2009-10-13
Madam Speaker Aagaard took the Chair at 10 am.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move - that the Legislative Assembly:
Madam Speaker, we are very much a close-knit community in the Northern Territory, particularly Darwin and Palmerston. We are truly the most cosmopolitan city in our nation. I believe all of us, as members of parliament, have been absolutely devastated by the three tragedies which have affected our immediate region over the last couple of weeks. I cannot recall a series of intense and devastating natural events which have come one after the other with such horrific consequences in our region.
Over many years of course, we have natural events which cause disasters. However, we have had one after another after another. Coming to work in the mornings, listening to the radio news broadcasts when I wake up, and watching the news on television at night has been absolutely traumatising in terms of the devastation these events have caused.
It started with Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines on 25 September, followed by the tsunami in Samoa, American Samoa and the South Pacific region just four days later on 29 September, and the very next day there was a massive earthquake in Padang, Indonesia on 30 September. In the space of five days, three enormous natural events have caused death, destruction, and devastation across our region.
The Filipino community in Darwin is very large and we all have friends, neighbours, family and colleagues in that community.
Our Indonesian community in Darwin is also large. We all have an affinity with Indonesia through personal friendships, relationships, people who are doing business in Indonesia. We have all had holidays in Indonesia with friends and family. We have enormous connections with Indonesia.
The tiny countries in the Pacific, Samoa and American Samoa, are not big communities but there are eight or nine Samoan families in Darwin. I have met a number of them over the last few weeks.
For me it is not just watching these events unfold on the television and over the news which is so distressing; it is the fact there are people who live here amongst us, work with us, friends, neighbours, children going to school, in the workplace, who are directly affected. They have friends and families in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Samoa. So many of our fellow Territorians have been directly affected and my heart, and the heart of everyone in this Assembly, goes out to Territorians who have been directly affected by these horrific events.
The images we have seen on our television screens and reports we have heard on the radio have saddened and shocked Territorians. The scale of the tragedies has meant thousands of people have lost family and friends, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced as the death toll across the region continues to rise.
Going to some of the latest details on Typhoon Ketsana, news reports from 12 October talked about the Manila evacuation and the displacement of nearly 600 000 people; that is an enormous number of people. There have been 250 lives lost to date, and the damage from the typhoon is estimated, in a relatively poor country, at $100m. However, 600 000 people being displaced and having lost their homes is an enormous number of people directly affected.
In American Samoa and Samoa at least 140 people lost their lives and many villages were destroyed. An 8.3 magnitude earthquake caused the tsunami and waters rose to at least 6 m high. The news reports of how people lost their lives, including whole families, as a result of the tsunami were very distressing.
Then, the very next day in Padang, Indonesia an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter Scale has killed an estimated 1100 people, over 102 000 homes have been destroyed and, in some areas, about 80% of buildings have collapsed. Whole areas remain impassable. That is the scale of those tragedies.
I paid my condolences, on behalf of all Territorians, to the Indonesian Consul, Mr Harbangan Napitupulu, several days after the quake and pledged the Northern Territory would do whatever it could. I met and spoke with John Rivas, the Honorary Consul for the Philippines, and on behalf of all Territorians expressed condolences and support; and to Emma Sullivan, from the Samoan community in Darwin. Each one of those people told me, in a very personal way, of the grief and absolute chaos which has resulted from these tragedies.
Our Indonesian Consul was concerned for the safety of two Darwin residents. On the day I met him, Tommy Djamal and his wife, residents of Darwin for over 20 years, were in Padang for the Idul Fitri celebrations. The Consular staff had been trying to contact Mr Djamal for several days to confirm he and his wife were safe. I believe for a period of five or six days the Indonesian community in Darwin did not know whether Tommy and his wife had survived. They did, and are either imminently on their way back to Darwin, or back in Darwin now. We are all very pleased that they are safe.
The Royal Darwin Hospital was on standby to receive any injured. As we know, RDH has a national and international reputation in aiding victims in the wake of natural disasters, and that plan was stood up. They do an amazing job.
Soldiers from 1st Combat Engineering Regiment based at Robertson Barracks have been doing a great job in Padang with water purification efforts. Last Sunday, HMAS Kanimbla sailed from Darwin for Padang with a team of approximately 140 engineers and support personnel, as well as their specialist equipment, to contribute to the recovery phase of the earthquake and relief operation. We are all proud of our Defence Forces and the work they do in this region. The total ADF commitment to Operation Padang is about 500 personnel. In addition to medical support, the relief team is going to be providing fresh drinking water and tonnes of humanitarian aid.
The ADF responded to the Samoan tragedy as well, with a tri-service disaster relief operation. Medical relief teams, rescue equipment and emergency supplies were provided.
With the size of our Darwin community, it shows how this hits home to us. A new family has just arrived in Lyons, in my electorate. They are an Army family and the husband is an engineer. They had only been in Darwin for three weeks. They have four daughters all under 12. My daughter has palled up with one of his daughters and they have become great friends. Speaking to him the other day, he is new to the Army, this is his first posting and he is off to Padang and cannot wait to get involved and make the difference as an individual. These are the stories we hear in the Northern Territory.
I held a press conference with the Consul from Indonesia, John Rivas, and Emma Sullivan, to kick-start a Red Cross appeal for the three natural disasters. The Territory government kicked off the appeal with $10 000 for each of the relief efforts. I am aware that in many workplaces and sporting clubs Territorians are raising funds.
The executive director of Red Cross, Sharon Mulholland, says the Australian Red Cross has been responding in the affected area since the first warnings in the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Samoa, Tonga, Indonesia and India. She says the biggest priority for Red Cross is to ensure people are safe and their basic needs are being met. She urges Territorians who want to help to donate to any of these three appeals. I know Territorians are very generous and are doing what they can.
The Filipino, Indonesian and Samoan communities are organising a joint fundraising event. I do not have the details of the event, but we are helping those communities. That came out of the press conference, and the two larger communities are saying they are happy to share what they are doing with the Samoan community, which is a very small community in Darwin. I commend everyone involved in the fundraising event.
There is a very direct link between Darwin High School and Padang. I spoke with the Principal, Marion Guppy. Darwin High has had a relationship with one of the schools in Padang, regarding teacher exchanges, for a number of years. Because of security warnings, the student exchanges have been suspended for quite a few years now, but Darwin High has hosted teachers from Padang over the last few years. Darwin High School is going to be holding a concert in the next couple of weeks and, for a gold coin donation, students, teachers and parents will be treated to an all singing and all dancing concert. It is a very small event; however it shows how our wonderful community in Darwin responds when countries in the region with which we have a connection are victims of these terrible tragedies.
In closing, on behalf of the government, and I am sure of this parliament, our condolences go to the people of the Philippines, Indonesia and the South Pacific who have been affected by these horrific events. Our sympathy and support is there for our communities in Darwin who have been directly affected. I urge all honourable members to support the motion.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I support this important motion expressing our condolence, our sadness, and our empathy for those within our region who have suffered as a consequence of these natural disasters. It is good that we pause and reflect and consider our response; to do otherwise would diminish us as human beings.
Further reinforced is the notion of neighbourhood. It is a strong reminder that we are all connected one way or another, more so here in the Northern Territory, and in Darwin in particular, being geographically part of the region. We are also connected through families and relationships, and so that which has befallen those within our neighbourhood has an effect upon us, which obliges and requires us to respond.
I am very pleased to hear the Chief Minister describe the actions of the government on behalf of the people of the Northern Territory. I am grateful for those responses for the communities concerned, with the encouragement for other agencies, particularly Sharon Mulholland and Red Cross, who embody the response of the community. I commend the Red Cross, and thank the Chief Minister for the leadership role in regard to facilitating those negotiations, the conveying of condolences and expressing concern of the community through the parliament, and through the office of the Chief Minister.
In relation to fundraising efforts, it is quite lovely to hear Samoa and Indonesia, which have stark differences in terms of economy, geography, and size of population, are combining to have a joint response. This is very special, and I expect anyone who has the opportunity to provide either moral or practical substantial support will attend these events.
These events remind us of the wider community, and make us consider family and that which is actually important. In fact it should provide some hope to the way we weigh up matters of importance and prioritise. When we look at the television screen we know it is a representation of that which is multiplied again and again and again across the community: loss of loved ones you had hopes and plans for, loss of a house and all contained within the house, and the loss of a community which has been fractured and severely damaged. It helps one to focus on what is important, what is real value, and then to consider in some places, for example in Padang, complete villages have been subsumed and have gone.
These things should arrest our thinking and cause us to question priorities here too. One, of course, is the response we give. Then, to make sure we apply the reminder of what is important; of course family and community. Life is what we have been reminded of here and that is what we are supporting. We are supporting, as human beings, a response to other families just like our own, but in a different place and different situation. It is just a small echo of Cyclone Tracy. I was not here then but I know some members of the Chamber were. To families who have suffered tragedy, who are represented in this Chamber, it helps us to identify and to respond, and that response should enhance us as human beings.
I thank the Chief Minister for bringing this condolence motion forward today. I acknowledge and appreciate the response to date. It was a difficult one to respond to because one, two, three - where do we go? I believe the joint fundraiser will really bring it together in a very special way. I look forward to learning more about that event and hope that I can help support that by attending and encouraging others to support it also.
The typhoon aside the connection between an earthquake and a tsunami links back to Aceh and Sri Lanka, a disaster which still lives large in our memories. It is a reminder of the volatile nature of the geography within the region, and it is once again a reminder of what could be. We shudder to think what could be, and there had been warnings even before the last tsunami, that those tectonic plates are under increased pressure and there is more to come. The other deeper register here is the fear that other natural disasters may arise because of the connection between the tsunami and the earthquake.
I appreciate the role of the Red Cross, and our defence personnel. I am always so impressed with the Defence Force, particularly as someone who has worked with young people for many years, and seeing the young men and women who are trained and fit and ready to serve and to represent the nation so proudly. I commend that response in particular, but broaden it to the families who stay behind whilst their loved ones assist, on behalf of the Australian nation, in places not so far from here.
Thank you, Chief Minister, for bringing forward this motion. It has, of course, our full support.
Ms LAWRIE (Deputy Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I join members of the Assembly in offering my profound condolences to the people who have experienced the most recent natural disasters and tragedies in the Philippines with the typhoons and floods; in the South Pacific region, Samoa, American Samoa, and to an extent, Tonga, with the recent tsunami; and in Indonesia, particularly those on the island of Sumatra and the Padang region, with the most recent earthquake.
I join with members of the parliament to strongly identify with such natural disasters and the tragedies, the loss of life and how it reminds us of what is truly important in our lives - our family and our friends. The multicultural groups of the Northern Territory have been quick and strong in their response to support the communities of their homelands. I join with the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in congratulating the multicultural groups for coming together and ensuring they have a joint fundraiser. The strength of the Filipino community and the Indonesian community is significant. The Samoan community in the Territory is very small. I believe it is a recognition of how truly embracing our multicultural communities are that they are joined together to fundraise for their three homelands.
The individual disasters were shocking in their magnitude. Natural disasters, by their nature, are swift and we saw the horrendous early footage of the results.
I will deal with the tsunami in Samoa in late September. There are recent reports of 143 people dead. The effect on small communities would be significant. It is an enormous tragedy and witnessing the funerals and the mass burials occurring in Samoa has been very moving. Thousands are homeless. We have also seen some deaths in American Samoa and Tonga. There are reports of 20 villages destroyed. Samoa is a very small country. We often talk about the small population of the Northern Territory, but to put Samoa in context, there are only around 180 000 residents. Recognising that, the capacity of such a small country to deal with such a large tragedy is, of course, very limited. They are in the midst of devastation. It is good to see the very swift Australian government response. If you want to illustrate the extent of the devastation and the effect it is having on Samoan life, community and government, even the Prime Minister of Samoa lost relatives in the tragedy. It has affected absolutely everyone in the nation.
Sadly, we heard of two Australians losing their lives. There was also the heartrending story of the twin Australian girls; one was found and they were not sure where the other was. They eventually found the second twin. They searched for them after finding their passports embedded in sand on the beach. They found the second twin in a hospital injured but alive, and reunited them. In the tragedy is also hope, and the miracle stories are starting to come out of Samoa.
Australia immediately sent teams of paramedics, doctors, nurses, and search and rescue specialists, with essential supplies such as tents and medicine. The Australian government has contributed $5m to the rebuilding effort in Samoa. We know that with 20 villages wiped out rebuilding will take a long time.
Samoa is synonymous in our Darwin community with fantastic Rugby players. The Samoan Barbarians took out the Hottest 7s title this year. Amidst the tragedy, we send a message of hope, we send a message of support, and we hope to see the Samoan Barbarians back here to play in the Hottest 7s. If they can gather a team out of the tragedy and come back, I have no doubt there will be widespread Top End support of the Samoan Barbarians. We would warmly welcome them back to the Territory.
The earthquake in Sumatra came less than 24 hours after the tsunami struck Samoa. Sadly, the tragic earthquake in Sumatra is in an all-too-frequent occurrence zone. Sumatra was affected by earthquakes in 2004, 2005, 2007 and, now, in 2009. It is lying on one of the most active fault lines in the world, and more earthquakes are, no doubt, inevitable.
The Territory has had a long and very close association with Indonesia. We have many Indonesian people living in our community and contributing significantly to our community. It was shocking to see the scale of the loss of lives, and the carnage and devastation resulting from the earthquake, and to see those enormous landslides where villages have been completely lost. So far, reports put the number of deaths at 807 - a significant loss of life; an almost unimaginable scale of loss of life. There are still approximately 240 people missing, and there are 2000-plus injured. The number of damaged houses is reported to be around 250 000. What an enormous scale in terms of a recovery. They are saying 1386 classrooms, 168 roads, 241 offices, 16 bridges, 1237 places of worship are severely damaged. We start to get a sense of the enormity of destruction in Padang.
The Australian government has allocated $17m in assistance to Indonesia and, as the Chief Minister said, HMAS Kanimbla left Darwin on Sunday sailing for the Padang region with engineers and medics on board, to help tend the injured and start the rebuild process to provide for basic shelter and opportunities. We are hearing there is a dire need for shelter, fresh water and food.
A significant tragedy occurred in Sumatra. It is one of those times where you are incredibly proud of our Australian Defence Force and their ability to respond, and to give up their time, leave their families, and go into a place completely devastated, in extreme conditions, with enormous grief and tragedy going on around them, and to support people in rebuilding their lives and their communities. My sincere thanks go to the Australian Defence Force personnel who have been involved in the Top End in getting Kanimbla to Padang.
We then saw the Philippines battered by two weeks of killer storms and typhoons, resulting in widespread flooding and over 600 people dead. The main island of Luzon bore the brunt of the typhoon. We have a vibrant, dynamic Filipino community in the Territory, and many have relatives in the regions affected by the typhoons and floods. I sponsor a child in the region, and I was quick to respond to a request from World Vision for additional funding to provide for their aid effort.
It is a time of significant disaster in our region, and Territorians are well placed because we live in good conditions, on the whole, to respond; to provide donations to our relief agencies, and to support the local fundraising efforts to ensure we can help with the basics needed in the recovery phase. The medical equipment is essential, as is the shelter, food and water.
I sincerely thank the Chief Minister for bringing this condolence motion to the parliament today. We are enormously affected by the nature of these disasters in our region. It reminds us how vulnerable we all are to natural disasters. Those of us who went through Cyclone Tracy can empathise with the tragedy those families are experiencing now, and the sheer extent of the recovery effort required, and the enormous time it will take to rebuild the lives of the families, the communities and to get back to where schools are rebuilt and children can get back to school.
I applaud the donation of $30 000 by the Territory government to Red Cross. Every little helps, and that is a significant contribution from a small government. I congratulate the Defence Force for their response, and our community for its generous response, and for the opportunity to help with the fundraiser amongst the Indonesian, Filipino and Samoan communities. I commend the condolence motion to the House.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Year 2/3 students from Yarralin School, accompanied by Ms Lucy Pedwell and Ms Abby Cunningham. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE (Katherine): Madam Speaker, like my colleagues, I support this condolence motion, and I join my colleague, the Leader of the Opposition, in thanking the Chief Minister for bringing this motion on today.
It is important for not only this parliament but parliaments across Australia and around the world to speak on motions which represent a condolence to people who are so tragically affected by natural disasters across the world. As leaders in the community, it is incumbent upon us to set the direction of the way people consider how these tragedies unfold. Sometimes it is possible for people to look at the television and consider some of these things to be surreal, or far removed. I take this opportunity to remind all those who listen to these broadcasts, who read Hansard, that there is a real human tragedy amongst the people who are affected by natural disasters, particularly those which occurred recently in Samoa, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
A great number of people have died, a great number of people have been left behind, friends and family have passed away, they have had their lives shattered, they have had their homes destroyed, and they are left destitute. The positive which comes out of this is the strength, courage, tenacity, and resilience people display when they are confronted with such enormous disasters in their own community. I have never had to endure a real disaster, but I do take my hat off to people who simply get up in those circumstances and move on and do the very best they can to put their lives back together.
One of the things I think Australians share with people from all the communities recently affected by these natural disasters is our goodwill. That is what gives us such a strong connection with people in those communities so recently affected. I would like to, on behalf of myself and the people of Katherine, send very best wishes for a speedy recovery to a normal life to the people of Indonesia, the Philippines and Samoa. I know there are many people in the Northern Territory, and across Australia, who are affected in one way, shape, or form by these tragedies. I know there are several people in Katherine who have families affected by the floods in Manila. Fortunately, most of our Filipino community are from parts not affected by the flood.
I also join in congratulating our Defence Forces on the hard work they have put in going to countries such as these and delivering the essential services needed. Quite often police officers are called upon to assist in such circumstances. I know a few local police officers who have been seconded, at various times, to the AFP to serve in places like Samoa. I know those people have connections we could not understand in countries they have served in.
Much of what needs to be said, I believe, has been said in the House this morning by both the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister. I take this opportunity to send my sincere thoughts and hopes for a quick as possible return to normal life for the people who are affected by these disasters.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I support the Chief Minister’s motion of condolence for the victims of the natural disasters in the Pacific-Asia region.
