriously consider a staged exit for the tenants. The middle of the Dry Season is probably the most difficult time to find accommodation, especially the low cost-type. Some form of response to this difficult situation would be appreciated by the Ross Smith residents and their local member but there is a lot more work to do. Much has been done but it does starkly bring into consideration the issues faced by those who depend on low cost accommodation. It reminds us that as a city develops those living traditionally in boarding houses - and are happy to do so - get squeezed out of the market.
There were two existing boarding houses in the Parap area. They, because of various reasons, have gone. The Ross Smith Guest House is the last of that kind in the Parap area. It is going to be developed quite legitimately but to try to tackle the problem of what you do with more than 100 tenants who rely on having, or can only afford, low cost accommodation is a serious challenge.
I thank all those who have been working with me from government departments, from the private sector, from the non-government housing providers for all the work they have done. My electorate office in Parap would probably get three or four visits related to this dilemma every day. It will continue to get those visits and that has been since the beginning of the year from concerned tenants at Ross Smith who are trying their best – and we with them – but we still cannot find alternative accommodation. It is a very tough situation.
I also speak tonight about the St John’s College Access Community Studies program. Eighteen enthusiastic students from St John’s are currently part of a community studies flexible learning program called Access set up to allow and encourage Aboriginal students from non-English speaking backgrounds in the Top End to gain their NTCEs. The program focuses on two projects: one, building a profitable vegetable harvest and, the other, preparing a web page in tandem with an indigenous plant use information pamphlet for the George Brown Botanic Gardens. This brochure will be used as an educational resource for visitors and tourists.
The students have worked hard to create a vegetable and native plant garden for the college. They have planted everything from eggplant, beans and basil to native plants such as acacia, grevillea, banksia and an array of native bush tucker. The native plants were kindly donated to the school by the botanic gardens. This term, students will design and build the web page and put together the tourism brochure by using their own Aboriginal community knowledge of plant use working with the botanic garden’s management; as well as using school ICT and written literature to compile their scientific research.
This month, the students will travel to the Katherine Rural College where they will spend a week learning about machinery maintenance and operations, things such as quad bikes and tractors. They will also learn fencing skills, both the theory and the practical side. Last term when the students were at the college, they built the fencing structure of a cattle-holding bay where cattle are mustered into for health checks or transport.
I acknowledge and congratulate the students for their hard work and commitment to the program. They are Denaleon Watson, Jonathon Lalda-Roger, Dion Minggun, Stuart Yunupingu, Ross Tungatulum, Ishmael Marika, Navarone Lake, Richard Johnson, Matthew Furber, Lachlan Farrar, Murray Daniels, Leron Guymala, Gary Manbulloo, Dionysius Munkara, Virgil Puruntatameri and Graeme Henry-Whiting. I also acknowledge and congratulate their teacher, Ian Browne, who has a background in horticulture and ecology and Jim Smith, St John’s indigenous education worker, for their strong dedication and hard work. They are doing a wonderful job with the students who are obtaining horticultural knowledge, as well as practical employment gaining skills. The indigenous plant use project is also enabling the young men to share their cultural knowledge of plant use in their own communities with others. I wish Ian and his students all the best in their project.
Finally tonight, a farewell. That farewell is to Frances McKechnie who, for many years, lived in the Central Australia area. She died on Monday. I would like to talk a little about her life. Anyone who knows Frances knows what a warm and wonderful woman she was; a woman with quite a history.
Frances was born in the Western District of Victoria in 1924. In her early adult life, Frances trained as a deaconess at a Presbyterian church in Melbourne specialising in teaching and social work. She worked in Melbourne in Warrnambool until 1968 when she accepted a posting with the Australian Inland Mission, which is now the Uniting Church Frontier Services. Her new role, charging her with children services and female staff, took her all over northern Australia from the Pilbara and Kimberley regions, throughout the Territory, the northern part of South Australia and into Cape York.
Frances had several periods of work in Central Australia during the late 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s before retiring Alice Springs in the mid-1980s. She lived the latter years of her life at the Old Timers cottages having moved on her retirement in 1986.
Frances sadly passed away at the Alice Springs Hospital on Monday, 5 May 2008, after a short illness. She was 84 years old.
Frances’ involvement in the community was legendary in every aspect of welfare, as was her understanding of the issues involved. Her strong interest and concern for social justice and the preservation of history saw her take lead roles on committees for the National Trust Adelaide House Management Committee, Old Timers Management Committee, and the Older Australian Advisory Committee. In the foyer of the Assembly Hall of St Philip’s College in Alice Springs, there are a number of photographs of those responsible for the founding and continued success of the college. Taking pride of place in the photos is one of a younger Frances. The school will be forever indebted to Frances for her work as chaplain and supporter of the college.
Another one of Frances’ passions in life was the Labor Party. She was an active member of the party since the 1950s working with former Deputy Prime Minister Brian Howe in church groups in the Melbourne suburb of North Fitzroy. In Central Australian Labor circles, Frances occupied, I reckon, every position in the branch and did all the tasks that active members undertake over a 25-year period. Frances’ greatest contribution was to act as mentor to candidates, offering support and a warm friendly hand as candidates were pre-selected. She was always ready to assist in campaigns in any way she could, and supported candidates as they went through the rigours of campaigning to face the electorate, often in vain.
The 2001 and 2005 election victories for Labor in the Territory were part of her lifetime highlights, but no doubt, I suspect, paled into insignificance when her beloved Geelong Football Club secured last year’s premiership, breaking a 44-year drought for them.
Frances was awarded Labor Party life membership in 2002. The award was in recognition of Frances’ tireless work for the party over many years. She was a prime example of those members who have continued to turn up and work tirelessly for the Labor Party in Central Australia, despite Labor’s years in the political wilderness and the eternal uphill battle to make ground in Alice Springs. Frances was a branch patron of the party in Alice Springs. In this role, she was appointed reference for the branch and Territory history.
Frances could be depended upon to attend functions and, as a senior member of the branch, rally members for fundraising activities. She acted as host and introductory speaker when a range of VIPs over many years came to town ranging from Gough Whitlam, Kim Beazley, Barry Jones, and many others. Where appropriate, she was to be seen leading celebrations of election success.