We are lucky in this part of the world. I think we can sometimes keep at arm’s length what is happening around our immediate area, and not realise the extent to which our close neighbours suffer when these natural tragedies occur. It is nearly 35 years since Cyclone Tracy; I was on Bathurst Island at the time and we thought it was a terrible tragedy, and it was for Darwin. When you compare it with what we have recently seen, it was just a bump.
I was looking at figures from the United Nations in relation to the earthquake in Sumatra and on 11 October there were 739 deaths, 296 people missing, 2219 people injured, and 234 395 houses damaged. That alone is just phenomenal! A huge number of people now find themselves with very little shelter. They have gone through the pain of losing loved ones, they have gone through the pain of trying to assist people who have been injured and, on top of that, they have no place to live or very little basic shelter. Having watched television recently, I would say most of them have no jobs. In some of these countries there is not a Centrelink down the road to pick up the pieces when tragedy occurs, as in Australia.
It is important we recognise what is happening close by, and understand we need to do as much as we possibly can. We are only a small part of the world, but I believe this motion is very important in saying we do feel concern for what has happened there. We should be doing our best to help those people and recognise we are truly neighbours. In the case of Indonesia, we have our large live cattle exports; we are not only dealing with a customer, we are dealing with people. People rely on our trade and we rely on their trade. When these things happen, as has happened in Sumatra, we need to ensure we show we are not just a trading partner, but we are also a true neighbour who has concerns for what has happened.
I believe that is shown in the response of our Defence Forces, quickly announcing the HMAS Kanimbla, would be offshore. I am not sure if it has arrived yet, it is certainly on its way, with two Sea King helicopters. We remember the tragedy of the tsunami in Aceh, where Australia went to help those people. Unfortunately the crew of one of those Sea King helicopters did not return because it crashed on take off and all crew were killed. It shows Australians do care, and that is recognised when we see the great work done by our Defence Forces.
We also have to recognise the pain suffered by families. When people have lost loved ones, that is painful, but when people are injured, when people have little access to good food and water, it is not just a matter of picking up the pieces at the time; it is the ongoing help these countries require. I believe when the headlines die down, when the television stops reporting these matters, we have to remind ourselves people in these areas still need help.
Samoa lost a large number of houses and for a poor country it must be a huge burden; also for the islands nearby. As the member for Karama said, we do have contact from time to time with Samoa. The Samoan Rugby Union team comes out each year to play in the 7s. We all appreciate them coming here, not only because they are good Rugby Union players, but to meet the Samoans. They are a bit like Thursday Islanders and Fijians; they are happy-go-lucky people and we enjoy them coming to our country.
Some of the people who taught me in Melbourne teach in Samoa. I checked on the website today and their school is not in that particular region.
The Philippines was hit with a double whammy. It suffered a hurricane in September, and got the edge of another hurricane which, fortunately, did not cause quite as much damage. When you attempt to put things into perspective, compared to the tragedy of Cyclone Tracy, and look at the death toll and the damage the Filipino floods caused, 337 000 people in Manila alone were displaced, with 60 000 people staying in evacuation centres. That is one-and-a-half times the Territory’s population being displaced. The effort required to find places for those people must be enormous. Even though we are sending condolences to these nations about the number of deaths, we still have to take note these countries will be suffering from the damage caused by these tragedies for a lot longer, and the human and economic cost will continue for years.
These countries are in an area prone to earthquakes. Since the tsunami in Aceh and Thailand, we are much more concerned about the effects of earthquakes under the sea. If you read some of the reports, you will note Java had an earthquake at more or less the same time as Sumatra. West Papua had a 6.1 magnitude quake around 4 October. Luckily, it did not affect a highly-populated area. These things will continue to occur and, tragically, people will lose their lives. As a near neighbour, Australia will continue to do what it has always done - help those people in need.
It is not just government which should help but people who have personal contacts. The Filipinos have had contact with the Northern Territory from the days of the Macassans, when they came to visit the shores of the Northern Territory. We have traded in buffalo. You will find many Filipino names in Darwin. On Bathurst Island you will see coconut trees which were planted by the Filipinos who worked with the first missionaries there. If you go to any church in Darwin you will see a group of Filipino people who always love singing. We have very strong affiliations with the Philippines through the people who live in our community.
This motion of condolence is very important. It says we are concerned and sorry for what has happened, and we will continue to assist, where possible, as this tragedy continues. As the Chief Minister said, if there is multicultural fundraising which will help all three countries, it will be fantastic. As a community, if we could all get behind that, it would be great.
Madam Speaker, I support the Chief Minister’s motion of condolence.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I agree with the member for Katherine; all speakers have contributed very well to this motion. It is very hard to add to what others have said.
What underlines the comments quite a number of speakers have made is that the force of nature can be powerful, irresistible, and destructive. This has been illustrated by these terrible events in the Pacific region over the past few weeks, in Indonesia, the Philippines and Samoa. One thing about modern communication and television is that all these events are brought into our living rooms. I am reminded of the scripture which talks about seeing earthquakes and other calamities in diverse places. Through modern communication we are seeing, almost firsthand, what is happening within these disaster zones.
It also makes me reflect, as did the members for Nelson and Katherine, on natural disasters which have occurred within the Territory, particularly the Top End, with Cyclone Tracy and the Katherine floods. In many ways, while these were great calamities for us compared to what we see, hear and read about regarding our neighbours, to some degree those natural disasters in the Territory are relatively small by comparison.
For each family with a loss or an injury, or loss of property and employment, it does not really matter in the scale of it but multiplied many times, many families, the scale becomes immense and almost unbearable.
One reflection I have had is could such an earthquake occur within the Northern Territory? I guess the answer to that is: we do not really know. We all know earthquakes rattle through Darwin from time to time, and rattle through the Northern Territory. Newcastle, many years ago, had an earthquake. It could quite possibly happen here; we do not know; such is nature.
In terms of a tsunami, my understanding is Darwin is quite protected from the likely effects of a tsunami. On the Western Australian coast, there is evidence of a tsunami hitting the coast quite some time ago. Australia, per se, is not immune to the effects of tsunamis and earthquakes.
Today we are focusing on our neighbours in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Samoa. As a number of speakers have pointed out, our communities across the Territory have close connections with the Pacific region. We know there is a large Indonesian and Filipino community. We know there are quite a number of people from the South Pacific who live in Darwin and other parts of the Territory. The images from Samoa were very heartrending; people of great faith experiencing profound loss. I know our thoughts and prayers are with all people in Indonesia, the Philippines and Samoa. They are all people with strong beliefs and strong faith, and we hope and pray their faith will be of comfort to them during this stressful time.
As a community, we have been shocked and saddened by these events. As the Chief Minister has said, the government has donated $10 000 to the Red Cross for efforts in Padang, Samoa and the Philippines. I commend the work of the Red Cross. I have known Sharon Mulholland for quite a number of years, and others who serve with the Red Cross, and they do a fantastic job, both locally, and nationally and internationally. The Red Cross is a fantastic organisation and it deserves credit for being very quick in facilitating aid to these areas in such great need. They are very experienced, they have a long history, but their energy is unabated. They continue, and must continue with the sort of focus and commitment they have as an organisation.
The ADF is certainly front and centre with many of the relief efforts. It is useful to reflect over the years we have had our Defence Forces, from World War I and World War II and other conflicts through the time, that gradually the ADF has had more of a relief role in efforts such as these. It shows the diversification and flexibility of our Defence Forces. I believe it is an incentive for many people to join the Defence Forces. As well as the important job of defending Australia, many of the people I have spoken to are very intent on becoming part of relief efforts.
Over many years we have seen how the Defence Force has assisted relief efforts within our region and across the world. They are certainly to be commended. It has become part and parcel of their very important work. We can look to them with pride for what they do for Australia, not only in defending Australia, but demonstrating to the people in the region we care about them, we care about their families, and we care about their situation.
I believe that is one of the best aspects we can have of our Defence Force; they are actually showing a great, practical form of diplomacy in our region. I am sure strong bonds are made and there is much respect within those countries for our Defence Forces which are doing a great job. In Operation Padang alone, there are about 500 personnel. We wish them, and their families who are staying behind, all the best during this time of separation, and we wish them a safe and happy return.
The basics they are providing are drinking water and tonnes of humanitarian aid, and most importantly, medical relief. They have also responded to the Samoan tragedy, and the medical relief they have provided there is front and centre, along with rescue equipment.
Madam Speaker, I do not want to say too much more. Every speaker has spoken from the heart. Our thoughts and prayers are with those in distress in those regions.
Madam SPEAKER: I thank honourable members for their contributions to this motion. I extend my condolences, best wishes and prayers to the people of the Philippines, Tonga, Samoa and Indonesia on this very tragic situation in their countries.
Motion agreed to.
Members stood and observed one minute’s silence as a mark of respect.
Mr GILES (Braitling): Madam Speaker, I present a petition from 665 petitioners praying that ANZAC Hill High School campus remains open as a secondary campus. The petition bears the Clerk’s certificate that it conforms with the requirements of standing orders. Madam Speaker, I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read.
Bill presented and read a first time.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
The purpose of this bill is to amend the Construction Industry Long Service Leave and Benefits Act to introduce a $1bn project cost threshold for large scale construction projects above which an actuarially determined levy rate would apply.
The Northern Territory’s portable long service leave scheme for building and construction industry workers enables eligible workers to qualify for long service leave entitlements based on service in the industry, rather than service to a single employer.
An inherent design feature of the Territory’s scheme is there is a high degree of cross-subsidisation from larger scale projects. This is due to these projects having higher capital costs while labour represents a lower percentage of overall project costs, compared with smaller construction projects such as residential developments. This is necessary to fund entitlements for those workers employed by the smaller scale projects which do not contribute financially to the scheme. However, in very large capital intensive projects, the levy income derived under the current flat levy rate structure may far outweigh the long service leave costs incurred on the project, and cross-subsidisation may be too large.
At the completion of the scheme’s third year of operation, the scheme actuary undertook the first formal actuarial review of the scheme. In addition to the prescribed scope of the review, advice was also sought on options for accommodating large scale construction projects. The review found there is scope to adjust the levy mechanism for very large projects by establishing a $1bn project cost threshold, and introducing an additional levy rate based on the estimated impact on scheme liabilities to apply to project costs above a threshold. Accordingly, it is appropriate to introduce the actuarial recommendations regarding large scale construction projects in a timely manner to encourage further investment in the Territory during the current downturn in the international economy.
As such, the Construction Industry Long Service Leave Amendment Bill 2009 introduces a two tier levy regime for construction projects with construction costs in excess of $1bn. The prescribed levy rate which applies to all eligible construction projects under the scheme would apply to the first $1bn. A project’s specific levy rate, determined by me as the responsible minister, would apply to project costs in excess of the $1bn threshold.
The project specific levy rate would be set at a level sufficient to meet the liabilities imposed on the scheme by the project costs above the $1bn threshold. Under the proposed bill, I must determine the project’s specific levy rate after considering a review by the scheme actuary. I believe the amendments before the House today will reduce impediments to investment in major projects in the Territory while preserving the financial viability of the scheme and its ongoing capacity to provide long service leave entitlements to workers in the construction industry.
I commend this bill to honourable members, and I table the explanatory statement to accompany the bill.
Debate adjourned.
Bill presented and read a first time.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
As part of Budget 2009-10, I advised many of the fees and charges for government services had not been reviewed for years. These fee levels have been eroded by inflation and are well below the cost of providing the services associated with these fees.
The existing Revenue Units Act established a scheme to allow for government fees and charges to be expressed as a number of revenue units rather than dollar amounts. It was enacted to provide a simple process for maintaining the value of Territory fees and charges. This is similar to the penalty units scheme already legislated for in the Northern Territory. However, the current Revenue Units Act does not provide for a simple, automated process for changing the monetary value of our revenue unit to take into account the effects of inflation.
The existing Revenue Units Act commenced in May 2006, and the value of a revenue unit has not been reviewed since it was set at $1 in July 2006. The Revenue Units Bill will remedy this by providing for the automatic annual adjustment of the value of a revenue unit. The adjustment will be calculated on the movement in the Consumer Price Index for Darwin, published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, for the four quarters of the calendar year immediately preceding the relevant financial year. Any adjustment to the value of a revenue unit will be declared in around March each year, to apply for the following financial year. Where the monetary amount of a fee or charge expressed in the revenue units is not a multiple of $1, the amount will be rounded down to the nearest $1. A similar indexation mechanism was recently included in the penalty units legislation. Similar legislative fee indexation mechanisms also exist in Victoria and Tasmania.
The bill provides for the value of a revenue unit to remain at $1 until 30 June 2011. This is because the government is in the process of reviewing fee levels as many have not been updated for years. The review process will ensure fees are updated to levels which better reflect the impact of inflation on the cost to government of providing these services. Any increase to these fees will apply from 1 January 2010. This will occur separately to this bill, for instance, by way of amending the regulations which prescribe the fee amounts and the gazettal of new fee levels. As part of this process, suitable fees and charges yet to be represented as a revenue unit, will be converted to revenue units. The Revenue Units Bill replaces the current Revenue Units Act, as Parliamentary Counsel considers this is more practical than amending the current act.
Madam Speaker, I commend the bill to honourable members and table the explanatory statement to accompany the bill.
Debate adjourned.
The CLERK: It is advised that pursuant to Standing Order 107, Government Business Notices Nos 3 and 4 relating to the Assembly Members and Statutory Officers (Remuneration and Other Entitlements) Amendment Bill (No 2) 2009 (Serial 67) are postponed until the next day of sitting.
Continued from 19 August 2009.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Madam Speaker, we support the bill, but there are some points to make on the way through and, as is increasingly becoming the custom, I ask the Attorney-General to respond to them in her reply.
Some of the matters are reasonably straightforward, and I note there will be some committee stage amendments. I will attempt to be as succinct as possible so matters can be taken up and you can come back to us. Presumably, there will be speakers from the government side, which will take us to lunchtime. You will have enough time, I believe, to come back to us with your responses after Question Time.
I state, for those reading Hansard, this is the Justice Legislation (Penalties) Amendment Bill. The intention of the bill is to remove reference to monetary penalties from Territory acts and subordinate legislation within the Justice portfolio. Many of the changes are quite straightforward, and they reflect current drafting protocols. An example of this is the change from the term ‘penalty’ to ‘maximum penalty’ throughout various legislation. The Interpretation Act defines ‘penalty’ as ‘maximum penalty’ so there is no change to the discretionary nature of the value of the penalty imposed by the courts on a case-by-case basis, but it makes the provision clearer without need to refer to the Interpretation Act.
The use of the term ‘whole penalty provision’ is also amended in various acts by this bill to either reflect a penalty unit value, or a penalty unit value plus a term of imprisonment. The other purpose of the bill is to standardise the use of penalty units throughout legislation. Many acts still define penalties as fixed dollar amounts, which prove unwieldy when penalties need to be changed to reflect inflation so as to not lose their punitive or deterrent quality. Many of the changes from the dollar amount to penalty unit reflect, in some cases, a moderate or realistic increase to the monetary value of the penalty. However, some are significantly higher than those which occur in present legislation.
The current rates set out by the Penalty Unit Act values one penalty unit at $130. Some of the penalty provisions have increased quite significantly. I propose to give some examples, and I will make some contrasts by referring to other legislation where that does not occur.
Some of the examples where penalty provisions have increased quite significantly can be found in the Summary Offences Act. For example, in the Summary Offences Act, section 52, ‘Injuring or extinguishing street lamps’, that is increased to $5500 from what it was previously, that is, not exceeding $1000 to now, in this bill, a maximum of 50 penalty units. In addition, still in the Summary Offences Act, this time section 54, that is the section dealing with domestic animals, and section 55, ‘Challenge to fight’, that has increased from $200 to 50 penalty units, or a monetary value of over $6500.
Again, in the Summary Offences Act, section 69B, ‘Inciting to the commission of offences’, that has increased from $2000 to 100 penalty units, or in the vicinity of $13 000. Again, in the Summary Offences Act, section 92, it currently allows for regulations to provide penalties up to $2000. It has been increased, as a result of this bill, to a maximum of 100 penalty units or $13 000.
I understand the sections to which I have just referred were last amended in 1996. Some years later you would naturally expect the value of those fines to increase, but the increase of the penalty value far exceeds reasonable increases when measured against CPI, and particularly when measured against other offences in the Summary Offences Act, such as section 47AC(2), which is ‘Loitering by sexual offender’ around areas used by children. That has increased from $5000 to $13 000. This represents an increase of 150%, compared to earlier examples which I referred to in relation to the Summary Offences Act which have increased, on our calculations, by around 3000%.
The dramatic increase is not only limited to the Summary Offences Act, but also can be found in other provisions, for instance, an old personal favourite of mine, the Absconding Debtors Act, section 25, relating to offences, has increased from $4000 up to 200 penalty units, to $26 000. The Observance of Law Act, section 3, ‘Misbehaviour at a public meeting’, the penalty of $40 or imprisonment for three months, has been increased to $5600 or imprisonment for six months. So three months’ imprisonment is now six, and a $40 fine is now $5600, pretty steep. Again, the Observance of Law Act, section 4(3), that is the ‘Powers of Chairman of public meeting’, has increased from $100 or imprisonment for six months, to 100 penalty units, $13 000, or imprisonment for 12 months.
We now look to the Prisons (Correctional Services) Act, and in particular section 94(1) dealing with offences. That has increased from $2000 to 200 penalty units, that is $26 000. The Prostitution Regulation Act, section 6(2) dealing with operators and managers of escort agency businesses to be licensed has been increased from $10 000 to 1000 penalty units, which means it has gone up to $130 000.
These are significant issues when you are looking at what this bill seeks to do. We do not oppose for a moment the need to make legislation consistent, and to modernise legislation, and we understand very well the reason why this bill comes before us today. There seem to be some anomalies or some inconsistencies. It really goes from bad to worse. In stark contrast to the increases, and to demonstrate what at best is an inconsistent approach and what at worst could be called a cavalier or shabby approach to this bill and its consequences, some fines have been dramatically reduced.
The Public Trustee Act section 11(1), relating to secrecy, has had its penalty reduced from 400 penalty units - $52 000 - to 200 penalty units - $26 000; that is a 50% reduction. Interestingly, the section applies to confidentiality obligations when the Public Trustee, or his representatives, carry out their functions conferred by the act. This is interesting because this bill we are dealing with today amends similar provisions in the Legal Aid Act, namely section 52(2), to increase the penalty from $2000 to $5600, that is 50 penalty units.
By contrast, section 90 of the Mining Management Act imposes a penalty of 500 penalty units, or imprisonment of up to two years for a similar breach of confidentiality. Another example of a significant reduction in the conversion of dollar values to penalty units is demonstrated in section 36(2) of the Retirement Villages Act relating to the notation of register, which has been reduced from $30 000 to 200 penalty units, that is $26 000. Section 40 of the same act is reduced from $30 000 to 200 penalty units, namely $26 000. That is contrasted with this bill, which increases a number of provisions where penalties are currently set at $2500, that is section 42, or $5000, that is section 39(3), but are facing increases to 200 penalty units, namely $26 000.
It is a sloppy approach where we have some penalties increasing to the point of outstripping CPI. In other legislation affected by this act, you have some odd - some would say bizarre - reductions in penalties. I do not want to sound like the man who does the steak knives ad, I have to say: ‘But wait, Madam Speaker, there is more’.
The bill also introduces penalties of imprisonment, or increases the period of imprisonment, to provisions of various acts, some of which I have already referred to. Another one is the Small Claims Act, section 18(2), relating to inquiries to be made public. The penalty has increased from $1000 with no period of imprisonment, to 50 penalty units, namely $6500, to six months imprisonment. You have a provision in the Small Claims Act which prior to this bill had no period of imprisonment; this bill, which is all about, as I understand from the minister’s second reading speech, getting the penalty units right, and all of a sudden there is a period of imprisonment prescribed.
But wait, there is more. Let us look at the Trespass Act, section 6, section 7, and section 8(4); those sections have increased from 20 penalty units with no period of imprisonment to 100 penalty units or six months imprisonment.
This morning I was made aware of an amendment the government wishes to make in the committee stage. I understand, from what the Attorney-General told me, this was literally found at the last minute, namely this morning, and it is very important that the government amends it; rightly so. Based on reading the amendment, and from advice received by the Leader of the Opposition’s office from the Attorney-General’s office, the amendment will ensure the penalty for imprisonment remains the same in the Misuse of Drugs Act. Without the committee stage amendment, that is, the last minute fault or amendment, the bill brought here today by government and introduced last sittings, would have amended the penalty of imprisonment when it was never intended to occur. This morning we are told someone has discovered a mistake in the Misuse of Drugs Act, in relation to a change of period of imprisonment and the government is going to fix it. It should never have happened.
The government has our support in relation to that amendment. These are just two we have found; there may indeed be more. In the Small Claims Act and the Trespass Act, not only has there been a very significant increase of penalty units but where sections previously did not have a period of imprisonment, as a result of the bill before us, they do.
My point is this: if an error has been found in relation to the imprisonment provision in the Misuse of Drugs Act, is it not the case errors have also been made in relation to the imprisonment provisions or penalty provisions in the Small Claims Act and the Trespass Act?
We would be very grateful if the Attorney-General would reply. If this bill needs to go away again and come back, so be it. If we can pass it today we probably should but, in the absence of a sensible explanation, then it does, as I have said, demonstrate a cavalier, if not sloppy, approach to this bill.
Similarly, in relation to a quite bizarre approach regarding penalties, some penalties in some acts have skyrocketed; penalties in other acts have significantly reduced. We ask: was this intentional, was the government cavalier and sloppy, or was it just missed? If it was intentional then we believe the Attorney-General has the responsibility to tell this parliament and, in turn, the people of the Northern Territory, why. What is the rationale for, as a result of this bill, some penalties going through the roof, a long way in some instances, and others going down? We thought that a reasonable series of questions which should be asked.
Far be it from me, in addition to raising the possibility government may have taken its collective eye off the ball and might not have polished up this bill, or thought about it as much as they should have, it may be open to some to suggest, in relation to those penalties which have increased - and increased significantly - it might be regarded as a revenue-raising exercise by government.
Maybe the Attorney-General, who is also Treasurer, might say to us: ‘We are broke, we have spent all the money because we have been a terrible government for all these years, and the best we can do, member for Araluen, is get the money from somewhere, which is why we have significantly increased some of these penalties’. If that is the answer, we will listen carefully and act appropriately. If there is some other rational explanation, we would be very glad to hear it.
It is, if you like, a fairly schizophrenic approach to this bill when one considers the effects of it. Some penalties go through the roof, and some reduce significantly. There is the eleventh hour amendment; an attempt to fix an imprisonment provision in relation to the Misuse of Drugs Act, yet, there are other acts which, prior to this bill, had no period of imprisonment and now, as a result of this bill, do. If there is a sensible explanation, we would be very glad to hear it.
I make a final point in relation to fines recovery. The Attorney-General would think less of me if I did not go to the government’s appalling record of recovering fines. During estimates the Attorney-General revealed, when questioned, $6.4m is outstanding in fines and penalties in the Northern Territory for the financial year 2008-09. Let me repeat that figure: $6.4m in outstanding fines for the 2008-09 calendar year! We know the government is one which has wanted to spend, spend, spend and not have any regard to putting money away. My colleague, the member for Port Darwin, has been on and on regarding the issue for some time. However, $6.4m? The government cannot even recover the fines it sets in its own legislation. This is remarkable. I would have thought a broke government would try harder to recover outstanding fines. This is a government very happy to spend and does not, on the face of it, care very much about collecting the money due to it.
At estimates, we found 58% of court fines issued in the financial year 2007-08 remain unpaid. In total, more than $13m of fines and penalties levied in the last three years remain unpaid. That is a staggering figure: $13m in three years remain unpaid!
Why is that relevant? It is relevant because this government introduced a bill to parliament which, in many respects, significantly increases a broad range of penalties, presumably to send a message to those who break or do not comply with the law that there is a consequence. You will get 50 penalty units, a fine of 100 penalty units, if you do not comply with the law. That is a reasonable message for governments to send. However, the government’s history is: do not worry about it because no one will chase you up regarding payment of those fines. That is the history of the government. I just cannot see there is any other interpretation when it comes to the government’s atrocious form regarding fines recovery. I remember in 2001, or early 2002, the government introduced the Fines Recovery Unit. I remember Peter Toyne saying it was going to be terrific and a real attempt to recover fines. It clearly has not worked very well.
Those are my comments regarding what I call a fairly cavalier approach by government to fines recovery. I think even a casual observer would question the government’s approach to this bill, for reasons I have outlined relating to penalty provisions going up and down for no apparent reason, and in stark contrast in some areas; and some acts previously not having a period of imprisonment now under this bill they do.
Madam Speaker, not a great bill it would seem to us, but I am always ready to hear a sensible argument or submission. I hope the Attorney-General can address some of the issues, particularly in relation to the changes I have highlighted. With those comments, I will conclude.
Mr GUNNER (Fannie Bay): Madam Speaker, I support the bill. As always, I thank the member for Araluen for her contribution to the debate. She raised a number of questions during her contribution and I saw the Attorney-General nodding her head. I know she will have answers to those questions.
The member for Araluen used the word ‘sloppy’. I know the Attorney-General has a number of bills before this House every sitting, and is one of the hardest working ministers when it comes to the passage of legislation. I know she takes a very considered approach to every bill coming before this House. Legislation is a very serious issue; it is the most important business government deals with in this Chamber. I know the Attorney-General always takes those matters seriously, and she will answer those questions during her reply.
The member for Araluen commented that it could be purely a revenue raising exercise. I know in the last budget we went into a temporary deficit to deal with the global financial crisis. We have a $1.3bn infrastructure budget, which is centred on fixing a global problem locally, by ensuring we have jobs, making sure we move ahead in a timely and temporary fashion. Infrastructure investment is not recurrent and it helps meet that need.
I do not believe the Justice Legislation (Penalties) Amendment Bill is a get-out-of-deficit strategy. The Treasurer has a strategy to get us from a temporary deficit into future surpluses, and I do not believe this bill is part of that exercise. The opposition has a role to raise those questions, and I know the Attorney-General, with her Treasurer hat on, will address those.
As the Attorney-General outlined in her second reading speech, this bill modernises penalty provisions in 62 Justice portfolio acts and seven pieces of subordinate legislation. This covers most of the acts the Department of Justice administers.
In making it easier for people to read an act, I can understand the clarity provided by using the words ‘maximum penalty’ where the word ‘penalty’ is currently used. It makes no difference to the effect of the legislation but it aids comprehension in reading an act, which is always very helpful.
Another important change is the movement from expressing the penalty in monetary terms to expressing it as a penalty unit. There is no doubt this makes the administration of penalties and the cost of a penalty much easier. You can change the value of penalty units in the Penalty Units Act and it automatically flows through. An effort is always made to ensure penalties are comparable to other penalties. That is something the shadow Attorney-General raised.
I believe, in modernising this act, much work has gone into comparing different penalties and attempting to ensure they balance; they are comparable with each other. When such effort is made, it makes sense for those penalties to rise and fall together; it is rare for parliament to reduce a penalty. However, as the member for Araluen recognised, that occurs in some parts of this bill. It makes sense for them to rise and fall together, and that is where a penalty unit can provide such assistance. I can think of a notable exception for having penalties rise and fall together. There are those instances where parliament recognises an offence has taken on greater significance in the broader community, and we need to amend that specific penalty. We do that, from time to time, in this Chamber, usually through an act of parliament separate to the Penalty Units Act. That is, I think, a suitable role of the parliament and the Attorney-General.
To express penalties and penalty units, or other monetary terms in this bill, does make sense. The bill also amends the maximum penalties for perverting the course of justice from two years’ imprisonment to 15 years, based on suggestions from judges of the Supreme Court to reflect the seriousness of this offence.
I understand the Attorney-General, over the next 12 months, will review the penalties in the remaining acts under her purview. Again, that makes sense. It is not a revenue raising exercise, as the member for Araluen pointed out. It is very suitable, appropriate, and timely that the Attorney-General reviews penalties under her administration to ensure they are comparable, do balance, and do make sense. Over time, with CPI and other increases, penalties can no longer provide a deterrent, and it is sensible for the Attorney-General to review these things and bring them before this Chamber.
It makes sense the penalties be measured in terms of something to compare, and importantly as the Attorney-General noted in her second reading contribution, they have the appropriate deterrent effect. I commend the bill to the House.
Ms LAWRIE (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I thank members for their contributions to this debate. The bill reviews and modernises the penalty provisions in most acts administered by the Department of Justice. Penalties in the legislation are being reviewed across all Territory government agencies. This exercise is to ensure, across the statute book, penalty levels are reasonably consistent, and they have, importantly, an appropriate deterrent effect.
I go directly to the view expressed by the member for Araluen that this is all because potentially the government is broke and we want to revenue raise. No, it is around ensuring the appropriate deterrent effect within our justice legislation is effective. The amendments in this bill mainly address monetary penalties and not maximum imprisonment terms. Yes, there are some amendments which include imprisonment terms for certain offences which, in accordance with Department of Justice policy and recent practice, are suitable for the court to have the option of imprisonment.
These offences mainly relate to dishonesty, fraud and contempt of court. The bill also increases the penalty for perverting the course of justice from a maximum penalty of two and seven years respectively - sections 109 and 289 of the Criminal Code - to a maximum penalty of 15 years. The amendment modernises the penalty and reflects the need to deter people from conduct which interferes with the process of justice.
How we addressed the approach to this legislation was not sloppy; quite the contrary. Department of Justice officers, when requested by me as Attorney-General to ensure we convert into penalty units and look at the value of those penalty units as they have applied, and look at the time frames in which they have not been adjusted, found some back to 1996. We then cast back through all the penalty units and applied the policy governing the level of penalties to be imposed in legislation. We readjusted significantly in the instances we need to, to ensure it reflects the current policy applied by the Department of Justice to penalties to be imposed in legislation. So it was putting rhyme and reason into the penalty system, because those natural adjustments had not been able to occur over time and, of course, weight is applied by policy settings.
We very clearly identified, in all these adjustments, we wanted to apply more serious penalties to the offences of dishonesty, fraud and contempt of court. We recognise some penalties are significantly increasing, other penalties are thereabouts in terms of the way they have adjusted over, and indeed, some which are found to be of lesser significance have gone down - all within the context of the policy governing the level of penalties to be imposed in legislation.
We are ensuring the monetary penalty provisions in the Justice legislation, currently expressed in a range of ways, would be expressed as a maximum penalty. This was picked up by the member for Araluen as something they did not have a problem with.
Justice officers had instructions to go through this in a methodical, clear, and precise fashion, not sloppy or cavalier, and not only look at the penalty units going forward, but back cast to see which ones had not been adjusted for a number of years, fix that, and apply the policy governing the level of penalties to be imposed in legislation, which saw those significant adjustments occur.
I want to ensure that everyone is very clear on what we are doing here. We are not hiding anything. I will table the list of penalties where imprisonment has been added or changed. I will table the list of penalties with changed penalties in monetary value.
Member for Araluen, I know you have done much research and pointed out certain sections. There are more sections with adjustments, and I will table that. I want to put on the Parliamentary Record where significant adjustments occur so everyone is aware.
The first task was to look at reviewing all the penalties in the legislation. In July this year we increased the penalty unit from $100 to $130, so we had to see how that applied. We then provided for the increase in the value of a penalty unit on the basis of CPI, and we realised in many acts penalties were expressed in dollar amounts making it inefficient to amend every year, which is why we have gone down this Penalty Units Act path.
Some monetary penalties were out-of-date. They have not risen for many years and have not kept up with inflation. For that reason, some had significant adjustments. Some penalties were far too low for the offence to achieve its deterrent effect. For some offences imprisonment was included where, in accordance with Department of Justice policy and practice, it is suitable for the court to have the option of imprisonment. These offences mainly relate to dishonesty, fraud and contempt of court. I will table the list of penalties where imprisonment has been added or amended. I will table the list of penalties which have been significantly adjusted. If we apply Department of Justice policies and practices governing levels of penalties, they needed adjustment.
It was a very thorough process. In relation to attempting to pervert the course of justice, we have significantly increased the imprisonment term. This was raised by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and he recommended this increase to me. We were working on this legislation, and incorporated that rather than have it in a separate body of work.
Over the last 10 years, the Department of Justice has developed a policy to decide the maximum penalty depending on the type of offence. We know there are no hard and fast rules in setting maximum penalties in legislation. There is always an element of subjective decision-making on the maximum penalty for the worst-case breach of a provision. Maximum penalties in the Territory may also be affected by penalties existing in other states or territories.
The first step is to identify the maximum penalty, in dollar terms, for breach of a provision. The identification occurs in accordance with the department’s policy governing levels of penalties to be imposed in legislation. I have the policy with me. I will not be tabling it because it a working document the Department of Justice relies on. It is important to note the assessment looks at the penalty for a worst-case breach, hence the term ‘maximum penalty’.
The second step is to convert the dollar amount into the corresponding penalty unit amount. The Penalty Units Act provides assistance in the conversion because it states the value of each penalty unit.
Section 38DB of the Interpretation Act, provides some assistance in deriving the appropriate maximum penalty. For example, a penalty expressed as the penalty for a natural person would have a corresponding penalty unit for a body corporate, which is equal to five times the penalty unit for a natural person. Where a penalty is only expressed in terms of imprisonment, other than life imprisonment, section 38DA of the Interpretation Act allows the court to impose, in addition to or as an alternative, a maximum monetary penalty which is equal to 100 times each year of imprisonment.
The aim of the review of penalties in this bill is to ensure, across our statute book, penalty levels are reasonably consistent and have an appropriate deterrent effect. The Department of Justice undertook this review. We believe the penalties appearing in this bill before the parliament accord with the current practices and policies, developed over a 10-year period, by the Department of Justice. We believe another important aim is to ensure penalties do have the appropriate deterrent effect. A penalty which is archaic and too low will not achieve deterrence.
Penalties for minor offences are proportionately low and, after this review, will still remain proportionately low, even though the equivalent monetary amount may have increased. The increase only makes the penalty more current. Some penalty provisions have not been reviewed, for a very long time.
How will we ensure the Penalty Units Act remains contemporary - this is part of the process and pertinent to this debate - by ensuring the Penalty Units Act increased from $100 to $130 in July, and the act also contains the formula for the Darwin CPI increase, taking into account inflation, from July 2010. Every year the value of the penalty unit will be reviewed. If, by following the formula in the Penalty Units Act and taking into account inflation, it goes up, that will affect the penalty units in this act. That will, by regulation, be gazetted by the Administrator. It is possible there will be further reviews of penalties in legislation.
The next stage of the review undertaken by the Department of Justice is to complete the task with other Territory legislation.
This is not a sloppy, cavalier body of work. It is many months of thorough review undertaken by Department of Justice officers, following those steps through; applying CPI back-cast adjustments to get penalties to the level where they are truly deterrents; providing the overlay of the policy in governing the levels of penalties to be imposed in legislation, recognising the seriousness or otherwise.
We are aware we have introduced imprisonment. We have done it for a reason. We are being tough on acts of dishonesty. This is quite a specific policy direction and a significant body of work. It makes our maximum penalties contemporary, and it will be adjusted to keep them contemporary.
I know the member for Araluen thinks the fine recovery unit process introduced by the former Attorney-General, Peter Toyne, is ineffective. I think it is potentially an ideological disagreement to its core. The Fines Recovery Unit often goes into time to pay agreements with its clients so, for any given year, you will have a monetary amount outstanding because it covers a period beyond a calendar year. The revenue collected in 2006-07 was $6.4m; in 2007-08, $7.4m; and to 30 April 2008-09, it collected $6.8m.
Ms Carney: Sorry, minister, could you repeat that figure and the year? I could not hear you.
Ms LAWRIE: As at 30 April 2009, $49.8m had been collected for the Northern Territory government in court fines and penalties issued since the financial year in which the Fines Recovery Unit commenced, so …
Ms Carney: Which was 2002-03 or 2001-02?
Ms LAWRIE: In 2001-02. Outstanding debt for that period was $22.8m, of which $6.4m related to penalties issued in the 2008-09 period. The figures do not include fines and penalties issued by external entities, such as local councils, or under the Commonwealth legislation, for example, DPP prosecutions of foreign fishermen.
The average collection rates for court fines and infringement penalties since 2001-02, by value, 69%, and by number, 81%. That is not, by any stretch, a failure, recognising these are based on time to pay agreements which cross over calendar years. This is in response to the issue raised by the member for Araluen. It is quite separate to the legislation we have before us.