I just loved Frances. She was a most wonderful woman. You had to know Frances and what she looked like. She was very genteel, her hair was always done, never a hair out of place. She said to me that being in Alice Springs and being a member of the Labor Party made her, in a way, not respectable. That is how she saw it. She belonged to a group that was not the flavour in town. And she said: ‘I kind of got used to that’. She said: ‘When you won government in 2001, I had to do a whole personality change. All of a sudden, I became respectable because Labor had won government. I had to come to terms with that and it took me a while’. This was a woman in her late 70s saying: ‘I hang on to the fact that I was not respectable. And now, damn it, you’ve made me respectable!’ If anything ever characterised Frances, that was it.
She was a warm, wonderful giving woman. Alice Springs and Central Australia has lost a wonderful contributor to the community and someone who worked so long for the north of Australia with such a wonderful spirit. She really represented all the worthwhile things of being a committed Christian and a member of the Uniting Church. We bid Frances farewell from the Territory with great sadness, and farewell from her pivotal role in the Labor Party in Cental Australia. From everyone here, Frances, we will miss you.
Mrs AAGAARD (Nightcliff): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I place on the record as well my sadness at the passing of Frances McKechnie. I had not actually heard until the member for Fannie Bay just mentioned it. I knew Frances through the Uniting Church and she was one of those old-style church ladies: very reliable, always at church on Sunday no matter who the minister is - and there is a big variation of ministers in churches across Australia. Every time I visited Alice Springs and, on a Sunday, went to the John Flynn Memorial Church she was always there. I can only say I will really miss her. My condolences to her family.
Tonight, I also note the career of Liz McFarlane. On 10 January 2008, Liz McFarlane retired after nearly 22 years of meritorious services as an Electorate Officer and Parliamentary Officer of the Legislative Assembly. Liz served as an Electorate Officer to the member for Wanguri, the late Don Dale, the member for Casuarina, Nick Dondas, and the member for Jingili, Steve Balch.
During her career as a Parliamentary Officer, she served as the Clerk’s Executive Assistant, personal assistant to two Deputy Clerks, and as a research officer with the majority of parliamentary committees. In addition, she worked for four Speakers during the course of her career – indeed, she worked for me for a brief period when I became the Speaker. She also worked in the team that was part of the group with the Select Committee on Substance Abuse when I chaired that committee. She was a terrific asset to the committee.
For more than three years, Liz conducted guided public tours of Parliament House. It is largely due to her enthusiasm and dedication that the Parliament House public tours program was held in such high regard by visitors to this building.
Liz has also been undertaking a very significant project for the Assembly involving the checking, validating and enhancing of Assembly and Council records, in particular, the biographical and other records of former and current members. This body of work will benefit the Assembly and the public for many years.
During her career with the Legislative Assembly, Liz has been a selfless and dedicated officer and a good friend to many with whom she worked. I know that she would like me to recognise her very close friendship with the Clerk, Ian McNeill, Jan Sporn, Jane Gunner, Graham Gadd, Helen Allmich, and Pat Hancock. She is also very respected by members from all sides of politics, and her generosity of spirit is widely acknowledged, in particular, her mentoring and encouragement of junior officers.
She has devoted much of her time to sporting and community groups involved in promoting and encouraging young Territorians, particularly in the fields of sailing and basketball. She is a very special woman who is valued by many people. Sadly, she is also very ill with advanced cancer. When I saw her briefly this week, we exchanged just a few words, but it was clear that Liz was remembering that every day that we have is a special one, and that our family and friends are a constant reminder of the love and care that comes back to embrace you. Stay strong, Liz, for this final, very difficult journey - seize the day.
Mr NATT (Drysdale): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I would like to talk a little about the YMCA at Palmerston. The YMCA, another not-for-profit service provider, launched an open-air Y Chat Room recently, a facility and service offering indigenous youth counselling and mentoring. The Y Chat Room is a free and confidential counselling and mentoring service for indigenous young people aged between 10 and 17 years. The service includes individual counselling and mentoring, boys and girls support groups, self-esteem groups, and leadership development. Their therapeutic counselling, group work, mentoring, and educational workshops will assist young people to understand and begin to resolve some of the issues they face.
The service is located in the Y Drop-in Centre, which offers a supervised, safe and friendly environment open to all young people who want to hang out and have some fun after school or during school holidays. I acknowledge the work John McLean does at the centre. He has taken over from his brother, and is doing a great job. He has a wonderful support team looking after the necessities of the centre.
While talking about the YMCA, I also acknowledge the generosity of Steve Blair. Steve Blair is the proprietor of Territory Marine in McCourt Road at Yarrawonga. Steve rang me a little while ago, just before Christmas, to say how concerned he was about the youth of Palmerston. He said he would like to do something. He spoke to one of his distributors who then donated a jet ski. Steve kindly and generously committed to donate this jet ski and has asked me to assist to find a suitable place.
I immediately thought of the Y, and spoke to John McLean at Chat Room’s opening. John was overwhelmed with the generosity, to the point where the YMCA is now going to set up some raffle tickets. They are going to raise some money from the raffle and use the jet ski as the major prize. The good point about this raffle is that John is trying to instil some confidence back into some of these Palmerston youths. We intend to talk to the organisers of the Palmerston Friday night markets to see if we can set the jet ski up there where some of the youths from the Y can sell raffle tickets. They will gain confidence in going out and meeting the public and asking them to buy a raffle ticket. I guess, at the end of the day, they can see by selling these raffle tickets the benefit it is going to have to the Y and contribute to buying more facilities for their future.
I thank Steve Blair for his generosity. It was a wonderful thing for him to do: to think of the youth. He is one of those guys that is always thinking ahead. He is a very smart operator in business and he can see the future in youth, not only Darwin and the Territory, but, in particular, Palmerston because that is where his business is. So, thank you, Steve Blair and Territory Marine for your generosity. I look forward to working with John McLean and the people within the Y to ensure that we can do things to get more facilities at the centre.
I would also like to talk about the Youth Bazaar that the Palmerston City Council Youth Festival ran. I attended the final event which was planned and run by the participants of the Young Adult Program, or the YAP Program as it is commonly known, which is for young people. It was guided by Kin Leong, who is the Youth Program Coordinator of the City of Palmerston. The event featured local talent, provided entertainment and was well attended. There were three very talented bands that night. They played throughout the afternoon and thrilled the crowd with their musical flare and abilities. It was a really good night and, as I said, they really struck out some great tunes. The event was well supported by many government and not-for-profit service providers who were targeting their services towards the young crowd.
The young people involved were all aged between 14 and 17 years. They assisted in setting up the event and running the whole night. I would like to recognise Roxy McLean, Rebecca Watt, Myra Smith, Lettie McDonald, Haley Stewart, Cassandra Plain and Alyssa Harding. They did a wonderful job. They are very vibrant and active young adults and the work that they undertook to put this event together was outstanding. Well done to that group.
I also thank Nadine Chambers for helping the YAP group, and further thanks to the YAP group for helping in the organisation and coordination of events, which included confirming stall holders, organising first aid volunteers, suggesting the bands that should play, chasing the bands down, poster designs, promotional activities, operations and information stalls and obviously, setting and cleaning up. It was a great night and I am looking forward to getting involved again next year.
My next topic is the Palmerston Game Fishing Club. The Palmerston Game Fishing Club is a very energetic group that this year organised their 13th annual XXXX Barra Nationals from 26 April to 3 May. It was at the Banyan Farm by the Daly River. I had the pleasure of being invited. I went on Sunday and fished for a couple of hours in the afternoon. I hooked one but did not get it in. I had a wonderful day and got some great support from the people involved. I stayed the night and had the great pleasure of starting the event Monday morning by firing the starter’s cannon. There were 57 three-person teams involved. The pleasing part about it was how 81 of the 171 competitors were from interstate. The interest is not only in the Territory. There was an amazing array of boats and the gear that was on the boats was amazing. There was a lot of money on the water. More importantly, these guys had a great time and enjoyed their week on the water. To lure the fish and catch them, measure them and then release them was a great experience.
I acknowledge Paul Williams who works for the Fisheries department as a technical officer. He has been coordinating this event for a number of years now but has decided to retire. It was his eighth year so, Paul, well done. It was a fantastic event and I know many of the competitors congratulated you for the work that you undertook for these last eight years. I know he is not going to be lost at all. He is still going to be around the place but whoever has to step into his shoes has to fill some big shoes.
I also acknowledge Wally and Kerry Draper, the owners of Banyan Farm. They are volunteer supporters for my department’s Riverwatch program. They are a great asset on the Daly. The setup they had for the nationals was nothing short of spectacular. It was a well run event. The event organising committee consisted of Russell Fry, Scott Davis and Ray Collie.
One of the amazing things about this year’s Barra Nationals was that they have gone electronic. They have set up an e-book. The competitors this year filmed every fish or nearly every fish that was caught and put a lot of these snippets into an e-book. A company put all this together. They did a lot of filming. They had a helicopter taking aerial shots so they can put together a package that could be shown on the Internet. People from interstate and overseas will be able to access this to see exactly what the fishing is like on the Daly. I had the pleasure of being asked to do the introductory video for this e-book. I can assure you if it is anything like the snippets I have seen, it is going to be a fantastic tourist tool for the Northern Territory.
I thank Kane Dysart, a Technical Officer who works in my department. The Palmerston Game Fishing Club asked our Fisheries officers if they would like to assist throughout the tournaments to keep an eye on the logistics and the services required, as well as look after special guests and film crews. Kane has done this job admirably over the last couple of years. I thank him for the work that he undertakes to ensure that fishing is a pleasure on the Daly.
Sorry, there is one other thing - I had better recognise the winners. The champion overall was the Classic Nitro Boys; the champion local team was the DS Constructions; the champion interstate team was The VB Bandits from Victoria; and the top Angler was Trevor Robb. Congratulations to all those winners. There has been some great photography in the local news of recent times and this week we will see the Barra Classic being undertaken. I look forward to reporting on that at the next adjournment.
Ms ANDERSON (Macdonnell): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, this evening I talk about the Karen Brown Gallery and, in particular, Kukula McDonald and Billy Benn. I had the pleasure and the honour on 10 April to open an exhibition at Karen Brown Gallery of Kukula McDonald and Billy Benn who are disabled artists from the Bindi Centre. I thank Karen Brown for extending the invitation to me to open the exhibition and thank her sisters, Lynda and Kathy.
Just a brief history of how Karen started. Karen started at old Admiralty House in 1989 and has been a supporter of Bindi for many years. Karen, like her painters, has a truly gifted eye for beautiful art. Karen’s first triumphs were with the Warlpiri artists and she has continued to build a reputation of sighting wonderful art. Karen also operated out of Peppimenarti and Ngukurr, and now nurtures the work of Angelina George who is widely seen as the greatest landscape artist of the north.
I had the pleasure also of inviting the member for Port Darwin and the member for Brennan to that exhibition. It was wonderful for us as politicians to admire art we know comes from deep inside these people. They are painting what resembles and makes them. Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, you were there when Kukula was given the opportunity to speak at her own exhibition. I will quote a piece in The Australian written about Kukula and the Black cockatoo which my people call irrandas. Black cockatoo is Kukula’s dreaming and paintings based on this were exhibited.
I quote from The Australian:
- McDonald's dreaming, of course, is the black cockatoo, and she does a remarkable version of the irranda's piercing call: she can dance like the birds, she becomes them in her movements, she follows them in flight around the desert ranges with her eyes. ’This one's sad and this one's happy’, she says as she guides visitors through her exhibition in the Karen Brown Gallery …
As we all know, Karen Brown’s Gallery is just outside Parliament House and I again say thank you to Karen Brown.
Today at the same gallery, one of our staff members, Chips Mackinolty, opened the exhibition of Roy Yaltjanki from Docker River who is one of my constituents in the electorate of Macdonnell. Chips first worked at Maruku Arts based at Mutitjulu in 1985 as an artist’s advisor, as well as marketing work from Anangu artists at Uluru. He worked on the western run of the communities including Kakukatjara (Docker River), Warakurna, Wingellina, Piplyatjarra, Kalka and Amata. Chips also worked with Anangu at Mutitjulu on a poster for the hand back of the Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park to traditional owners titled Nyuntu anangu maruku ngurangka ngaranyi the design which ended up as the logo of the National Park. The same design was used on a 1985 mural Chips painted on the old ininti store at Mutitjulu titled Pukulpa pitjama ananguku ngurakutu.
Chips had the pleasure today of opening Roy Yaltjanki’s exhibition at Karen Brown. Roy is an old man from Docker River and, today, coming to his exhibition, was the first time he had ever been out of Docker River to fly to Darwin. It was an absolute joy to see him here. He said the flight, the journey from Alice Springs to Darwin, was a bit frightening. He saw his country from up above. He said thank you to everybody who was there. He was excited about his paintings and the work of some of the other artists exhibited. I thank Chips for opening this exhibition, and Karen Brown.