We make no apology for the penalties in our legislation being contemporary and current by applying our existing policy to them. That is reflected in this bill; that is why we have significant movements, and indeed, some new imprisonment terms. I am serious about ensuring we are thorough in our work. We could have introduced maximum penalties with CPI adjustments. That would have been sloppy and cavalier. We recognised where the penalties had not been adjusted and moved over many years, and where harsher penalties were needed to reflect the deterrent emphasis. We are marking out the area of dishonesty offences to reflect contemporary practice and policy, and picked up on the Chief Justice’s concerns also.
I will table the list of penalties where imprisonment has added or changed. I will also table the list of changed penalties and monetary value. There were thorough reasons behind all the changes. It was not a cavalier approach, it was not a sloppy approach; it was a very thorough approach taken by the Department of Justice on my instructions. I ensured I was made aware of any significant changes coming from those processes, and I was in a position to table them in this parliament so they are public.
In any process as thorough as this is, from time to time instructions from the Department of Justice to Parliamentary Counsel do not get translated perfectly. We do have some committee stage amendments. They are technical in their nature. They are minor amendments correcting typographical errors in the Justice Legislation (Penalties) Amendment Bill, and they ensure the Misuse of Drugs Act amendment does not reduce the term of maximum imprisonment from two years to 12 months. That was not the intent of the government; we have picked it up through the thorough process of analysing the legislation. I make no apology for that, and I make no apology for bringing in the technical committee stage amendments which reflect the government’s intention in this legislation.
Madam Speaker, I sincerely thank contributors to this debate. This is not a revenue raising exercise. It ensures our penalties and offences are contemporary, and reflect the policy adjustments made over the last decade by the Department of Justice, and that they are well placed to be adjusted going forward.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
Debate suspended.
Continued from earlier this day.
In committee:
Madam CHAIR: Honourable members, the committee has before it the Justice Legislation (Penalties) Amendment Bill (Serial 53) together with schedule of amendments No 21 circulated by the Treasurer, Ms Lawrie.
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Chair, I move amendment 21.1 regarding the Schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
I will explain. This has occurred as result of a drafting error with Parliamentary Counsel we discovered. There was no intention, in the schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act, to change the imprisonment of two years, so we are removing the reference to 12 months to ensure the existing imprisonment provision remains at two years.
Madam CHAIR: Member for Araluen, did you have specific questions on those amendments?
Ms CARNEY: Around the bill, Madam Chair.
Ms LAWRIE: Do we want to do the amendments and then go to the questions on the bill?
Ms CARNEY: Yes, that is what I thought we would do first. That is what we traditionally do.
Ms LAWRIE: Happy to.
Amendment agreed to.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Chair, I move amendment 21.2 regarding the Schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Amendment agreed to.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Chair, I move amendment 21.3, to correct an unintended typographical error.
Amendment agreed to.
Ms LAWRIE: At this point we go to the shadow.
Ms CARNEY: Madam Chair, I have questions arising from what the minister said this morning, and some specific questions in relation to various penalties.
Can I ask the minister a question about the two documents she tabled earlier, that is the list of changed penalties and monetary value, and the list of penalties where imprisonment is added or changed. Minister, why did you not table those documents when you introduced the bill?
Ms LAWRIE: There was no requirement to table them when I introduced the bill. I expected debate in the second reading, which is where you get provided with additional information. That is when I did so.
Ms CARNEY: Do you not concede this documentation would have had assisted the parliament when you introduced your legislation, and it could have been included as part of the explanatory memorandum or some sort of aide-mmoire thereto?
Ms LAWRIE: It is quite normal, in second reading debates, for additional information to be led by government, which is what I did. I would have been happy to provide that information to you if you had so requested.
Ms CARNEY: Minister, has government changed its mantra of being open, honest and accountable? If so, why? If it is the government’s position to be open, honest and accountable, why did you not table these documents? They clearly assisted and showed the divergence of increases and decreases in penalties. I have not counted how many there are, but the first document you tabled is 12 pages, and it comprises endless pieces of legislation and sections of pieces of legislation. Do you accept it is open for others to conclude that you did not table this information because you did not want Territorians to see the extent of the changes proposed by this bill?
Ms LAWRIE: No, quite the contrary. That is why I tabled the documents today. I do want it to be on the public record. It is my view changes of significance should be provided as tabled documents, which is what I have done. That is very open and very accountable. If you wanted to avail yourself of the resources of my office to get that information, once the information is on the books, we would have provided it to you. I know you have a very robust legal background and you like to do your own research, but I would encourage you to seek a briefing. If we can provide you with additional information, we are happy to.
Ms CARNEY: Minister that is a disgraceful explanation. You have a ‘do not ask, do not tell’ policy when it comes to disclosing information. Had it not been for the fact your government is in a shambles and you have a revolving door of ministers, you would not have reached the point of freeing up freedom of information. Now that you rely on the support and assistance of the member for Nelson, you are forced into various reforms. We saw that illustrated yesterday regarding changes to the length of adjournment debates. You are being petty in the extreme, and mischievous and sneaky. When you saw us go through various pieces of legislation in some detail, we forced your hand. That is a slippery and slimy way for the Northern Territory’s first law officer to conduct herself - you should be ashamed of yourself.
I move on. Why did you increase the penalty in section 54 of the Summary Offences Act, by 2700%? That is the section dealing with stealing domestic animals. It is a $200 fine, or thereabouts. You have increased it by 2700%. How did you get to a figure like that?
Ms LAWRIE: In terms of significant changes in penalties, we looked at matters of dishonesty. The offence of stealing animals, within the policy governing levels of penalties to be imposed in legislation, which guided the Department of Justice in this work, their advice to me, and my views on what we would bring forward, is an offence of dishonesty, and it is a public disorder offence. We believe $200 had very little deterrence.
Ms CARNEY: In your answer now, and the one you gave before lunch, the rationale for such hefty increases for some offences is if they are a dishonesty offence your government thought it really bad and you should increase the penalty accordingly. Have I, in a nutshell, understood your answer?
Ms LAWRIE: As I took you through previously.
Ms CARNEY: Is that a yes for Hansard purposes?
Ms LAWRIE: I mentioned dishonesty, fraud. I will refer to my notes: dishonesty, fraud, and contempt of court. Contempt of court was in relation to the approach by the Chief Justice.
Ms CARNEY: Therefore anyone listening to or watching parliament, or reading Hansard in future, will take the view, because you want them to have it, that some of the considerable increases came about as a result of your government cracking down on dishonesty, fraud and contempt.
Minister, are you familiar with section 65AA of the Summary Offences Act? No, let me tell you. Section 65AA of the Summary Offences Act relates to the dumping of certain containers. Eskies are the usual thing dumped where people might be prosecuted under that section. My point is trying to understand the rationale of this government. I do not believe what you have said. You are slithering around trying to make the best of it. I would like to know how the dumping of containers, such as eskies, falls into the category of dishonesty, fraud, or contempt of court.
Ms LAWRIE: I am checking with officers. The specific advice from Justice is it was deemed dangerous to the public. If there is a cyclone things dumped pose significant threats to the public. It was within policy guidelines around danger to the public and serious threat. There is no imprisonment of course, just a fine.
Ms CARNEY: Deputy Chief Minister and the Territory’s first law officer, you thought the dumping of eskies would be so potentially injurious to the health and welfare of Territorians that you decided to increase the penalty by 6400%. You expect people to believe your answer?
Ms LAWRIE: I point out to you, a previous legal practitioner, it is a maximum penalty. It is not necessarily the penalty imposed by the court. Having lived through Cyclone Tracy I can understand the seriousness of dumping large objects which could be very injurious to many people during a cyclone.
Ms CARNEY: Is that your answer? This is bordering on the absurd. You are a good slitherer. We came into parliament together and your slithering ability has improved as our years together have gone on, member for Karama.
Ms LAWRIE: I will take that as a compliment.
Ms CARNEY: I assume the reading you favour would lean towards the fiction, as opposed to the non-fiction; but I digress.
Are you familiar with section 55(1) of the Summary Offences Act, minister? It is the offence dealing with a challenge to fight; which even the ordinary person would maintain is potentially something injurious to another person’s health or wellbeing. That went up by 1200% to, in terms of its monetary value, $6500. In light of your previous answer regarding the dumping of eskies and how potentially serious that could be to people, why did you not come up with a commensurate increase, or one which equalled the same monetary value, maximum albeit, for the challenge to fight, which is clearly a dangerous pursuit?
Ms LAWRIE: The difference between the two, whilst they are both public disorder offences, whilst they are both potentially serious in terms of consequences of injury, the previous offence does not have a penalty provision of imprisonment, whereas the challenge to fight for money does attract the option of imprisonment. Therefore, it is more serious than the previous offence, which only attracted a monetary penalty. That is the distinction between the two.
Ms CARNEY: Can I ask you about section 52 of the Summary Offences Act, injuring or extinguishing street lights. The penalty for that has increased by 550% to the monetary value of $6500, albeit maximum. What is the rationale? I am not saying people who damage street lights should not be punished. There should be penalties. It seems, when measured against some of the sections to which I have already referred, disproportionate.
Ms LAWRIE: Fifty penalty units are used for a less serious public disorder offence, as in summary offence provisions. It would be unusual, and would not reflect the comparative seriousness to go as low as 20 penalty units, which would usually be minor regulatory requirements, or five penalty units which would be a minor breach of social order rules, such as a parking fine.
In terms of damaging street lamps, the imprisonment penalty has not changed; the monetary 50 penalty units has to reflect the 50 penalty units used for a serious public disorder offence. Maliciously damaging public property, such as street lights, could be extremely dangerous to motorists.
Ms CARNEY: Towards the beginning of my questions in this committee stage, you said underlying the rationale for these changes was the government was concerned about dishonesty, fraud and contempt of court. Injuring or extinguishing street lights does not fall into either.
Ms LAWRIE: That is quite right. I made it clear during the second reading speech, and mentioned it during committee stage. We put a greater emphasis on dishonesty, fraud, and perverting the course of justice. I have singled it out to show some of the significant changes in the penalty levels. However, overlaid across this is the policy governing the level of penalties to be imposed in legislation. I have given you a general comment regarding serious public disorder offences.
Ms CARNEY: In all the legislation affecting this bill, do you know which attracts the greatest percentage increase, and if so what is it?
Ms LAWRIE: I ask for my tabled papers so I have the charts in front of me.
Ms CARNEY: We can come back to that if you like.
Ms LAWRIE: We did not do a calculation based on percentage increases so we do not have that answer. We adjusted the monetary to penalty units; we recognised the CPI effect and back cast to ones which had not shifted for many years. We then overlaid the policy governing the level of penalties to be imposed in legislation to ensure what we had previously reflected; then we applied additional emphasis to the areas of dishonesty, fraud, and perverting the course of justice.
Ms CARNEY: With respect, minister, that is a …
Ms LAWRIE: As I said, this is not a revenue-raising process. We did not say: ‘Okay, let us raise everything from a range of 10% to 5000%’. We went through offence by offence, adjusted to penalty units, looked at the policy governing levels of penalties to be imposed in legislation, and adjusted them accordingly. We then applied additional emphasis to the areas of dishonesty, fraud and perverting the course of justice.
Ms CARNEY: With respect, that is a very lame answer. Section 65AA of the Summary Offences Act, the dumping of eskies, scored an increase of 6400% along with section 66(1), which is the regulation of places of public resort.
You and your colleagues talk about a whole-of-government approach. I suggest you, as Attorney-General, had no idea the broad nature of these increases would impact on so many pieces of legislation and, when you realised it, you thought: ‘Yes, that is a great way to get money so let us increase a broad range of fines’. Do you accept that?
Ms LAWRIE: Not at all.
Ms CARNEY: I will read the Hansard, but I have to say for the record your answers have been dreadful. It is clear to me you really had no idea about the extent to which this particular bill would impact on a good range of Territory acts, and Territorians should expect more from their first law officer.
Section 56 of the Summary Offences Act deals with begging. This will be of great interest to the true Labor supporters out there. The current offence of begging goes from a penalty of $500 to $6500. The current maximum penalty of imprisonment is three months; this bill increases it to six months. The increase in financial penalty is 1200%. Were you aware this bill impacted on this provision of the Summary Offences Act?
Ms LAWRIE: Very clearly. Public disorder was dealt with in the policy governing the level of penalties to be imposed in legislation, so 50 penalty units is used for what is described as a less serious public disorder offence. Begging has seen the increase, as you have said. It is public disorder, they are maximums, and I am quite confident each matter, as is dealt with before the court, will be dealt with accordingly.
There are degrees of impact and seriousness to that, and I am sure our judicial officers will manage that within the maximum penalty regime set down within this legislation.
Ms CARNEY: I do not know whether this parliament has deemed the word ‘cowardly’ unparliamentary, Madam Chair. I suspect it has not. That was a pretty cowardly, not to mention lame, response. You did not answer the question, which was whether you knew one of the consequences of this bill would increase penalties for begging from $500 to $6500, or from three months imprisonment to six months
I have been unable to obtain copies of transcripts from radio interviews, but I am fairly certain I heard the Chief Minister commenting on by-laws the Alice Springs Town Council is proposing. They are controversial by-laws with a great deal of community debate. I believe the Chief Minister has been less than complimentary or supportive of the Alice Springs Town Council seeking to increase the penalties for begging in our town, yet, the woman who wants his job but at this stage his friend and colleague, is supporting a bill where begging receives a 1200% increase.
How do you reconcile those two positions? Your position as Attorney-General and Deputy Chief Minister, and the Chief Minister in relation to comments I believe he made regarding begging in the Alice Springs by-laws case?
Ms LAWRIE: Most of what you say is wrong. I can guarantee you that you are a fool if you think I want the position of Chief Minister. You are very wrong on that, you continue to be wrong on that, and you are a fool if you have not heard me across all sorts of forums confirm categorically I do not want the office of Chief Minister. I spoke in clear, simple terms for you then, member for Araluen, all because you spend most of your time knifing the Leader of the Opposition in the back, because he knifed you in the back. Then the member for Port Darwin started knifing the Leader of the Opposition in the back, and you cannot quite get the numbers because the member for Fong Lim equally wants to knife the Leader of the Opposition in the back. It has nothing to do with my views.
Mr Elferink: Think you forgot me?
Ms LAWRIE: Member for Port Darwin, I did, I started with you in the list.
Mr Elferink: Thank you. I was feeling a bit…
Ms LAWRIE: If you want to go around in the space of your own strange fantasy, I will respond with facts, and I will repeat with facts. Behind the legislation we have before us today is the policy governing the level of penalties to be imposed in legislation. Within that, the policy reflects 50 penalty units is used for less serious public disorder offences, such as in the Summary Offences Provisions, which is one provision you are referring to at the moment. Even though you like to gloss over this, and I know you will issue a media release and say whatever you want, I repeat, these are maximum penalty units.
Mr Elferink: Which are used as a guide to determine the given on the occasion.
Ms CARNEY: From your answer you do not acknowledge any inconsistency between your position as Attorney-General and the increase in the penalty for begging, and that of the Chief Minister, and probably many of your other parliamentary colleagues, in relation to the Alice Springs by-laws issue and increasing fines against begging. Is that a fair enough assessment, you do not believe there is any inconsistency?
Ms LAWRIE: I will repeat again, and again, and again: we have a series of policies regarding the levels of penalties to be imposed in legislation. We have set a level for serious public disorder, and if you want to belittle the issue of serious public disorder, so be it. We have the policy which governs it, we have introduced it and implemented it in this bill and this legislation, and we stand by it. I stand by it, my Cabinet colleagues stand by it. This is important; it is a matter of public disorder on the scale which attracts the 50 penalty units as a maximum.
Ms CARNEY: Section 78 of the Summary Offences Act is headed: ‘keeping clean yards’. Why, as a result of the bill we are currently debating, does the penalty for failure to keep yards clean increase to $2600, when the penalty for begging - come in true believers - increases to $6500?
Ms LAWRIE: Applying the reasoning right across this in terms of summary offences was looking at serious public disorder which attracted 50 penalty units, and then the lower level of seriousness, such as keeping the yard clean, attracted 20 penalty units. Then we went to an even lower level, five penalty units, for a minor breach of social order rules, such as a parking fine.
Ms CARNEY: Minister, the effect of the difference between an increase of penalty for begging, and an increase in penalty for failure to keep your yard clean is the mums and dads of Karama or Gillen who can presumably afford to keep their yards clean, and afford to pay a fine, are going to be fined less than the people who are begging. Are you the Labor Party? How do you reconcile these two somewhat bizarre and extreme positions?
Ms LAWRIE: The Labor Party stands on its record of going hard to address antisocial behaviour in our community.
Ms CARNEY: How many prosecutions for failure to keep yards clean?
Ms LAWRIE: It is a very old provision as you should know, so I would be very surprised if there have been any. I can get officers to check that.
Ms CARNEY: I note the Northern Territory Labor government favours a maximum $6500 penalty for beggars compared to a maximum $2600 for people who fail to keep their yards clean. I have received extracts of comments made by the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory in relation to the proposal by the Alice Springs Town Council relating to begging.
ABC Online report dated 31 July, and I quote:
I continue to read from the report:
You clearly, minister, were not across this bill. You clearly had no idea one impact or consequence was to increase the financial penalty for begging from $500 to $6500. You either did not know or did not care your Chief Minister, in July this year, labelled as ‘wacky’, a plan by the Alice Springs Town Council to fine beggars $130. He made the point it defied belief someone out there so impoverished and destitute they are begging for money can afford to pay the fine. How on earth can you explain that inconsistency?
Ms LAWRIE: We know, and the Chief Minister knows because he is the Police minister, summary offences relating to antisocial behaviour such as extreme cases of begging are in our communities. Sadly and tragically you see them. They need to be dealt with because they are a public disorder problem. We know, and have resourced our police force to tackle these issues, that summary offences is the appropriate way to deal with it. We do not think it appropriate for council by-laws to deal with it; we think they should focus on delivering council services. We should ensure police are around to tackle antisocial behaviour and lay charges under the summary offences.
Ms CARNEY: Although it is not directly related to the bill, do you, Attorney-General, label the Alice Springs Town Council’s plan as ‘wacky’, like the Chief Minister?