Ms SACILOTTO (Port Darwin): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, this evening I pay tribute to Anzac Day which we recently celebrated on 25 April 2008. I commend the RSL and Darwin City Council for the well-organised and attended dawn service. It was endearing to see whole families out together early paying tribute to our Anzacs, and our current Defence personnel who do such a great job in so many areas - not just what is normally considered the core business of Defence. There were many children present, including the involvement of schools in my electorate - Darwin High School and Darwin Middle School. I thank the principals of these schools, Mrs Marion Guppy and Mr Marcus Dixon, for encouraging participation by students. As always, the students were fantastic ambassadors for their schools and the whole Darwin community. The students’ participation was greatly appreciated.
The Anzac Day march was moving. I was proud to see so many men and women of Defence marching through our city. I know that, in the days leading up to Anzac Day in other jurisdictions, there was a little controversy as to whether the children and other family members should march alongside their fathers and grandfathers. I was not aware of any such controversy in Darwin. It was wonderful to see the old and the young marching together. I am very proud that my son, Luca, marched for the Darwin First Sea Scouts and proudly wore his great uncle’s – that is my grandfather’s brother - medals from World War II on his right side, including the Military Medal for bravery in the field. My great uncle was always very proud of his medals and his service in the military; however, he could never muster the strength to march on Anzac Day. It was just too painful a day reminding him of the demise of many of his mates during World War II.
The RSL played host to a large crowd after the march, and downstairs was a traditional two-up game enjoyed by many. Upstairs there were the traditional few beers going down and lots of stories and reminiscences, not only from the old Diggers, but now the stories are flying from our young Diggers who have been involved in the many conflicts of recent times.
We are lucky in the Territory to be so close to our Defence community. Defence personnel and families make up about 10% of the residents in my electorate community, including HMAS Coonawarra at Larrakeyah. Defence members and their families make a great part of our sporting community, our social community, our school community, and are consistent contributors to our economy.
Considering the sheer number of Defence men and women out on the town celebrating their day, there were very few incidents, which is why I was ashamed, as an Australian citizen, that one of our local bars, the Deck Bar, thought it necessary to introduce a not-so-special Anzac Day entry policy. This is how it was explained to me by the bar manager, Michael: from 6 pm the bar would not be allowing entry to any uniformed Defence personnel. I asked Michael if the policy should, instead, be a no-entry for intoxicated people policy, as per legislation. He advised that at 6 pm on Anzac Day, anyone in uniform would probably be drunk - a generalisation that I did not agree with. As a question of policy, three women wearing Navy uniforms were turned away at the door. They were not visibly intoxicated, nor loud or unruly - not even being a little silly, but totally composed and well-groomed.
I also watched as a very composed young soldier was turned away. He wore a chest of medals, including the Campaign Medal from Iraq. On the day he should be proudly displaying his uniform and the medals signifying how he had put his life on the line, on this very day he was turned away from a public place. I felt sick. In fact, the behaviour of the Defence personnel at the bar was highly respectful and professional. When informed of the policy, members from all three services, who were not in uniform, chose, with dignity, to quietly vacate the premises in protest at the treatment of their fellow soldiers, sailors and Air Force personnel.
Being a former business person, I respect the rights of business to make reasonable policy in order to manage their establishments. However, I see the economic and social advantage that Defence provide to businesses in Darwin, and I feel that a no entry policy for uniformed Defence personnel policy on Anzac Day is not only highly discriminative but utterly disrespectful. I feel so strongly about this that I will be writing to the management of the Deck Bar to express my disgust at this treatment of our men and women of Defence.
Mr BURKE (Brennan): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, last Friday morning I had the pleasure to attend the Bakewell Primary School Walk Safely to School Day. This was an extremely well attended event by all, well most, of the school’s children. Not only was there a breakfast put on, fruit as well as pancakes, the school was graced with the presence of Hector the Cat. After getting their fill of fruit and pancakes, a big bunch of the students gathered around Hector the Cat and walked around to the front of the school to one of the crossings and everyone crossed over, as you should when there is a school crossing available. They did all the right things, looking both ways before crossing and walking not running.
It was a fantastic day. It was great to be a part of it. I try, as often as I can, to be part of the assembly on the Friday morning at Bakewell Primary School. A large number of merit awards were handed out at the assembly to all the children who had been doing great work. It is always good to visit Bakewell. Every assembly someone has done something to merit recognition.
I was also at the Palmerston Christian School Harmony Day, which was another fabulous event. I congratulate all the classes that participated. I really enjoyed being there, seeing the great work the schoolchildren had put together which was put on display. Congratulations to all of them, their teachers and, of course, the principal. It is a lovely school and I know many of my constituents’ children attend.
Another of the great events I attended was the Try Soccer Day at Gray Primary School oval, where children from all of the primary schools that I can think of - Gray, Driver, Moulden Park, Woodroffe Primary School, Sacred Heart Primary School, Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School, and Durack Primary School were there. It was great to see the children on the soccer fields, both boys and girls, doing their darnedest and having a great time. The oval was pretty much ringing with laughter. It was good to see the large number of young children who were there who had not played soccer before and were giving it a go. From that day a team was chosen for the Palmerston and rural regions to play in the inter-schools championships.
I took the opportunity to say hello to some of the students I know and teachers. As I said, we have heard in the Youth and Sport committee statement today about encouraging young people to play sport, showing them the benefits of being fit and healthy. This was a great day to do just that.
We recently had the Red Cross Doorknock Appeal. I was very willing and privileged to be asked to assist, and assist I did doorknocking a large part of the suburb of Gunn collecting for Red Cross. I acknowledge the generosity of the people in Gunn whom I doorknocked and spoke to. It is amazing how much people are prepared to give for a worthy cause. It is humbling as well when you are there. People are a bit stand-offish at first wondering why their local politician is on their doorstep, till you say ‘I’m collecting for Red Cross’ whereupon they immediately go diving for their change tin or their wallet or purse. I thank all of those people in Gunn who were so receptive and generous.
The Palmerston Markets have started up once again. Last Friday night was the first night they were on and it was fantastic. There was a large crowd and some great events. We had a gymnastics display and there were a few other things going on around the place as well. I was at our usual stall, talking to many people. Families took the opportunity to get out and enjoy a night together. It is not a very expensive night. I know that the YMCA Drop-In Centre was doing a fantastic business with many young people from Palmerston attending the markets, as well. I echo what has been said earlier about the great work that John McLean and Chris Lovett and others do at the drop-in centre.