Ms LAWRIE: I cannot recall my exact words at the time, but I pointed out the police are better placed to address antisocial behaviour. We have laws in place to address antisocial behaviour and, therefore, I did not agree with the by-laws. I point out it is some time ago now.
Ms CARNEY: I know you well enough to know you will not answer this question. Your answer, again, demonstrates the inconsistency. You fall short of labelling our town council ‘wacky’ but you are less than complimentary about their by-laws insofar as they relate to begging, yet you stand by an increase of 1200% for begging under this bill.
Loitering by sexual offender, section 47AC(2) of the Summary Offences Act, only had an increase of 160%, as opposed to begging, which had an increase of 1200%, and not dumping an esky properly which had an increase of 6400%. Can you advise why there has been a discrepancy?
Ms LAWRIE: The existing monetary amounts under the Summary Offences Act, regarding the penalty for sexual offender loitering were actually much closer to the current policy. In other areas, we adjusted because they were out of step with the policy. Regarding the sexual offender loitering, the monetary amount was closer to the policy. The policy has this at the serious summary public disorder offence. That policy level is 100 penalty units. It also has the imprisonment potential of 12 months. We have both the serious level of summary public disorder offence penalty unit applying in this instance, which is the 100 penalty units, plus the imprisonment of 12 months.
Ms CARNEY: There is really nothing worse than asking a question and getting an answer completely ignoring the question. Your answer does not quite fit the question, which is why I am having difficulty with it.
From what you have said it seems, as a government, you believe $13 000 is a reasonable maximum penalty for loitering by a sexual offender provisions, and you think that is just as important as the dumping of eskies, which also attracts a financial penalty of $13 000. Is that correct?
Ms LAWRIE: No, you would notice the imprisonment applying to this one.
Ms CARNEY: What part of the dumping of eskies, section 65AA, would you consider a serious public order offence?
Ms LAWRIE: Clearly, it is less serious than the sexual offender loitering because it does not have the imprisonment penalty attached to it - clear distinction there. One has an imprisonment penalty attached to it, which elevates its level of seriousness, which is the sexual loitering. You are describing an esky, but what about a big metal bar! Try that flying through the air when you are trying to survive cyclonic conditions.
You are being mischievous in the extreme with that particular offence. If you talk to people who work in emergency services about the impact and serious injury which can result from this sort of dumping, and it is not …
Mr Elferink: It is not the reason this section exists. Get some advice on it quickly. You are making a fool of yourself.
Madam CHAIR: Order!
Mr Elferink: Honestly, you are making a fool of yourself. Get some advice on that section.
Madam CHAIR: Member for Port Darwin, I call you to order please. Minister, you have the call.
Mr Elferink: That is not why it exists.
Ms LAWRIE: If you want to be mischievous …
Mr Elferink: It has nothing to do with cyclones.
Madam CHAIR: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … by all means, shadow. The Department of Justice …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Chair! Under Standing Order 51, I ask for less interjections.
Ms Carney: ‘Fewer’ is how you say it, not ‘less’.
Madam CHAIR: Yes, thank you, member for Fannie Bay. I ask the member for Port Darwin, to allow the minister, she has the call, and to desist from interjecting.
Mr Elferink: Thank you, Madam Chair. I was just trying to help the minister.
Ms LAWRIE: … all sorts of objects which can be dumped. It is mischievous in the extreme to pretend, and go off on your fantasy land about dumping an esky, because only a fool like you would lead that sort of an argument.
We know the police are responsible in the way they lay charges. There is serious public injury as a result of the dumping of all manner of things around our community. This is a matter which we have said is serious enough to attach a penalty which sits within the guidelines we have fully tested. Go and lead your stupid esky argument, but you will be called out for the fool you are.
Ms CARNEY: Madam Chair, I appreciate the member for Karama is losing the plot, but I do ask she withdraw the word ‘fool’ as it is unparliamentary.
Madam CHAIR: Minister, I ask you to withdraw that, please.
Ms LAWRIE: I withdraw, Madam Chair.
Ms CARNEY: Is that withdrawn?
Madam CHAIR: Yes, it was withdrawn, member for Araluen.
Ms CARNEY: It is no wonder no one will vote for you in the leadership challenge you say you do not want. It is because no one likes you. Part of the reason is you are a really bad actor. There is a bit of acting in politics, perhaps more so in this House than any other, but you just are not good at it. You can fly off the handle and try your best at being rude, which I suspect comes naturally, but it is just not on. You use the expression, ‘oh, what we do know is blah, blah, blah’. What I know, and what those watching and listening to this debate, and reading it in due course, is you, as Attorney-General, you did not look. You did not consider it and you did not know.
Through you Madam Chair, I understood the member for Karama was on the left of the Labor Party, and she prides herself on that. The left leaning Laborite, the member for Karama, I know she accepts it as more than reasonable to impose a fine of $2600 maximum on the mums and dads of Karama and Araluen if they do not clean up their yard. She thinks that is fine and reasonable, as against a fine maximum of $6500 for begging. That is what I know.
You are a bad actor but a pretty good scriber. You have not satisfactorily explained, in my view, why other than the line about policy there is such divergence in so many of the penalties. I am happy to move on. Something the …
Madam CHAIR: If you could, please, member for Araluen.
Ms CARNEY: I beg your pardon?
Madam CHAIR: If you could, please? It is a rather long preamble to what we are looking for. Questions around the …
Ms CARNEY: I have 10 minutes, Madam Chair, for each question, so I guess I could go longer. I am not quite as egocentric as the member for Karama, so I will not.
The member for Karama, who is the Territory’s first law officer, and Treasurer, said before lunch - and I do not have the Hansard obviously - she made the point this bill was legislating penalties for the future. She referred to some bills not having had the penalties increased since 1996, and you were very keen, minister, to talk about the future and how some of these new penalty provisions have had future CPI increases based on, presumably, Treasury advice, factored in.
I am advised from 1978 to 2008 the CPI increased by 318.6% over 30 years. It would take, presumably, thousands of years for the CPI to continue to increase to meet the enormous percentage increases in some of these penalties; 6400%, 1200%, some going as low as 500%, some even lower. Minister, would you like to revisit your answer, or perhaps add to it, by telling us how future CPIs have been factored into some of the new penalty provisions?
Ms LAWRIE: What we have before us is CPI adjusted back cast, not CPI adjusted forecast. I said, in the second reading wrap, by changing from monetary value to penalty units, which we are doing in this legislation - we had a look at the CPI increases back cast, did some calculations then applied the policy governing level of penalties to be imposed in legislation. That is probably the last half hour or so of debate. This is for dishonesty, fraud, and perverting the course of justice. Having these offences appear in future as penalty units on the passage of legislation, there is an ability to adjust penalty units across all legislation once it is factored over to penalty units through a separate act which does the penalty unit adjustments. We have made a decision to adjust by Darwin CPI going forward.
Ms CARNEY: There is other legislation to which this bill applies; in fact, there are many. What is the rationale behind increasing under the Observance of Law Act, section 3, misbehaviour at a public meeting, by 15 000%. Can you confirm it is 15 000% for a fine for a person misbehaving at a public meeting and, if so, what the rationale?
Ms LAWRIE: It goes back the general comment I provided at the start, which is the policy governing the level of penalties to impose in legislation. In terms of 50 penalty units; it is used for a less serious public disorder offence. This falls in the category of a less serious public disorder offence. It has not been updated for quite some time, and the view is it sits within the category of a less serious public disorder offence. That category attracts 50 penalty units, and adjustments were made.
Mr ELFERINK: By way of comment rather than question, Madam Chair. Whilst I was trying to protect the minister from her own utterances, clearly it was not going to help.
In relation to section 65AA, the dumping of certain containers, that section did not have anything to do with containers becoming missiles. The section is entirely dedicated to the protection of children and demands a person who dumps an article such as an esky, refrigerator or other such vessel, remove the lid from it and render it in such a condition as the lid cannot be easily reattached.
The reason is refrigerators seal themselves, and if you have one at the dump and a child climbs in and the lid closes, it can suffocate or trap the child. That is why the section was created. This demonstrates how little research the Attorney-General did regarding this bill before the House.
I believe the point the member for Araluen has been trying to make the whole way through is we have a government, personified in this instance by the Attorney-General, who have a bill from the department placed under their nose; come to this House without so much as a critical thought about it, rattle it off, pass it into legislation, and off it goes.
It behoves us poorly, as legislators, to take such a blas and pedestrian attitude towards the legislation we are passing.
If the minister had taken time to read section 65AA of the act, let alone anything else, she would realise her excuse about the section being designed to prevent things becoming a missile is arrant nonsense. What has been portrayed here today is the lack of preparedness and thought the minister has put in to what she assumed to be a pedestrian bill. There is no such thing as pedestrian legislation.
Whilst we may be less than fulsomely engaged by every bill which passes through this House from time to time, we are still legislators with a responsibility to get our heads around what we are talking about. What I have seen today is a minister who has clearly been making it up as she goes along.
Ms LAWRIE: In response, the advice I was given on the effects …
Mr Elferink: It is not …
Madam CHAIR: Order! You do not have the call, member for Port Darwin. You have asked a question and the minister is endeavouring to answer it. Thank you.
Ms LAWRIE: I have provided advice given by my Department of Justice regarding the effects of that provision. If that advice is wrong, then I have provided the wrong advice. I reiterated it was in the summary offences level of a serious issue, which is the way it attracted the penalty units. At no stage did I view this bill as pedestrian. I predicted to my colleagues the approach which would be taken by the member for Araluen, and the approach taken by you. At no stage did I consider a dramatic overhaul of the penalties across so many pieces of legislation pedestrian. No one has gone here before; no one has had the temerity and the strength to go here before. I went there, never in a view it was pedestrian.
I congratulate the Department of Justice staff who, in a thorough way, followed my instructions, as Attorney-General, to make contemporary and relevant the offences which exist across our legislation, and to take them from monetary to penalty units. I congratulate them for the work and the policy which guided them. This is policy which has evolved over a decade and has been applied concisely and thoroughly. I have availed myself of briefings to go through the effects of this, and at no stage did I take a pedestrian view of the importance of this bill or, indeed, the extent of debate that it should generate.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Chair, I will quote for the minister section 65AA, Dumping of certain containers:
When legislation and amendments come into this House, what normally happens is we take the amendment and the legislation, and read how it would appear after we amended it. To do that is a matter of competence. I am being told the minister has not done that; she has received advice, which was errant. She is quick to blame the department and someone else for the advice. When does the minister actually stand up and say: ‘This is my responsibility to do my job in an effective and competent way’.
Any person reading section 65AA could not come to the conclusion this minister did. The only conclusion I can draw is the minister did not bother to read this legislation before bringing it to this House and relied on advice from the department. That is the point I was trying to make before, Madam Chair. That is how this government governs; they rely on advice they receive.
The principle of governing means we take responsibility for what we bring to this House, and we take time to read the material, not merely rely on advice. We are the leaders in this community and, if the only defence we have is someone told me something and it was wrong, it is not good enough. It goes to competency.
Ms CARNEY: You will be pleased to know, minister, I am nearly finished. I have had trouble hearing you today, but did you say reforming all of these pieces of legislation was an initiative driven by you? I do not mean to put words in your mouth, but I understand you said you initiated these reforms because you wanted to modernise penalty rates and so on. Is that right? Could you please repeat loudly what you said previously regarding your role in the reform process agreement?
Ms LAWRIE: This has been discussed in Cabinet for several years. When it came up in discussion, we saw the value of adjusting from monetary value to penalty units in legislation across government. I have picked up on the will of government, and my Cabinet colleagues, and embarked on the process with the agencies I have responsibility for. I instructed them to do the work and set parameters. It comes as no surprise to me the Department of Justice is ahead of the pack in getting the work done to this point. There is still more to do.
Ms CARNEY: It would assist me, minister, when answering questions, if you could look at me, because that is where your mouth is pointing. I have trouble hearing you. I understand what you are saying is someone in your Cabinet said it was a good idea, and you instructed your department to attend to it. I asked the question for a couple of reasons. One, to suggest you had a hands-off approach, which is not good enough. You instructed your department to fix it. You introduced the bill without an appreciation of the wide-ranging consequences of the bill. I do not expect …
Ms Lawrie: No, I did have an appreciation. I absolutely did.
Ms CARNEY: … you to answer that question honestly. Can I just say it would be best if you paid more attention? You did not issue a media release when you introduced the legislation, and I am not aware of any, am I correct? Why have you not, as Attorney-General, issued a media release?
Ms LAWRIE: I cannot recall whether we issued a media release; I would have to check. Sometimes we do, sometimes we do not. Sometimes we capture introductions of legislation through a general media release by the Leader of Government Business, sometimes we do separate ones. There would be no particular reason why we would or would not. What this legislation does is change about 69 acts, moving from monetary to penalty units.
I pick up on the point made by the member for Port Darwin. I should have read that particular division within the Summary Offences Act. I take that on board. I will have to double check advice from lawyers in future. I take that on board also. This is an overdue process. It puts all governments in a better position than prior to its passage in changing from monetary to penalty units. It is contemporary in the description of maximum penalties. It applies contemporary policies around offences, the seriousness of those offences, and where the levels of penalty units apply to those offences.
There is still more work to, but the Department of Justice has done a thorough job with the 69 acts amended. We had three minor technical amendments; in and of itself, a good body of work. I did not take a pedestrian approach to this. I did not take a hands-off approach to this. It is an important body of work; that is why it is here.
Ms CARNEY: The Attorney-General’s ego is so big. You issue media releases for the opening of an envelope, and as was contained in the explanatory memorandum, this bill amends 62 justice portfolio acts and seven items of subordinate legislation, and on and on you went.
There is no doubt, minister, that you were not across this bill. We know you well. We know your propensity for issuing media releases. You issue a media release if someone in the opposition says the wrong word at the wrong time. You said this is an important body of work. We know you people on the other side well. You issue media releases left, right and centre, and here you are proclaiming this is an important body of work, and you are across it. It is just nonsense, and you have been sprung.
As the Territory’s first law officer you should be doing a better job. Of course you were not meant to be in this job. Your predecessor is the member for Arafura. Unfortunately, due to ill health, she had to relinquish that role, so you are there by default. That is unfortunate. I thought the member for Johnston was a pretty reasonable Attorney-General, not bad, but not appalling and of course …
Dr Burns: That is the nicest thing you have ever said about me.
Ms CARNEY: … Syd Stirling was always entertaining. I am not sure Syd was always across everything as well as he should have been, but he did a good job. Peter Toyne, talk about a person who worked hard. I suspect it nearly killed him. All your predecessors …
Ms Lawrie: They have all been better than me.
Ms CARNEY: …all of the Attorneys-General in the Labor government have been good. You are an awful Attorney-General. In your demeanour, your appearance, your intellect; as an Attorney-General, everything about you is terrible!
I know on the other side you are all stabbing each other in the back and have a go at each other. Presumably the member for Nelson comes in occasionally and you sit up straight and say: ‘Yes, Gerry, anything you like Gerry. Ssh, Gerry is coming’. I do hope …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Chair. Is there any relevance whatsoever?
Madam CHAIR: Member for Araluen, the purpose of the committee stage is to be asking questions about the bill. If you could put your question to the minister please.
Ms CARNEY: Yes, and I have some time to come to it. I know you are a bunch of unhappy, miserable campers, but if I could be granted one wish it would be the member for Karama is not the Attorney-General. Madam Chair, my question to the Attorney-General is: will you resign?
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Chair, it is not Christmas yet so the member for Araluen does not get her wish. I was privileged to be appointed Attorney-General and Minister for Justice. I am thoroughly enjoying the portfolio. I am engaged with the stakeholders, they are fantastic. I know the sector well; I love the job, I am enjoying the job, and with the good grace of my colleagues, I will continue in the job for as long as they want me to.
Ms CARNEY: Okay.
Amendment agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
Bill reported; report adopted.
Ms LAWRIE (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 12 October 2009.
Mr KNIGHT (Housing): Madam Speaker, I add my support to the Chief Minister’s statement on the challenges and opportunities presented by the growth of the Northern Territory. We are growing at an amazing rate, and this is a good thing for the Northern Territory. One challenge for government is to ensure we manage this growth to allow all members of our community a chance to share in the benefits. Growth means employment, it means economic development, and it demands increases to services.
The Chief Minister remarked we had seven quarters of growth in the last two and a quarter years. What a great endorsement of our economy by Territorians, and those moving into the Territory. It also shows businesses are choosing to invest here.
The recent growth in our economy and population is unprecedented in recent years. I will focus my attention in this debate in two areas. First, I will focus on how this government is investing in essential services to keep ahead of the demand for power, water and sewer infrastructure. Later, I intend to inform the House of my plans to increase our social housing stock and boost these services for non-government housing providers to help those most in need.
We are investing in our future by ensuring we have utility infrastructure capable of supporting this growth. We are committed to investing in power, water and sewerage services to increase the capacity and reliability of the service. We have an infrastructure investment program valued at over $1.4bn for a five year period starting in 2008-09. Comprehensive planning has been undertaken, and our capital works program is based on delivering above our demand projections.
New power stations are being built at Weddell near Palmerston, and Owen Springs in Alice Springs. These gas-fired power stations are increasing our generation capacity while improving the efficiency of our power services. This is great news for the environment, and complements our ongoing investment in renewable power supplies and green energy.
Increasing power supplies supports our growing population and meets the growing demand from business; we need the extra capacity to give businesses the confidence we can meet their needs. Augmentation of power supplies is also under way in Katherine, Tennant Creek and Yulara. Investing in our regions to support development in the bush is essential for our future. Much of our population growth is in the bush and this investment is supporting Indigenous economic development. Energy intensive industries such as manufacturing, tourism and mining will be growth industries in the bush and all require greater power supplies. We are investing to meet this challenge.
Territorians use the highest amount of water per capita in Australia. You can understand this usage with our climatic extremes, but it is not a statistic we should be proud of. Power and Water Corporation is running a number of awareness campaigns to promote water conservation. I am confident, over the longer term, we will make the cultural changes needed to reduce our water usage but, for now, we are investing to boost supplies to ensure we keep up with demand.
Our programmed investment in water infrastructure is huge and totals over $300m over five years. We do not want to make the same mistakes of other jurisdictions. Our planned investment keeps our suppliers tracking well ahead of demand, and this investment, in conjunction with demand mitigation, ensures water restrictions are not part of our agenda. I recently inspected construction work at the raising of the dam wall and spillway at Darwin River Dam. This work will increase the total capacity of the dam by some 20% or 9100 megalitres per annum for the northern water supply.