I acknowledge the fantastic work that the Chief Minister’s Palmerston office is doing now. It is great to have Wayne Zerbe there. I know he has hit the ground running and is getting involved and making the Chief Minister aware of things that are brought to his attention; as well as to myself and, I am sure, the member for Drysdale. I mean to attend the upcoming Palmerston Regional Business Association budget response which is presented each year. It is usually delivered by Mr Leon Loganathan. I will be listening with great interest to what he says about the budget which was delivered not a couple of days ago.
I cannot fail to mention the fantastic announcement of the primary school and middle school in Rosebery. It is something I have lobbied colleagues for and spoken to Cabinet minister after Cabinet minister about for ages; especially, the Chief Minister and the minister for Education as he was initially. It was a great announcement for Palmerston, looking after the short- to medium-terms, the immediate needs and the needs coming up with the expected growth. Palmerston is growing at a great rate. It is now the second-largest centre in the Territory. With the announcements in the budget about stamp duty reduction and the increase to the HomeNorth scheme, I am hopeful that we will see even more people wanting to move into Palmerston because it really is a great place with much to offer young families.
Mr HAMPTON (Stuart): Madam Deputy Speaker, I acknowledge tonight those people in my electorate whose work often goes unnoticed by the larger community. This is because the nature of what they do is behind the scenes. Work often done in small steps, continual and difficult to measure in the usual ways, but, nevertheless, work that contributes immensely to the fabric of our society and communities.
These people are the language workers who work in and for their communities keeping language and culture strong. They are quiet achievers. Earlier this year they were recognised at an award ceremony held at the Katherine Regional Aboriginal Language Centre. The Katherine Regional Aboriginal Language Centre works to provide support to language workers in the region. This year it held its inaugural awards ceremony, the first of many we hope, to acknowledge and celebrate the great work being done by these dedicated people. There were eight categories and around 32 nominees for the awards in what will become an annual event for the language centre.
From the Stuart electorate I acknowledge Helen Morris from Kalkarindjiwho was named Language Worker of the Year. Helen has been a language worker for a year-and-a-half and is very enthusiastic about language and literacy work. She is a consummate story teller and was recognised for her dedication and achievements.
Also congratulations to the 15 students from the KalkarindjiCommunity Education Centre who were presented with Certificate 1 for Information, Communication and Technology earlier this year. These students undertook the Certificate 1 on top of their regular school commitments in 2007: Maria Jimmy, Helma Bernard, Devina Jimmy, Clifford Edwards, Tiannah Bernard, Nigel Bernard, Isiah Bernard, Tracey Alec, Francene Alec, Daniel Law, Nathaniel Jimmy, Naverone Morris, Darius Smiler and Kirsty Smiler. Also congratulations to their teachers, parents and staff at the school for the great support given to these students.
The teachers of Pigeon Hole School are very pleased with the high student attendance rates this year. All the students are working well and very hard. There are three students who deserve special mention: Kendrick Hector, Christischa Anzac and Jayden Isaac. These students have been doing exceptional work with their reading and writing. Keep up the good work!
The final person I acknowledge is a respected elder who passed away late last year. I will read from the Katherine Regional Aboriginal Language Centre media release. I will name the lady as IH.
- IH Nambijina-Nangari was born in 1935 and was regarded as of one of the last speakers of her language, Bilinarra, a severely endangered indigenous language of the Victoria River district in Northern Australia. Throughout her life, IH dedicated herself to keeping her language and culture strong in her tiny remote community of Nijburru (also known as Pigeonhole, - 450km south-west of Katherine). IH sadly passed away on November 13, 2007.
IH was the holder of an enormous amount of knowledge about Bilinarra language and culture and with her passing she takes with her knowledge that is now irreplaceable. Thankfully, her work and achievements over the past two decades are great and form a legacy that will be carried on by future generations of the Bilinarra people. Her efforts to maintain her language and culture were assisted by working closely with the Katherine Regional Aboriginal Language Centre. IH was instrumental in developing the Bilinarra Language Program at Pigeon Hole School, a program that has helped maintain Bilinarra Language and Culture for new generations - and this work continues today with the help of IH’s daughters and other community members from Pigeon Hole.
In 1990, IH with other Bilinarra people who have since passed away, worked on a first grammar and dictionary of the Bilinarra language. In 2003, she was part of an AIATSIS project, ‘Bilinarra Dreaming Sites’ which recorded valuable information about sacred sites on Bilinarra country. In 2004, IH commenced worked with NT Parks and Wildlife to document traditional knowledge about plants and animals found on Bilinarra country. Her dedication to the task saw it completed this year and resulted in the publication of the Bilinarra Plants and Animals book. In 2005, IH’s story won first prize in the NT Department of Education’s Indigenous Story Writing Competition.
IH grew up and worked on a variety of stations in the VRD area and was a key claimant and witness for the Bilinarra land claim that saw part of the Bilinarra country handed back to traditional owners in 2002. Although the Bilinarra people have lost a great elder, IH’s legacy is a strong one and is instrumental in helping Bilinarra people continue to maintain their language and culture for future generations to come.
I go on now to discuss the Warlpiri Triangle Group in my electorate, Lajamanu, Yuendumu, Nyirripi, and Willowra. First, a bit of history of the Triangle. I speak of it since last week the Education minister announced the Warlpiri Triangle is one of two community partnership education boards under the transformation of indigenous education in the Territory. They certainly are proud of this announcement.
The 1999 Warlpiri Triangle in Willowra was dominated by the announced closure of the bilingual education program. The Warlpiri, at this workshop, decided unanimously that Warlpiri schools would continue to teach bilingually in both Warlpiri and English. Incorporation of the Warlpiri Triangle to formalise its objectives and rules was raised at this workshop and initiated at the next workshop in 2000 in Yuendumu.
The 2001 Warlpiri Triangle in Lajamanu was the largest yet, with some 90 Warlpiri participants including many senior Warlpiri who are involved in the schools. Warlpiri participants are now taking a leading role in workshops, and the workshop is noteworthy for the high participation of senior Warlpiri elders. The first AGM of Warlpiri Patukurlangu Jaru was held during this workshop in 2000.
The name Warlpiri Patukurlangu Jaru was named by the Yapa who decided unanimously that it should be named in honour of a lady who passed away, Kumanjayi Namatjira Ross. This gives the name even more meaning for the communities of the Warlpiri Triangle.
I also mention the ladies and workers for their ongoing efforts with Warlpiri Triangle: from Yuendumu - Nancy Oldfield, Barbara Martin, Enid Gallagher and Alice Nelson; from Willowra - Maisie Kitson, Carol Kitson, Hannah-May Caspar, and Dora Napaljarri Kitson; and from Nyirripi - Alice Nampijinpa Michaels, Pauline Gallagher and Fiona Gibson.
Ms McCARTHY (Arnhem): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I would like to share with parliament my recent travels across Arnhem, beginning first with acknowledging Moira O’Brien at Coodardie Station near Mataranka. It was great to see Moira at the Cattlemen’s Association dinner recently. Also, huge congratulations to her mum, Clair O’Brien, for the good work she does which was recognised in the Australia Day Honours.
Recently, I had the pleasure of taking Senator Trish Crossin on a trip to some of my communities. We usually have a good trip. Each time the Senator comes, there is some kind of story to tell, as I know she has similar stories to tell with other bush colleagues she travels with, in particular, the member for Macdonnell.
On this occasion, Senator Crossin with her staff, John Pryor and Amanda Crossin, travelled with me to Barunga and Beswick. I especially thank the people who gave their time on that trip, in particular Reg and Martha at Beswick, at the new Wugularr School,. I was proud to see after intensive lobbying in the last couple of years the new school at Wugularr. It was wonderful to see the children in the new school; especially after the many years of floods the community has endured and how the school went under so many times. So, a huge thank you to, the Northern Territory Cabinet and Education minister for their support in getting the school built, particularly the former Chief Minister and the former Education minister.
The last trip Senator Crossin had with me to Beswick I had to get her on a grader to cross the flooded waters of the Waterhouse River so she could get into the community and see how tough it is for people who live there; what they have to accept as normal. Which echoes strongly what we have said and heard many times in this parliament: accepting the abnormal as normal.
This time we were able to drive in without having to get on a grader. The river was down and we could see a wonderful new school built. So, well done to all concerned. In particular, to Stuart Dwyer, Head of Group Schools for the Katherine East West Region, and to Reg, who has taken on the job as principal there this year. It is a huge job. I know he will do well. Beswick is really appreciative to have Reg and Martha there, as both are teachers who have been in the area for the last six or seven years.
From there, we went on to Jilkminggan. To Lawrie Webster at the school, thank you for your time and for letting us know your concerns with the staff room and the need for an extension to the kitchen. I am happy to say to Lawrie and your staff at Jilkminggan, with the recent budget announcement you will have good news.
We went on from there to Ngukurr. The Roper River was up, but it was not so much the Roper which was the issue. It was Outen River. I had to drive along to find an area where we could get into a boat and take Senator Crossin across the river into Ngukurr. That was a bit of an adventure in itself, but we were able to get there quite safely. She was able to meet the people in Ngukurr. A big thank you to Gary Cleary, the new CEO at Yugul Mangi Council for his support and welcome there. We stayed the night with Gary and it was heartening to be able to hear what was happening in Ngukurr.
We were then able to come back to Darwin flying to Ramingining and Milingimbi. In Ramingining, I was able to take some of the children in our family that we have cared for over the years. It was holidays at this stage, so I took them with me. My nephew, Jordan, my sister, Caitlin, and my son, Grayson, travelled with me. There was a special ceremony on there, sorry business for a particular elder who was instrumental in setting up and establishing the Muwangi industry there.
Muwangi outstation is an important outstation to the Ramingining people. It is the location where Ten Canoes was shot. The three children I had with me were very excited to meet the actors from Ten Canoes. Richard Birrinbirrin, for those who have seen the movie, is a honey ant eater in the film, and a very delightful character. The other character that the children had the chance to meet was Gudthaykudthay, a well known artist in Ramingining and across the Top End, who played the part of the sorcerer in Ten Canoes. So while it was a special treat for the kids, it was an even more special treat since we could pay our condolences to the family who were burying an important man in the region.
From there, we flew to Milingimbi, and I thank MAF. MAF is the Missionary Aviation Fellowship that flies between Ramingining and Milingimbi. They are the only aircraft to do that run. I thank the pilots who take me across quite regularly between the two communities.
In Milingimbi, we were able to see the grand final and what a wonderful day it was. In fact, on par I would have to say, with the Tiwi grand final. So maybe the member for Arafura might come and see the Milingimbi grand final next year. We even had the police from Bulman and Ramingining who flew to Milingimbi for the day to make sure it was a happy, safe and successful day, in particular, for the Crows who just won against the Tigers. I say congratulations to the Milingimbi council and the community and, in particular, to Keith Lapulung. Keith is the council chair. A couple of thousand attended from outlying outstations coming from Maningrida, Ramingining and Elcho. So it was a very heavily populated island that day.
In closing, I acknowledge a special person who stays in our hearts and minds of my family, in particular. It is the anniversary of the passing of my brother. I would just like to acknowledge that he remains a special man in the hearts of my people, my family and many more. He has played a significant role in my very short life so far as a politician here, in the House. I just wanted to acknowledge his passing.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arafura): Member for Arnhem, I acknowledge the anniversary of your very strong brother.
Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I would like to tell you about some very innovative and interesting developments at Maningrida CEC, a success story from the Arafura electorate. Often when we stand here we do not hear of success stories but there are many in our bush electorates. Often we and our communities do not take the time to reflect on what they are doing is successful and innovative; how the rest of Australia does want to know what they are doing. Amongst all of the negativity, all the doom and gloom we tackle when we talk about critical issues in our communities, when we see areas in our education system where there are some successes we should applaud and celebrate them. It is not often we have many things to celebrate.
The Maningrida CEC, over the last four years, has developed a subject called ranger studies which involves senior students studying contemporary issues in science. Bear in mind that with Maningrida, like many of our remote Aboriginal communities up until when we came to power in 2001, secondary schooling was not even on the radar of the former government. I acknowledge the work that has occurred since we came to power in 2001. The work, too, of the former education minister, Syd Stirling, and the role he played implementing all the recommendations. There was the major review into secondary education into the Northern Territory which laid the foundations for Kalkaringi where we saw three graduations. Maningrida, too, has shown this is one area where there has been a lot of success.