Manton Dam is our next major supply. Planning and engineering studies are under way to return this site to service. The return to service will be undertaken with retention of the site for recreational use for skiers. Drilling and investigation of new bores is under way to increase water supplies in Alice Springs, Katherine, Mataranka, Borroloola, Larrimah and Tennant Creek. These arid areas face substantial challenges for water, and our ongoing hydrological investigations are important for supplementing existing supplies.
We also need to be managing waste from our growing cities. Our projects achieve two aims: increasing the capacity of services, and increasing the environmental quality of the outputs. One example of the commitment of this government is to close the Larrakeyah outfall. This outfall has been pumping for more than 40 years, and was completely ignored by the CLP. We are investing almost $60m in delivering the Darwin Sewer Strategy, which includes the closure of the Larrakeyah outfall, and significant upgrades to Ludmilla Waste Water Treatment Plant. Our capital works expenditure for sewerage also includes infiltration basins in Alice Springs, expansion of treatment facilities in Palmerston and Katherine, and a new sewerage scheme at Borroloola.
Much of the Chief Minister’s statement was about population growth, and the amazing growth we are witnessing, especially in Palmerston. Providing the headworks to support the growth of Palmerston is well under way - $50m worth of works in total. The expansion of the sewerage system in Palmerston requires particular attention as it will soon be supporting around 3000 lots in urban development in Bellamack, Johnston, Zuccoli and Mitchell. This work is well under way, and the Palmerston pond will be upgraded and expanded to support the growth of Palmerston.
The Henderson Labor government is also increasing investment in existing infrastructure, and we have dedicated $268m to repairs and maintenance. Decades of under investment has led to the need to redefine the focus on preventative maintenance. Supporting existing infrastructure, and growing and training our hard-working Power and Water personnel, are key planks in managing our growth. We are managing our strong economy, and we have planned for the growth of the Northern Territory. Power and Water Corporation has been repositioned to support our growth and is focused on delivering for the future of the Northern Territory.
This is a government committed to providing access to housing for all Territorians. We have listened to Territorians, and this government knows housing affordability is an issue which needs priority action. Housing affordability challenges are not confined to the Northern Territory. Our record speaks for itself. In this year’s budget, we will deliver $390m for housing - a $187m or 92% boost on the previous year. Of course, we would be in a far better position today without the poorly-conceived mass sell-off of public housing stock by the CLP. Since 1996, there has been a total of 2742 public housing stock sold off. Of these, only 706 have been sold since 2001. I tabled this information yesterday for all members to see.
Through the Housing the Territory initiative, we are committed to delivering more land, more places to buy and rent, and new public housing. Operation Stimulus, or the nation building plan, is a key part of our plan for new public housing. Construction is under way on new homes, and I am looking forward to meeting with my federal Labor colleagues over the coming months to turn the key and open up the first of over 200 new dwellings for Territory families. In total, we will deliver around $60m in building new homes across the Northern Territory and refurbishing existing public housing.
As I have said, more than 200 new homes will be delivered across the Northern Territory. Refurbishments are being rolled out and, to date, 289 dwellings have been refurbished. Eighty-four dwellings have now been brought back online for Territory families. This is a great achievement. I met with one of the families on Sunday, and it was great to see the joy of this young family who will be moving into their new public housing home, probably next week.
In the Northern Territory we have unique challenges in delivering social housing. One of my key priorities is to ensure the Territory gets the most out of the National Affordable Housing Agreement with the Commonwealth government. In the past, Commonwealth Liberal governments failed to invest in social housing. The Rudd government has turned this around. We are rebuilding from a decade of under-investment, where funding declined in real terms, and the 19 200 dwellings delivered by the nation building package is a great step forward.
During those 12 long years of the Howard government, there was not one federal housing minister. It highlights the neglect of public housing during these years. I am pleased we now have a Minister for Housing in Tanya Plibersek. Our last Housing minister was Brian Howe, the Deputy Prime Minister in the Keating government. It is great to once again see the federal government focus on delivering social housing right across the Northern Territory. We are acutely aware of the issues of housing affordability. It must be addressed, and it will be.
We are fast-tracking land release to provide Territorians with access to the housing market. Our approach takes into account the challenging nature of urban and rural environment, and the varying needs of all the Territory residents. We have a strong history of support for low wage earners and first homebuyers. In this year’s budget, we replaced the successful HomeNorth scheme, which had assisted more than 1000 Territory families since 2004 to purchase their own home. That is approximately five NT families a week since 2004. The new Homestart NT threshold limits were introduced to increase the uptake of the scheme. We have a particular focus on families with dependents. These arrangements ensure our shared equity scheme remains among the most generous and effective scheme of its type. The scheme is attracting great interest from Territorians wanting to invest in their first home, and also the many public housing tenants who want to buy their own homes. It enables a greater level of home ownership, and also eases pressure on our public housing stock.
The issue of homelessness and helping those most in need of assistance is a challenge for our community in the Northern Territory, and one we must face head-on. I have met with the non-government housing providers in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs. The meetings were well attended, and I am looking forward to an ongoing dialogue with this sector to ensure the funding we put into addressing this issue best meets the needs of the homeless.
We need to be working with the housing service providers to increase support services and accommodation. The Northern Territory and Commonwealth governments will invest $54m in homelessness over the next four years. This will deliver 32 new dwellings and services needed to reduced homelessness and rough sleeping. There is currently $1m on the table for our housing support sector to provide new accommodation and services for the homeless, and those at risk of becoming homeless. This funding is from the Street to Home Initiative, which will be rolled out this year. I expect people to be housed before Christmas. I will keep the House informed about the progress of that initiative, Madam Speaker.
SIHIP is the biggest, most ambitious, integrated housing campaign in Australia’s history. It is an entirely new approach with governments working together with communities. Our governments are changing their behaviour and the way they interact with people in the bush. The opportunities at hand can capture the imagination and that is important; the vision is critical to ongoing success.
We have rigorously planned SIHIP, but the procurement model provides flexibility without additional cost. The program is being built around the needs of each indigenous community. What we are doing now, and will continue to do for the life of the program, is take a greater involvement in the management of the program. This government, and the federal government, are taking a greater role in the program delivery, fine tuning, and looking at opportunities to improve and capitalise on those. We are committed to meeting the challenges of accommodating those in the bush, and we will deliver on our construction targets.
To elaborate on the first of the three packages, they give a real sense of what can be achieved under SIHIP. Many months worth of detailed planning were set in train in April, when work totalling $128m began for the first of the three strategic alliance contracting packages. On Groote, construction of the first six houses is under way at Umbakumba and the first nine rebuilds have now been completed. Work on the next 18 of the 75 rebuilds is currently under way. There are 15 Indigenous employees undertaking work with SIHIP on Groote. Eighty new houses will ultimately be constructed over the life of the program; that is very good news.
On the Tiwi Islands, two rebuilds have now being completed and work is continuing on a further 15. Work has begun on the new construction sites, with six building pads now complete. Ninety new homes will ultimately be constructed on the Tiwi Islands over the life of the program. Work is well under way on the first of the 155 rebuilds and refurbishments. SIHIP is more than a construction program. It is great news 38 Indigenous employees are undertaking work with SIHIP on the Tiwi Islands.
In Tennant Creek, eight currently unoccupied houses are in the process of being completely rebuilt. Eleven Indigenous employees are currently undertaking work under SIHIP, learning skills and earning a good income.
In Tennant Creek, all 78 houses will be substantially rebuilt over the next 18 months, including 10 houses which were previously uninhabitable. This is what the community wanted, and is what we will deliver in partnership with the local people.
Looking to the future of SIHIP, more packages have been announced and works are beginning on the following communities: Wadeye, with our commitment of 105 new houses; Maningrida, a commitment of 109 new houses; and at Gunbalanya, a commitment of 62 new houses.
I am also looking forward to announcing the southern region refurbishment in the very near future. This package will include a broad scope of works on 29 communities in the MacDonnell, Barkly and Central Desert shires.
In reflecting on the statement, it boils down to an effort to change the lives of people of the Northern Territory for the better. This government is focused on meeting the challenges of growth, and I am proud to be part of the Henderson Labor government.
Madam Speaker, I commend the Chief Minister for introducing this statement to the House.
Mr TOLLNER (Fong Lim): It is quite interesting, I managed to get the jump right after the member Daly and he has had his effort at filling this Chamber with propaganda. That is exactly what it is, Madam Speaker.
The member for Daly is, of course, a complete failure as we learned today in Question Time. He was a complete failure prior to coming into this House. We see the letter in relation to his summary dismissal from a particular Aboriginal association in the Northern Territory. The member for Daly says it was just a couple of disenchanted people who wanted more than their share and …
Mr Vatskalis interjecting.
Mr TOLLNER: … was exactly how he explained it.
Dr Burns: That is a pretty good point.
Mr TOLLNER: Interestingly enough the letter was signed by the association President, the association Vice President …
Dr Burns: Come on, get on with it.
Mr TOLLNER: … seven or so members of that association - maybe they had some personal …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I would like you to remind the Leader of Government Business about Standing Order 51.
Madam SPEAKER: Indeed, member for Port Darwin, and also about digression from the topic. Member for Fong Lim, you may continue.
Mr TOLLNER: I was talking about the letter tabled today in Question Time, and his dismissal from that association. It talked about a rump of people who had some issue with him not getting more than they deserved …
Dr Burns: A bit like the union movement …
Mr TOLLNER: … so in the most evil way they decided to sack him. He says this is not the letter of dismissal, there is another …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! What relevance is there to the statement on Growing the Territory? He is sinking into the abyss of questionable politics and trying to go into people’s past history. I am asking him to address the statement.
Mr GILES: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, you might like to wait until you are acknowledged. You have a point of order, do you?
Mr GILES: Speaking to the point of order, the member for Fong Lim is being relevant; he is talking about the challenges of growing the Territory. One of those challenges is the member for Daly. I am very interested to hear what the member for Fong Lim has to say about the challenges of the member for Daly in continuing the debate.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, if you could come to the point of the statement which is before the House as soon as possible, that would be helpful.
Mr TOLLNER: Yes, of course, Madam Speaker. I should have explained the relevance. I notice the Chief Minister, when he read this statement onto the record, said he utterly rejects the glass-half-empty view of the growth of the Territory; he is a glass-half-full-man.
Madam Speaker, I put it to you, and I put it to this Chamber, in relation to Growing the Territory, and the role of the Housing minister in the Territory, he is a glass which is empty; he is a glass which is completely empty. No one talks about the glass half empty with the Minister for Housing; no one talks about the glass being half full, because there is nothing in the glass. It is a vacuum; a wasted vacuum. That is what we are talking about. I will continue, because it is not the first time these shortcomings have been identified in the member for Daly.
In relation to letter which was tabled today, it reads:
Sound familiar, member for Daly?
That is what the president, the vice president and seven members wrote to the now member for Daly. I wonder where that log of claims comes from. We hear the member for Daly talk about how many houses he is building, what a wonderful job they are doing in government, but the reality tells a completely different story.
The member for Daly said there was not a federal parliament Housing minister until the Rudd government. I ask the member for Daly: where did the $10bn, which was put up by the Commonwealth for the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement come from? Where did the $1bn the Commonwealth provided to the Northern Territory to build public housing come from?
At the same time we saw both the previous Country Liberal government and this Labor government receiving $1bn in Commonwealth money for housing, we have seen a massive decline in housing stock; a massive decline! The member for Daly can justify this because he is sitting on $672m in Commonwealth funds, has been for two years, and not one single house has been built - not one!
You talk about Growing the Territory, and the relevance of my comments regarding the Chief Minister’s statement. I believe it is complete fiction. There has not been a government in the history of the Territory which has received more money from the Commonwealth and has frittered it away so uselessly. The member for Daly talks about three houses which had their roofs blown off in Santa Teresa - how long ago?
A member: 12 months ago.
Mr TOLLNER: Twelve months ago. He went down there several weeks ago to have a look. In the meantime, he had received $440 000 to put roofs on those houses. Did he put roofs on the houses?
A member: No.
Mr TOLLNER: No. Were people paying rent on those houses without roofs?
A member: Yes.
Mr TOLLNER: Yes, they were. Where has the $440 000 gone? No explanation. We do not know whether it was returned to the Commonwealth, or whether it has gone into repairing a house somewhere else. No explanation. $440 000 disappears and this minister thinks it is all right.
We have a ludicrous situation where we are trying to attract tourists to the Northern Territory. I am sure the Leader of Government Business, who is the Minister for Business, and Tourism, will agree with me, that it is an absolutely ludicrous situation where we have tourists arriving in Darwin having to stay in tents, cars, and sleep on our footpaths.
We have a housing crisis in the Northern Territory, and the member for Daly buries his head in the sand and says: ‘Everything is all right’. The Chief Minister says he only rejects the glass half-empty view of growth of the Territory. I do not know what planet the Chief Minister is on when he can sit idly by and support the failure that is the Minister for Housing.
This is not the only area where the member for Daly has failed. Most people who live in Darwin, Palmerston and the Top End have had to endure blackouts. The response we got from the member for Daly was: ‘Go and buy a generator. We cannot guarantee power’. A whole sub-station fails in the northern suburbs; it is nothing to do with this government; people need to buy generators.
We see the problems with the sewage outflow into our harbour. We were promised years ago this would be fixed - nothing. Absolutely nothing has been done. The minister, and the government, used the sewerage farm in Ludmilla as an excuse to stop a development. Rather than say it has to be moved they say: ‘Oh no, that development cannot happen there because we have a sewerage farm there dumps raw sewage into our harbour’. That is one of the reasons government said they were not going to let that development go ahead.
At the same time, we have the Northern Territory’s public servants, who have worked tirelessly through the financial crisis, tirelessly trying to prop up this shambolic, useless government, being told by their minister they are now going to get a maximum 2.5% pay increase. That is absolutely shameful.
I go back to the letter tabled today: this is a notification of summary dismissal on the grounds of gross neglect of duties. I believe that sums up the member for Daly to a ‘T’. The man is a complete embarrassment.
How can the Chief Minister expect to grow the Territory, grow the Territory economy, when he has a minister who cannot deliver one house in a $672m program. He has sold off more public housing than any other minister in the history of the Territory; he has seen power outages take place all over the Top End of the Northern Territory, and McArthur Mine, and he sits by and idly watches sewage being spewed into the ocean, something which is a national disgrace. We spew more sewage into our harbour than any capital city in Australia. It is a shameful situation, the minister refuses to budge, and at the same time he stops public servants applying for wage increases higher than 2.5%. The man is a failure and he must go. He is a complete and utter failure in a shambolic government.
Madam Speaker, if you cannot see what I am saying is directly relevant to the Chief Minister’s Growing the Territory, the opportunities and challenges of growth - I can tell you the biggest challenge is the member for Daly, closely followed by the member for Karama, who is sharpening the knives, working out a way to put the knife into the back of the Chief Minister and maintain the support of the Independent member for Nelson. When the Chief Minister finally passes on, in political terms, you can be guaranteed the member for Karama will be dancing about on his political grave singing Hallelujah.
The government is not served well by any of its ministers. The Chief Minister has proven to be completely powerless to change this shambolic state. The first thing any leader would do would be sack the member for Daly; just get rid of him. Today’s little effort, I thought, was a damning result.
A few weeks ago, when the member for Daly, heartlessly and remorselessly tried to vindicate tossing a 14-year-old girl out onto the streets, I thought that would be the end of the member for Daly, following on from his failures in SIHIP, public housing and power failures. The Chief Minister shows himself to be a weak man with no heart, and he persists with this incompetent, useless minister.
Going through this statement of the Chief Minister, there is nothing which reflects the reality of the Territory. We continue to see crime spiral out of control. People are afraid to walk the streets at night. The streets are littered with itinerants and drunks. Families cannot use their local neighbourhood parks. Shops are spending extraordinary amounts of money on security and nothing is being done.
We have heard announcements on a range of different areas. There is a complete failure to plan. We have new associations being set up in Darwin and the Top End to lobby government for proper planning policies. It seems the government does not care. They stick their heads in the sand and say: ‘Oh no, the Territory is a wonderful place’. I know it is a wonderful place; that is why I live here. That is why many people live here. People are leaving because it is getting to expensive and too difficult to stay.
We used to talk about the wonderful Territory freedoms and things you could do in the Northern Territory you cannot do anywhere else. That seems to be changing at a rapid rate of knots. This government is very keen to be a nanny state-style government, exercising control over all aspects of the lives of Territorians, but at the same time giving nothing back in areas of safety, shelter, food, transport systems.
Everywhere you look we have decaying roads. Driving up the track is terrible. On the verge of roads there are ant hills three foot high, which is a sure indication roads are not being maintained. Due to lack of maintenance by this government, we saw the Barkly Highway washed away a year ago. That is not even funded by the Territory government; funded completely by the Commonwealth. The Territory government, in their shambolic useless way, cannot manage to do the work they are being paid to do. It is costing them nothing.
Madam Speaker, I go back to my original point. I listened to 20 minutes of dribble from the member for Daly in relation to housing. Listening to that, you would think things are all roses here. Pity the poor Aborigines who have been putting up with this situation for years and years.
The member for Daly says no, we are not going to rush housing. We are going to build million dollar houses; we are waiting on designs. We see all the ‘nodders’ wandering in, the member for Arafura, the member for Arnhem, the member for Barkly and they seem to say: ‘Oh well, that is all right. Let him wander on and not put our constituents in houses, and not fix anything up. That is okay’.
Madam Speaker, this government is a joke. It is an utter joke. The first thing the Chief Minister should do is sack the member for Daly. He is an incompetent, useless fool.
Ms McCARTHY (Children and Families): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak in support of the Chief Minister’s statement on this government’s leadership in managing for the growth of the Northern Territory.
I am especially pleased our government is focused on the planning issues associated with expected growth, and that growth is not just about an economic bottom-line. It is also about infrastructure, and yes, it is about social and community development. It is also about prosperity and wellbeing; it is about ensuring all Territorians can benefit from the opportunities growth will bring and make available to us.