The secondary senior students work closely with the renowned Maningrida Djelk ranges and the Queensland Museum. The science teacher there is a clever young man. He did not have a science lab to work in so he took his students into the surrounding bush. It is a move that has brought intense scientific and media interest in Maningrida. I will get to that shortly. The natural environment around Maningrida and its outstations is providing the theme for scientific studies. The topics include long neck turtle trapping, buffalo disease control, foreign fishing vessels, a crocodile hunting proposal, mining, studies into disease affecting camp dogs, biosecurity, quarantine, customs, protected area management, weed control and spiders. These young people are our future eyes and ears and carers for that part of our Territory. However, like all our coastal regions, that investment in our young people will make a difference because they are the future.
The spiders have become the stars of the ranger studies. You may already have heard about the discovery of 45 new species of spiders. This story went to air on the ABC’s 7.30 Report, Stateline and Behind the News television programs. The Outback magazine, The Age newspaper and The Sydney Morning Herald also ran stories. The students are revelling in the practical investigations while, at the same time, using rigorous scientific methods. They have conducted amazing tests and had fantastic results such as the diesel vibration test, comparing night versus day spiders, and bush land versus burnt area habitats. Dr Robert Raven from the Queensland University has been there to cast his professional eye over the results.
The ranger studies program has provided excellent outcomes and results for students - so much so that two of the graduates have been put on full-time salaried positions with the rangers due to their knowledge, skill and interest in the field. The bright and committed science teacher, Mason Scholes, won the 2007 Eureka Prize for Science Teaching. The Eurekas are known as the Australian Science Oscars. Recently, the biggest find has been a new species of tarantula, not new to the students but new to science. They have yet to be scientifically described and identified. They are handsome spiders. There was a male and a female in a glass box. I wondered out loud what their names were going to be but as I understand, that honour will go to the students who will be consulting their elders who will then name those spiders. They will be listed and recorded once the elders think about the names.
There is more exciting news on the way. I am flying out to Maningrida tomorrow. I will be meeting with Mason and all the young senior men who are involved in this project. I will also take an opportunity to hand out badges and awards to all of the young people who graduated with their NTCE. I am particularly looking forward to having a discussion with Mason and many of the teachers just to see how they are going and what is happening in Maningrida CEC.
With projects like this, we can be innovative and creative. We can do things differently and engage a lot of our kids with science and maths which people often believe our kids think is boring and have no wish to learn. But, at Maningrida, they have found a way to engage these senior students with both maths and science. These young men and women are attending every single day. I am looking forward to also meeting with the Queensland museum people and other people from the university to have a look at that whole project. It is fantastic and it is a success worth bragging out.
Dr BURNS (Johnston): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I pay tribute to Norm Slade who sadly died at the end of last month. I knew Norm from my days of volunteer work at St Vincent de Paul. He was a little bloke with a big heart. He will be sadly missed by everyone with whom he came in contact.
Norm came to Darwin about 10 years ago. As I will outline, Norm had a very interesting life doing many things including being a nurse, a seaman, as well as being an accomplished chef, certainly not a cook. On coming to Darwin, he volunteered his services to the NT AIDS Council and manned the reception for many years on and off. An old friend, Bill McMahon, recalls how it went and I quote: ‘NT AIDS Council. How may I help you? Norm speaking’. He became the voice of the Council. At least, that is the way Bill told it. Shane Kilford from the NT AIDS Council recalls that Norm would happily tell those discourteous callers who rang up demanding this or that, where to go in no uncertain terms: ‘No, he did not care what organisation they were the executive director of’, before hanging up the phone.
Norm, as a young man, studied nursing at Gladesville Hospital in Sydney and graduated as a registered nurse. He went to England and worked as a nurse for about five years. Then Norm heard the call of the sea and joined a P&O boat as a steward. He worked his way up to be purser. He had many hilarious stories about his adventures on the boats. He must have enjoyed it; he was at sea for about 25 years.
Bill tells me he never worked out why Norm came to Darwin, but he thinks it was his sense of adventure. He felt he fitted in here. He found we are an accepting mob. He did not have to explain himself, he was just Norm. A few years ago he visited Sydney to reconnect with his family; it was not successful. He decided we, his Darwin friends, were his family.
The member for Fannie Bay also knew Norm and relates how he was very active in the Fannie Bay Senior’s Group, attending their monthly meetings on a regular basis. Over the 10 years he spent in Darwin, he very generously donated his time as a chef at Ozanam House in Stuart Park where he worked on and off as a volunteer. He maintained very strong control of the kitchen and the conduct of guests. Many a time we feared for his safety as he lectured six foot, inebriated guests on good manners. I saw him turf a few of them out; there was no arguing with Norm.
Shane Kilford recalls that St Vinnies was always packed when Norm was on because he would fill up everyone’s plate and have enough for seconds, which he would dish out himself to ensure that everyone got some. He never cared about over-ordering because there were so many mouths to feed that nothing ever went to waste. And watch out if someone stood in line for a third helping! Once again, Norm would tell them where to go in no uncertain terms. Norm was a great cook - I mean chef - and his food was excellent. I only heard one person complain about it. That was on the basis that Norm always cooked chicken. The reason was simple: a large pallet load of frozen chicken was donated to St Vinnies. The complainant was dealt with very quickly: the plate was taken away from him and he was told to leave - once again in no uncertain terms - and go to the takeaway next door and buy what he liked. Mick Fox recalls Norm working at both the Bakhita Centre and Ozanam House as a chef for many years. He was very fastidious about cleanliness in his kitchen, and extremely generous with his time.
Norm was very grateful to move into his new unit at Fannie Bay Seniors Village where he was able to enjoy more privacy. However, he always made sure his neighbours at Kurringal never went hungry. He would bring food home from Ozanam House to feed them. Shane Kilford recalls that, in his final years, Norm continued volunteering for anything he was able to do and I quote from Shane: ‘If he could get out of bed and get there, he was doing it’.
Mr KNIGHT (Daly): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, the member for Johnston is certainly a magnet for these colourful characters of the Northern Territory.
Tonight, I pay tribute to two long-serving Alice Springs public servants who, after 55 years of combined service have moved on to other things.
Mark Coffey started out in the Country Fire Service in 1981, moving into the Northern Territory Police Force in 1985. Since that time, Mark served at numerous locations throughout the Territory. Mark continued to move up the ranks of the Northern Territory Police until, three years ago, he became the Centre’s top cop, the Southern Region Commander. In his time at the top, Mark played a pivotal part in helping government deal with the unique and challenging issues of policing in Central Australia. Last year, Mark was awarded the National Medal with a first class recognition for his 25 years of combined service.