The Chief Minister has noted a key feature of our future is likely to be continued growth in interstate migration to the Northern Territory, which is a good thing; younger people coming to the Territory and embracing what we have to offer here, as well as contributing to its development and its future. I am reminded the bulk of our population growth comes from within, and the natural increases of our residential population. We are very aware of the Australian Bureau of Statistics data as we look at the increase in population across the Northern Territory in our regional and remote areas.
As Minister for Indigenous Policy and Minister for Children and Families, I am particularly focused on the fact over one third of the Territory’s population is Indigenous, and 70% of that population lives in remote centres, and over one third of our NT Indigenous population is children under 15 years of age.
While we know we will be seeing significant growth in our aged population, especially in our remote regions, it is obvious a key issue for any government of the Northern Territory will be the natural increase in the population of our remote growth centres. This means planning for the services these families will want and need to access, as well as creating an environment where every Territorian has the opportunity for a safe, healthy and happy childhood and access to facilities, services and opportunities to support the growth of their own families and, of course, the ongoing development of the Northern Territory.
We also know we have to understand people’s aspirations, and plan to support the life choices Territorians would like to make concerning education, training, jobs, and a place to call home. This also means understanding and planning intelligently with a good understanding of mobility patterns, the internal movement of people around the Northern Territory; it means getting our planning absolutely right, proper sequencing of work, correct prioritisation of investments, and the involvement of local people - the real key in all of this - in setting priorities in designing and delivering programs, responding to local needs.
In this context I am pleased to have a lead role in the development and implementation, with the Chief Minister and my colleagues, of our government’s cornerstone policy, A Working Future. It is a big job and one we cannot do on our own. It is a reality one of our core difficulties is the legacy issues we have to deal with in terms of supporting our remote growth centres, and decades of inattention have led us to the situation where we know we have huge infrastructure and service gaps to deal with in our remote towns.
All across Australia there is an increasing need for access to government services and support for communities in responding to economic and environmental challenges. These issues are magnified in the Northern Territory, built around a high level of un-met services and knowing service demand will grow in the Territory faster than any other part of Australia.
This is a job we are totally committed to, with the necessary support of the like minded Australian government. The roll-out of A Working Future is now well under way across all Northern Territory government agencies, driven by a dedicated service delivery coordination unit established in the Department of the Chief Minister, and with the support of the Independent Coordinator-General for Remote Service Delivery, Bob Beadman. I have mentioned the need for the support and financial muscle of the Australian government and their help in underpinning our joint work. A Working Future is closely aligned with the COAG Remote Service Delivery National Partnership Agreement.
Through this agreement, the Territory and Australian governments are investing $160m over five years in a coordinated, single government approach to ensure billions of dollars in remote service delivery is expended effectively and in partnership with local people - an incredible achievement in coordinating these agencies between the federal and Northern Territory governments.
Work has started on developing community engagement plans for 20 Territory growth towns, baseline social and economic indicators for 20 Territory growth towns; the services and infrastructure gap analysis has begun, development of inter-government MOU for joint management of that single government interface of both the Territory and federal departments; mainstream town planning for the 20 growth towns; negotiations to secure land tenure for investment; a workforce and industry development plan; and development of the Northern Territory government integrated Remote Transport Strategy which my colleague, the Minister for Transport, is currently dealing with.
As well as focusing on infrastructure and service gaps through A Working Future, I am very focused on growing the social fabric of our communities. As I have said in this parliament on many occasions, it is not just about growing the infrastructure, the houses, and the towns. My focus is the families. The emphasis is back on individual and family responsibility on the way we raise our children and the hopes we have for the future. We also need to look at beyond infrastructure and work to build that social fabric. I have had discussions with my department in Alice Springs and in Darwin, and with staff in the Families and Children Services area, as to how we can work with the 20 growth towns and the families in these towns to take that responsibility, and assist them in progressing to a future filled with choice for the children of families of these growth towns.
Of course, we need to ensure we provide a sound education for our children, and the Chief Minister has outlined our important commitments in that area. We will build the capacity of our hub towns to provide employment opportunities for young people. We will certainly support local people build an ongoing sense of purpose, community, and social inclusion. It is not just government which will help this happen; we will partner with private enterprise and non-government organisations to deliver the broad range of services and opportunities every Territorian deserves. We need to ensure a holistic approach to growing our children and families, and the provision of services which support families meet the developmental, physiological and health needs of our children, which is essential to the future of our communities.
The protection and provision of assistance to children and families who have suffered due to domestic and family violence, child abuse, neglect, and sexual assault is also pivotal in the development of healthy communities. Our government has been firmly committed in the need to see the attitudinal change towards families and violence within families - something our government has committed to in the mandatory reporting of domestic violence, and also in $15m we have put towards, over the next three years, ensuring this attitudinal change begins in a strong way. Northern Territory Families and Children has an active role in providing services and support to families and children in remote areas, and I am pleased to say the Northern Territory government’s recent partnership with the Australian government is enabling and expansion of these services.
The Safe Places Program has been developed to address issues of domestic and family violence. In addition to the shelters we have rolled out across the Northern Territory with the federal government, there are now 19 safe places operating across the Northern Territory. Seven safe places and six cooling-off places are operating within nine of the 20 growth towns: Maningrida, Wadeye, Nguiu, Ngukurr, Angurugu, Yuendumu, Ramingining, Kalkarindji and Lajamanu. The Safe Places Program provides not only a shelter, but community education and support services. Safe Places staff are employed from within the communities. It is early days and, of course, this is the area we want to see grow in terms of the educational campaign, and a place where families can come to.
Our Strong Family, Strong Community, Strong Future Aboriginal family violence project focuses on engaging directly with community for communities to develop responses to domestic and family violence. Acknowledging the role of men in our communities supporting this work, the remote Aboriginal Family Community Worker Program focuses on increasing community capacity to respond to issues of child protection within the community. Fifteen family support worker positions have been created across the Territory, with two team leaders based in Darwin, two team leaders based in Alice Springs, and one team leader based in Tennant Creek. Six of these positions are within 20 growth towns: Borroloola, Nguiu, Galiwinku, Yuendumu, Kalkarindji and Papunya.
Responses to sexual assault in remote areas have improved with the introduction of the Mobile Outreach Service. The service provides therapeutic intervention with children on the communities. This service is expanding to provide intervention in relation to all child abuse. The capacity to undertake forensic medical examinations in remote areas is also being enhanced.
Madam Speaker, I turn to my area of disabilities. One of the recommendations of the Disability Services Review was for the Department of Health and Families to work with other Northern Territory government agencies to agree and implement a whole-of-government approach to support people with disabilities in the Northern Territory. I am keen to see this particular recommendation from the review worked in closely with the A Working Future headline policy. Our Disability Advisory Council, chaired by Bill Medley, is currently doing some work on disability action plans for government departments, as well as local government shires and private enterprise. I look forward to working with the Disability Advisory Council on this.
It is important that the needs of people with disabilities should not be an afterthought or even an extra. They should be a key part of any new development and all new work we do. In some areas I know this is already happening. On Groote Eylandt, for example, within my electorate of Arnhem, Machado Joseph Disease is prevalent and disability access is a particular concern. Steps are being taken to ensure SIHIP housing is appropriately tailored to the needs of people with a disability. I have seen firsthand, and taken the federal Housing Minister, Tanya Plibersek, to Groote Eylandt, to Angurugu in particular. I have also seen at Umbakumba the steps which have been taken to ensure the people who are working with GEBIE, the Aboriginal enterprise on Groote Eylandt, in the training and employment of local people for these houses, their focus is on the areas of disability within the houses of SIHIP.
However, we need to take a similar approach in all of our communities to ensure people with a disability can be active and equal participants in our communities. As Minister for Children and Families, I believe it is important we keep this in mind in this exciting time of our Territory growth, and it is an exciting time, and we make sure as we grow, our awareness of the needs of people with disabilities and our ability to respond to those needs improves.
I turn to the portfolio of Statehood, which I carry in a bipartisan role with the member for Goyder. As the Chief Minister pointed out in his statement, quite extraordinary population growth is anticipated in the Territory in the coming years. In this context, it is appropriate the Territory should come into its own as a state, with Territorians having the same rights and privileges as residents in the states, and the Territory parliament having the same level of independence and standing as the states’ parliaments.
One of the unique things about this parliament is we do stand very strongly in a bipartisan way, and it is in this partnership I travelled with the shadow minister for Statehood to Canberra earlier this year to meet with federal parliamentary representatives. The member for Goyder will probably agree that our joint approach to representatives from all major political parties was noted and respected. If there was one message we wanted to make clear to the Australian parliament it was the parliament of the people of the Northern Territory had wanted this process to be bipartisan, and we ask the parliament of the Australian people to also share the view of walking together in a bipartisan manner towards us becoming the seventh state in the Federation.
Throughout 2010, workshops will be conducted by the Statehood Steering Committee across the Northern Territory, as you in your capacity as Chair, Madam Speaker, are very aware, to inform people about statehood and seek their views. I encourage all Territorians to get involved with the workshops, to take this very important opportunity to contribute to one of the most important aspects of the Territory’s growth.
I take this opportunity to welcome back to the Statehood Steering Committee Secretariat, Michael Tatham as Executive Officer. It is fantastic to have him return and be very much involved with the next 12 months of incredible work which will take place with the committee across the Northern Territory. I also take this opportunity to say thank you to the staff in the Secretariat, Marise Riddell and Poppy Lelekis for the work they have given to Statehood in the Northern Territory.
2011 will be 100 years since South Australia handed the Northern Territory to the Commonwealth. In my view, as Minister for Statehood, this is a very significant time for the Northern Territory to reflect on its history and its standing, and to focus our energies on the move towards statehood. I am very keen to hear from all members of parliament and all Territorians about how they think 2011 should be commemorated by children in our schools, in our towns and communities, in our regional centres and in the national sphere. It is a year where we can, and this parliament has a very real opportunity, to recognise the 100 years of a Northern Territory under the leadership of the federal government in that time. That will be a year we can work towards with particular events across the Northern Territory, and to encourage people to look at where we are going, and what it is we would like to leave for the children of the Northern Territory.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE (Katherine): Madam Speaker, what a lovely motherhood statement made by the Chief Minister yesterday. Another exercise in self-flagellation from a government whose empty rhetoric is matched only in scope and scale to the extent of its failures in both planning and delivery of core services to Territorians.
This ministerial statement was along the lines of opportunities and challenges to growth in the Northern Territory. There are many challenges in dealing with potential growth in the Northern Territory. What I notice coming out of this statement was the Chief Minister conveniently left out probably one of the most major and significant challenges to achieving and accommodating growth in the Northern Territory. That, of course, is the challenge presented to us all by having such an incompetent Labor government at the helm of this particular ship we call the Northern Territory.
It is easy for me to stand here in opposition and make broad sweeping statements like the one I just made, but it might be useful for me to provide some examples of how the ongoing failure and incompetence of this government is affecting people who live in the Northern Territory, or more importantly, who could potentially live in the Northern Territory, which, of course, is what this statement is all about.
One of the biggest topical issues at the moment is SIHIP, and I will touch on that first. As members of this House have pointed out many times we are almost two years on from the inception of this program with not one single house completed for Indigenous Territorians. Yet this government barely admits there is a problem. Not one house built in communities like Wadeye, where children take turns to sleep in a house at night such is their plight. Their housing crisis is so dire there are too many kids for the community, too many kids for the number of houses, too many kids for the number of bedrooms, and too many kids for the number of beds.
What do the kids do? They wander the streets all night causing all sorts of trouble and mayhem. They place themselves in danger, they place others at risk, they are in danger of getting into serious trouble and they have nowhere to go. The next day half the children in Wadeye are too tired to go to school, and that is where the rot starts. We have tired kids, bored kids, and kids not getting an education, kids with no hope. What is truly amazing is that is just one community in the Northern Territory facing that raft of problems.
So how does it work? The Minister for Housing, who is also the member for Daly, does not care enough, cannot show the leadership required and does not have the compassion let alone the competence to deal with the problem right in the heartland of his own electorate. That defies belief. The people of the Daly electorate are looking for something and it is the antithesis of what the member for Daly represents. They are looking for someone who is prepared to take up their cause, take up their challenge, and actually achieve some results, unlike the member for Daly who constantly sits on the other side criticising.
Let me continue with the statement. Page 8 outlines how the population of Katherine is set to increase by 18% over five years. If I take the population of Katherine to be around 9000 people, increase that by the stated 18%, it equates to 1620 new people in Katherine between now and 2021. That would be terrific for Katherine. Katherine is a go ahead place with so much potential, so much upside, I get excited thinking about it. It is a wonderful place to live and the opportunities there are staggering. The business community is fully supportive of my statement in spite of the government and its policies dealing with anywhere south of Weddell at this stage.
On the assumption some people will be single, some will be couples, and some families, about 800 dwellings would be required in Katherine by 2021. We have had no land release in Katherine since 2006, which is the date outlined in the Chief Minister’s statement - that is the start of the 15 year period up to 2021. There has been no land release in Katherine since 2006, except for the latest token effort by the government in Katherine East. Between now and 2021 we will need 800 new dwellings, assuming some will be single and some will be multiple dwellings. It is not inconceivable, on a conservative estimate, that some 500 new blocks of land will be required to be released in the next 12 years to achieve the target outlined in the Chief Minister’s statement.
Do you believe that will happen in Katherine? Based on the prior convictions of this government, I do not believe so. You can see all over the Northern Territory, none more obvious than across Darwin, the number of people who are forced to live in circumstances which defy belief because of the failed policy of this government with respect to land release. They stand here and say: we are going to do this and we are going to do that. Well, they are a lot of gunnas.
Ms Purick: Gunna do this, gunna do that.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: That is it. They have not worked on a land release policy which has had a positive effect for people who live in the Northern Territory, and for people who would like to come to the Northern Territory. Right now there is no place for them to live, and when they do find somewhere to live, it is so expensive they cannot afford to stay. One only has to look at the Letters to the Editor in the NT News on any day and there is another one, or another two, or another three: I cannot afford to live in the Northern Territory because of these outrageous house prices and rent prices.
I am a bit of a fundamentalist when it comes to looking at cost and effect. If you take the simple equation of supply and demand, a low supply with high demand always means a high price. That is a very simple concept the government ministers, the members on the other side, seem to lack the capacity to grasp.
While we are talking government policy, let us look at a very specific issue where these people on the other of the House cannot get it right. On Giles Street, Katherine is a block of government owned land zoned multiple dwelling which could have been rezoned to accommodate 30 or 40 existing or new Territorians. That land was zoned many years ago, presumably by people who knew what they were doing when planning Katherine, yet the government, in its infinite wisdom, has chosen not to develop that land to provide housing for Territorians, or potential Territorians. They have chosen to change the zoning, change the use of that land, so Katherine can have a new sobering-up shelter.
People tell me they cannot believe the government’s priorities are so wrong. Surely to goodness, with so much government-owned land around Katherine, this government could find, without trying very hard - I only have to pick up a zoning map of Katherine and I can figure it out - some alternative place for a sobering-up shelter which would leave this piece of land zoned for multiple dwellings to accommodate Territorians. They would much rather use their shallow alcohol policies to house Katherine drunks who do not, or cannot, benefit from any comprehensive policy which comes from this government, rather than provide housing for Territorians. That is a crying shame, and the government should be absolutely ashamed of itself.
Let us stay on the same page of the Chief Minister’s statement. He said the population growth will be characterised, particularly in Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, by increases of Indigenous and aged Territorians. What is this government doing for Indigenous Territorians when it comes to housing in Katherine? Not one single house under SIHIP. Not that we have not had any built yet; we are not getting any at all. I am advised there is a paltry $1.1m being made available in 2011 to upgrade some houses at Binjari. Yes, all that but no new houses.
What about aged Territorians? If Katherine’s population growth, in part, is going to be as a result of an increase of our aged population, then why in heaven’s name are we seeing a cutback in services for our aged by this government?
Community Connections was an NT government-funded program which used to provide services to our aged in Katherine. Since 2006, this service has been slowly falling away. It became noticeable as grounds and other maintenance in the Kintore Street properties started to deteriorate. Fewer opportunities were being provided by the service. Excursions were slowly knocked on the head until they were nonexistent. This service was implemented by the CLP government and let slide away by this Territory Labor government.
Let me talk about what it used to do for the Katherine aged. Three days a week, a bus would pick up, anywhere in Katherine, about 24 of our senior Territorians and bring them to the facility in Kintore Street. They had morning tea and lunch. They spent hours together engaged in activities like exercise, and arts and craft. They had excursions as a group. They are all the things senior Territorians need.
Last week was Mental Health Week, which addresses dementia and other issues. We know keeping our seniors active and healthy and engaged in different activities helps prevent dementia. However, I am sure the government does not quite get that. That service would also pick up our seniors and take them to medical appointments, get them to the hospital, get them to the chemist. The service has been falling away since 2006, until its final demise in 2009.
I refer to a letter sent to Ms Merle Barry dated 3 July 2009, where the Minister for Children and Families, who is responsible for this organisation, said:
I can tell you this service did not close because of fewer people ‘accessing the service’. It was closed because the government allowed the service to fall back to such a point there was nothing for seniors to do, and nothing the organisation could offer our seniors in Katherine. It was a deliberate ploy on the part of the government to cut funding to a very important part of our community, and they did it by stealth. They simply let the service fall away. They cut the funding over a number of years, and now it is nonexistent. Not only that, the Minister for Children and Families had the audacity, in the same letter to say, and I quote.
What a cop-out. These services mentioned in the minister’s letter exist through the kindness, generosity, and donations of people in the community. We are talking about a range of government services where the Minister for Families and Children has said: ‘We are not going to give it to you any more; you have to go and get charity’. That is absolutely disgusting. How can the Chief Minister stand in this House with any sincerity, acknowledge the Katherine population is going to grow, and many of them would be ageing, yet he presides over a minister who is in charge of a department which has cut back services so savagely to the aged people in Katherine.
There is a challenge in dealing with the growth in population of the aged in Katherine. I am sure this is happening all across the Territory. The statement mentions Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs, not to mention Yirrkala, Numbulwar and Gapuwiyak, where they are saying there will be significant increases in population due to the aged factor. I would offer a challenge to the Chief Minister: do something for our aged. Give our seniors something to look forward to in their old age, and accept responsibility for providing services necessary for them in their twilight years.