Mark has stayed on in the Alice Springs, taking up a role with the federal government as the Regional Director of the Indigenous Coordination Centre. I am pleased to say that he continues to play a key role in the Alice Springs community and is working closely with the Northern Territory government as part of his new role.
Last Saturday night, I had the pleasure of joining Mark and his wife, Kate, at the Alice Springs Cup Ball. It was great to spend time with them and fantastic that they remain firmly loyal to Alice Springs. It is people like Mark and Kate who are dedicated to the community that make Alice such a great place.
John Baskerville arrived in Alice Springs in 1985 while working in Darwin at the Northern Territory Electricity Commission. He was meant to stay for three weeks but, as with many long serving Alice Springs residents, he came to Alice Springs and never went home. He continued working his way up through the public service until, in 1992, he became the Executive Director of the Department of Chief Minister’s Southern Region, a post he held until his retirement just a few months ago. John was a key part of major government projects in Alice Springs with both the former and current governments. John was the driving force behind the Alice in 10 project and was at the helm for the delivery of the new projects under the Moving Alice Ahead strategic vision. John also played a leading role in the creation of the Desert Knowledge Project, a project which is going from strength to strength to bring about a sustainable future for the Central Australian region and economy.
After 15 years at the head of the Department of Chief Minister in Cental Australia, John and his wife, Lynette, have retired to the Adelaide Hills for some well deserved rest and relaxation. While I did not have an opportunity to work directly with John, his reputation preceded him. He was highly regarded within the government and within the Alice Springs community as a highly principled man with a passion for the Alice that was second to none. John’s departure leaves some big shoes to fill, but I know his successor, Tony Mayell, will do everything in his power to maintain John’s high standard of achievement.
I can say with absolute certainty that both Mark and John will be sadly missed, both by Central Australians and by the Northern Territory government. To Mark and John, I congratulate you both on years of public service and your many achievements over the years. On behalf of all of us here in the parliament, we wish you the very best in your future endeavours
I move on to my own electorate. I mention some wonderful students in the schools. The member for Goyder and I take pride in the schools that encompass students from both of our electorates. One of those schools is Berry Springs Primary School. We both sponsor book vouchers, which are awarded to the outstanding students of the month. In March, those students were Joshua Verity, Lilymay Buckland, Shellee Davis-Cooke and Kelsey Pocock. I congratulate those students on a great achievement. I hope they keep trying and we see some of the other students win the Outstanding Student award.
The Jump Rope for Heart event will be held tomorrow morning at the school. Students will be hoping to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most people skipping at one time for three minutes. This will be a combined school event across Australia. Currently the record stands at 7362. Good luck to all the students in breaking this record.
The school council at Berry Springs is up and running in 2008. I acknowledge the outgoing chair, Tiffany Markey, and the committee, who have done a fantastic job during 2007. I also congratulate the new committee and the new appointed chair, Julie Barnes. The fundraising committee is led and coordinated by Audrey Godwin and Jenny McNamara from the preschool. They are planning an auction at the school at the end of this month. I have donated goods to auction and plan to attend that night. Last week’s fundraising event was an art display. The art then went on sale and over $600 was raised for this one event alone. This is fantastic work both by the students and by the fundraising committee. Congratulations and I hope I can support you in the future with your fundraising.
On to Taminmin High, where I shared some awards with the member for Goyder. For the month of March, the award recipients are Andrew Owens, Chris Pharm, Tim Steffenson, Caitlin Boulter, Stephanie McManaway. Today, we presented book vouchers at the Middle School assembly. Those awards went to, in Year 7, Jacob Moore; in Year 8, Britney Culgiari; and Year 9 went to Chloe McCarthy.
A competition was announced at this morning’s assembly for Year 7, 8 and 9, to document ‘Growing up in the rural area’. Students are encouraged to either submit 10 digital prints, write a poem, a song, or a short story that depicts the idea of growing up in the rural area through their eyes. I cannot wait to see what those students come up with.
Moving up to some of the smaller Daly electorate remote schools, at Amanbidgi, Simeon Waterloo received an award for the most improved student at the month of February. Congratulations to Simeon. Kellisha Oscar received an award for March for her consideration and care towards all people at the school. Well done, Kellisha. April’s monthly award goes to Adelina Waterloo in Year 3 for her continued levels of improvement in Maths, Reading and Story Writing.
Reg Robinson is the teaching principal at Amanbidgi and does a great job with the kids there. Reg and his wife, Fran, have been at Amanbidgi for eight years and, although there has been some very, very trying times, Reg is keen to see a better, realistic and sustainable future for our remote students. I applaud Reg for the loyalty he has shown to that very small school and a community struggling with a number of issues. Congratulations Reg and Fran. Your work there does not go unacknowledged.
The Batchelor Area School: my monthly award goes to the tidiest veranda at the Batchelor Area School. Each class has to ensure that their part of the veranda is cleaned, swept and generally kept tidy especially after recess and lunch breaks. The class winner for March was Preschool/Transition Hooper, and Year 3/4 Wallace were the lucky recipients of the April award. The incentive for the classes is working very well in keeping the school area clean. It is a joint effort. The class get to choose how they would like to redeem their prize, as in an excursion, a special treat to a movie afternoon, or a prize at the teacher’s discretion.
While mentioning the good work at Batchelor school, I acknowledge the fantastic work done by the Batchelor Area School’s outgoing principal, Randall Cook. Randall has taken up a new position in Darwin and it will involve travelling to homeland schools all around the Northern Territory. Randall has said that he will miss many things about the school, in particular, the students. But he is looking forward to the new challenge. I am sure the school will also miss Randall. In the interim, the fantastic Mrs Lisa Bickley will continue to lead the school. Randall, we only had you there for a little while but you brought that school back together again. I am sure your efforts across the Northern Territory and remote schools will be just as noteworthy. To Lisa, I hope your role as principal continues a long way into the future.
Braydon Thomas is the Peppimenarti School’s recipient of the March award for most improved. The April award goes to Liam Tulunga for most improved in literacy.
Apart from parents and family members, teachers are the most important educators in our children’s lives. I commend all the teachers for their dedication to our children. I applaud the teachers in the rural and remote areas. Getting teachers in the remote areas can be very difficult and it is certainly very hard work. To all those students, teaching staff, and the general staff, I congratulate you all for your efforts. I hope to be out and about the electorate as we move into the Dry Season to see you all.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016