The statement goes on to talk about infrastructure. $1.3bn was the figure mentioned, most of which is Commonwealth funding. Let me point this out: of that infrastructure spend, a paltry $19m is being spent on beef, and mining roads in our regions. This is despite the fact, in the last financial year, the NT Labor government received a windfall of more than $160m from mining royalties, which is $160m in extra mining royalties they did not expect to receive. You would think that would go back into investing in the infrastructure required, certainly within the mining sector; the offshoot of that would be benefits for the cattle sector. The government can only afford to spend a trifle, and that is only a trifle back into our regional roads. The County Liberals would do far better than that for the bush.
Unlike the Labor government, we are focused on the entire Northern Territory, to ensure there are fair and equitable means for the regional parts of the Northern Territory to receive funding for infrastructure projects they so desperately need, infrastructure projects which have been ignored for eight years by the Territory Labor government.
I often hear ministers on the other side of the House, and particularly the member for Daly, enunciating we have no policies on this side of the House. In fact, that is not true. Perhaps the Minister for Housing, the member for Daly, should actually listen to some of the things the opposition says, and he will realise that we are regularly issuing policies.
Here is one, Madam Deputy Speaker, like the Western Australia conservative government, we will instigate a Royalties for Regions program where a percentage of royalties received from the mining and petroleum sectors will go back into regional parts of the Northern Territory. This is in stark contrast to the policy of the Labor government, which can barely see past the northern suburbs of Darwin let alone anything further south. At the moment we are not in a position to quantify the percentage of royalties for regions because we cannot calculate the exact amount of debt the Territory Labor government is going to leave as its legacy in the wake of its eight years, or however long it manages to stay in power. I can assure you long after this Territory Labor government is gone Territorians will pay the price, and they will be paying the price for what we are seeing today and have seen for many years now - their abject fiscal irresponsibility.
Let us look at another challenge the Chief Minister conveniently failed to mention in his statement, which is, of course, alcohol abuse in the Northern Territory. If I had to pick the two biggest policy failures of the NT government, it is SIHIP and alcohol policy.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! I move that the member for Katherine be granted an extension of time pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and thank you to members for graciously allowing me some extra time.
Of the two policy failures of the NT government which probably stick in my craw, the biggest would be SIHIP and alcohol. I do not know which one is worse because they have very significant and far reaching effects right across the Northern Territory. Why is alcohol policy a challenge? The Chief Minister’s statement is Growing the Territory – The Opportunities and Challenges for Growth. The problems associated with the lack of alcohol policy from the Labor government reaches into every corner of the Northern Territory; it affects every single aspect of life in the Northern Territory.
If I have to be very specific about it, let us talk about it as a challenge of population growth for the Northern Territory. When a tourist arrives in the Northern Territory one must look at what they face. They would drive into a town - and I do not need to be specific about any particular one because they are much the same - they will see significant alcohol abuse going on, they will see drunks lying around the streets, they will see people fighting, and spitting, and swearing. They will see inordinate amounts of antisocial behaviour fuelled by alcohol. Sadly, most of the violent crime we see perpetrated in the Northern Territory comes from Indigenous people, and largely upon other Indigenous people; they will get to see that as well.
We know alcohol abuse is largely linked to levels of violent crime in the Northern Territory. The most recent release by the Minister for Justice acknowledges some 74% of violent crime in Katherine is alcohol related.
Mr Vatskalis: In Alice Springs; 74% of crime in Alice Springs is alcohol related.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Madam Deputy Speaker, in the release there is an acknowledgement by the government that 74% of assaults in Katherine are alcohol related. That sings a very sad song for this government. If you can nip alcohol problems in the bud, if you can find a way to address alcohol issues before they manifest themselves either on the street as antisocial behaviour or violent crime …
Ms Scrymgour interjecting.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Comment, member for Arafura?
Ms Scrymgour: I am agreeing with you.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Thank you. … we will then go a long way towards solving the over-arching issue as it relates to getting people into the Northern Territory and seeing fewer of the antisocial problems they would ordinarily be observing. The problem is the government has only really one hat, one tool in their armoury, one weapon in their arsenal they are willing to use, which is alcohol restrictions.
I heard the member for Casuarina today talking about how things have improved in Alice Springs. I am not so sure that would be the case. What I can say is in Katherine the policy is failing dismally. In the nine months to the end of September this year, there were approximately 6000 people taken into protective custody in Katherine through the police cells. That does not count the number of people who went through the sobering-up shelter; compared to fewer than 4000 taken into protective custody in Katherine, in the police cells, for the corresponding period last year.
Regardless of any assertions by the government that their policies are working, particularly in Katherine, I can tell you they are not. That is raw data which cannot be manipulated or made to say something it does not actually represent. What it says is there was approximately 50% more alcohol related harm going on in Katherine in the first nine months of this year compared to the first nine months of last year. The Country Liberals have said many times in this House, and I will say it again - here is another policy for you …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! I bring your attention to the state of the House.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Braitling. Ring the bells. A quorum is present. Member for Katherine, you have the call.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Where was I? I believe I was talking about failed government policy on alcohol and how the Country Liberals do actually have some policy we believe will work. It does not revolve around having one weapon in the arsenal; it revolves around a multipronged approach. I should mention, of course, the alcohol court in Katherine and how well it has done
Ms Scrymgour: What is your policy? What are you going to do?
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Seventeen referrals in 18 months, four successful completions. The alcohol court clinician had to resign because her hours were cut back by the government. Mind you, when her hours were cut back she could not afford to live on the part-time wages the government was paying and she had to leave.
The government says we do not have any policies, so I have to spell it out for them because they are a little thick. We need to institute some rehabilitation for people who have problems with alcohol. This needs to be done not on the voluntary basis they think will work now; it needs to be mandated people attend compulsory rehabilitation. We also want to get them off the alcohol roundabout, we want them to get some literacy and numeracy skills, some job skills, proper detox and rehab, and get these people back out into the community ...
Ms Scrymgour: Sounds like ours.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: A far better product.
Ms Lawrie: Yes, we are doing all that.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Are you doing all that? I would like to see where! I pick up on the interjection from the member for Karama. I would like to know exactly where they are doing all that, because all they do is talk about alcohol restrictions. The only time I have heard anything other than alcohol restrictions come out of this government is a media release talking about mandatory rehabilitation. That is the only time I have heard anything.
If the government and the member for Karama say they are doing all of those things, then I am very pleased. They have listened to what we have said over recent months regarding alcohol policy, and picked up on some of the ideas. It is quite gratifying to know we are getting a little win. The Country Liberals represent more than 50% of the voters in the Northern Territory, therefore we have some credibility, and the government really should be listening to what we say because much of what is said on this side of the House actually makes sense. The government does not seem to be able to grasp that.
Many of the challenges facing us in the Northern Territory are simply not being addressed by this government. They do not seem to have much of an idea about dealing with the major social issues occurring. My challenge to them is to pick up their game and get on with the work they are supposed to be doing as the government of the Northern Territory.
Mr HAMPTON (Regional Development): Madam Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to support the Chief Minister’s statement on the challenges and opportunities presented by the growth of the Northern Territory. We are living in exciting times in the Territory. Our biggest challenge lies in ensuring all Territorians have a stake in our society, and have the chance to enjoy the fruits of our strong economy.
As a born and bred Territorian, I am never surprised to hear about migration to the Northern Territory. There are quite a few from interstate in this House. Our great Territory lifestyle appeals to most people, both from overseas and interstate. I suspect our strong economy is also attracting people to the Territory. Indeed, I have heard anecdotal evidence backpackers were giving Sydney and Melbourne a miss, and heading straight to the Territory because jobs were getting harder to find down south.
The Chief Minister identified the Territory’s growth hot spots as being our remote communities. This is clearly a massive challenge for government, and one we are tackling head on. Last week, I launched the Henderson government’s Indigenous Economic Development Strategy. There are a few points I would like to raise today. Indigenous Territorians comprise 30% of the Territory’s population and control more than 40% of the Territory land mass through Aboriginal land trusts. However, the unemployment rate is three times higher among Indigenous people compared with non-Indigenous people. That such a large proportion of our Indigenous population is not participating actively in our strong economy is totally unacceptable.
Tackling this issue requires commitment from a range of sectors and organisations, including the public sector, the Territory government in partnership with the Commonwealth, the shires and the land councils, the private sector, big business, small business, Indigenous stakeholders and Indigenous people themselves. We all have a job to do and need to work together if we are to close the gap on Indigenous economic disadvantage. I look forward to expanding on our vision to improve the quality of life for Indigenous Territorians through full participation in the economy.
As the Territory grows, we want Indigenous employment rates to also grow. We want Indigenous businesses to grow, and we want Indigenous wealth to grow. We want to support Indigenous Territorians as they seek to achieve their aspirations and dreams.
As our economy grows, we are confronted with other challenges, such as ensuring industrial development is compatible with our precious natural environment. We all recognise the benefits of development to the Territory, which brings jobs and significant economic growth. In my role as Environment minister, I am committed to ensuring this development occurs in an environmentally sustainable manner.
There are currently several large developments planned for the Northern Territory. They all have to undergo vigorous environmental assessments under the Environmental Assessment Act before they are allowed to go ahead. A major developmental proposal currently under assessment is the INPEX project. As members would be aware, INPEX Browse Ltd proposes to pipe gas from the Browse Basin off the West Australian Coast, to a liquified natural gas LPG and LNG plant at Darwin’s Blaydin Point. The proposal is being assessed jointly by the Northern Territory and Australian governments at the level of an environmental impact statement. Guidelines were issued to the proponent in September 2008, with the environmental impact statement due to be released for public comment later this year.
Also under assessment is BHP Billiton’s proposal to transport copper concentrate and increased quantities of uranium oxide concentrate by rail from the expanded Olympic Dam Mine in South Australia, to storage and ship floating facilities in the Port of Darwin. The transport option proposal is being assessed at the level of an environmental impact statement, in line with the current assessment by the South Australian, and Australian governments, of the broader mine expansion proposal. A draft environmental impact statement was lodged, and the public exhibition period ended on 7 August this year. BHP Billiton will now prepare a supplement to address public and government comments on the draft EIS.
Another project under assessment is the Arafura Resources proposal to develop a mine at Nolans Bore, 135 km north of Alice Springs. The proposal is to be assessed under the bilateral agreement between the Australian and Northern Territory governments at the level of an environmental impact statement. We also have the Redbank Mine’s proposal to expand copper leaching operations at the Redbank oxide copper mine near the Queensland border, 250 km from Borroloola. The proposal is to be assessed under, again, the bilateral agreement between the Australian and Northern Territory governments and, again, at the level of an environmental impact statement.
There is also the Tenax Energy’s proposal to establish a series of tidal energy generators in the Apsley Strait between Gunn Peninsula and the Tiwi Islands. This proposal is to again be assessed under the bilateral agreement between the Australian and Northern Territory governments, and again at the level of an environmental impact statement.
The environmental assessment process is a statutory process which is facilitated by the Office of Environment and Heritage. The process involves a rigorous examination of the potential environmental impacts, and develops appropriate safeguards to avoid problems which may arise down the track. It is also important to note the assessment process does not stop once a project receives approval. Rather, the Office of Environment and Heritage monitors the ongoing compliance of development once approval has been granted.
There are also several other proposals at various stages along the assessment process, and I think this clearly demonstrates two things. One is the high level of economic activity and industry confidence in the Northern Territory. The other is this government’s commitment to achieving environmentally sustainable development to benefit all Territorians. We are determined to protect our unique environment and great Territory lifestyle for future generations.
The Chief Minister raised a very interesting point in relation to the future growth of Darwin, Palmerston and the greater Darwin region. The current research shows, within 10 years, Palmerston will form the centre of the population of Darwin and the greater Darwin region. It is therefore important government locates first class sporting facilities and recreational facilities in the city of Palmerston. The Henderson government has committed $33m to build an international standard sporting facility for the people of Palmerston. This project includes training lights and facility upgrades of Palmerston Magpies AFL oval, a rugby and soccer field with training lights, and upgrades to the tennis courts. The Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport and the Department of Planning and Infrastructure are working closely with relevant bodies, together with the Palmerston City Council and Charles Darwin University, on the final design stages of this project to ensure the people of Palmerston receive the fantastic facilities they truly deserve.
We are also committed to ensuring the people of Alice Springs, my home town, also enjoy first class sporting facilities. It is this Labor government which has invested well over $5m to make Traeger Park the jewel in the Alice Springs sporting crown.
Mr Giles interjecting.
Mr HAMPTON: We have also committed more than $8m, member for Braitling, to the Alice Springs Aquatic Centre, something the CLP never did, which includes a pool, a beachfront, leisure pool …
A member: We built the pool.
Mr HAMPTON: Back in the 1970s.
This includes a beachfront leisure pool and upgraded amenities. It is an $8m commitment by this Labor government to the people of Alice Springs.
As a born and bred Central Australian, I am very proud to advocate the future growth and development of Alice Springs. I am co-chairing, with our Mayor, Damien Ryan, the Alice Springs Planning for the Future Steering Committee which is overseeing actions from the Planning for the Future Forum. Other members of the committee include Julie Ross, Glenda Meaney, Daryl Pearce, David Forrest and Fran Kilgariff.
Together with other issues identified at the forum we are looking at land releases around Alice Springs, including the Arid Zone Research Institute site, which was identified for future growth at the forum and by Central Australians. A headworks study on the AZRI site is expected to be completed by next year. The Mt John development is moving ahead with the developers, the Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation, advising they expect lots to be turned off there from the start of next year. There are a number of other private organisations working with the Development Consent Authority to turn off land in and around Alice Springs.
The steering committee has also endorsed a plan to revitalise the Alice Springs CBD and $5m has been committed to that project. The revitalisation will dramatically enhance the town centre and will ensure it continues to be a vibrant hub with improved facilities and amenities for locals and visitors alike.
Before I close, I turn to my portfolio of ICT. A key part of this government’s role in Growing the Territory is providing infrastructure, in some cases, to communities which have never had it before under any previous government. One such example is the high-speed broadband. In partnership with the Northern Land Council, Telstra, and Rio Tinto, the government took part in a $34m project to lay some 800 km of fibre-optic cable between Jabiru and Nhulunbuy. This connected 8000 people living in Arnhem Land to Australia’s fibre-optic backbone, delivering world-class, high-speed broadband. This project has received a great deal of favourable attention, and last month there was some more.
At the Australian Institute of Project Management Awards Gala Dinner held in Darwin, the project was judged the winner in the category of construction engineering projects with a total budget of less than $100m. It was also judged the overall Project of the Year for the Northern Territory. My congratulations to all involved. I am sure the members for Arafura, Nhulunbuy and Arnhem would agree it has been a successful project.
I would like to inform the House, as a quick update, there are now more than 330 private and business broadband connections across Arnhem Land, and most importantly, children at Oenpelli, Maningrida, Ramingining, Gapuwiyak and Yirrkala can now access the online world from computers at their government schools in their home community.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I am very pleased to support the Chief Minister’s statement.
Mr STYLES (Sanderson): Madam Deputy Speaker, it is interesting to speak having read some of this document. I would like to refer to a couple of things. I listened to the Chief Minister yesterday expound on the contents of this document. In previous speeches I have heard the Chief Minister say: ‘Come to the Territory, great place, great lifestyle, fantastic environment, come up here and get a job’.
Ms Anderson: Stop talking it down.
Mr STYLES: I would like to pick up on that interjection. Talking it down?
Ms Anderson: Yes, you are.
Mr STYLES: Well, it is very interesting those interjections come along, because I have not even started yet.
Members interjecting.
Mr STYLES: Well, it is very interesting. Perhaps you people do not like hearing the truth from time to time. The government calls on people to come to the Territory, however three weeks ago I was at Wagaman shops and a young man was there with a petition regarding the sad lack of emergency housing, and the need for transitional housing. One person could not sign it quickly enough, saying to me: ‘Mate, I have to share a house. I am a refrigeration mechanic, so I earn a reasonable salary, but I cannot afford to rent, I cannot afford to buy. I am sharing with a whole bunch of my mates. In fact there are five of my mates. We are all refrigeration mechanics and we are all leaving’.
It is with great interest I hear the government say: ‘Come to the Territory, great lifestyle, jobs, everything’. That may be so in some areas, but the problem is people cannot afford to buy a house and they cannot afford to live here. They then start to look at all the other reasons to shift back south; and I will come to some of those reasons.
On page three it says, and I quote:
Fantastic, the trouble is when they get here they cannot afford to live here. This is not people with low incomes. This is people with middle incomes in our community, middle Australia, middle class working people, taxpayers, who cannot afford to buy a house, cannot find anywhere to rent a house, and cannot afford to live here, period. The extra wages they make here are consumed in extra costs, if you can afford to buy a house.
People are coming into my office with complaints saying: ‘I am living in a car at the moment, and I have two kids’. I had a lady in my office last week; she has been living in a tent with her child. She cannot even find a granny flat or a room in a house. Up until several years ago you could always find a room underneath an elevated home in Darwin. Well, I have to say you cannot even get one of those. This woman was forced to look at a camper van which normally goes in the back of a utility, sitting on stilts, behind an industrial premises. That was going to be better for her and her five-year-old daughter than living in a tent.
Fortunately, some kind person has given her a room until she can find somewhere. When she goes to the Housing Commission to talk about emergency accommodation, she is told it will be nine months. That is emergency accommodation!
It is similar to emergency housing for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory; it takes a minimum two years, and we still have no design. We are still discussing a design two years after we received $672m and not a house. I find that quite disgraceful. What do I tell people who come into my office when they are absolutely desperate? You have to tell them these problems exist because there has not been enough land released.
Madam Deputy Speaker, we have people in cars, in tents, in camper vans.
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STYLES: So it is just a disgrace, an absolute disgrace.
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, you are on a warning!
Ms Scrymgour: I do not think so. You should read your facts and read history.
Mr Conlan: You need to do exactly the same thing.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Arafura! Member for Greatorex! Member for Sanderson, you have the call, assuming your members cease to interrupt you.
Mr STYLES: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The following week, at Northlakes, I had a social worker visit me in a rather depressed state. She said her sister was moving south because she could find affordable housing. This social worker is a married woman with a reasonably good combined income. However, her sister, a midwife, and her husband, a doctor, are just starting out in life and cannot afford to buy a house. This is another example of people leaving the Territory because they cannot afford housing, and there is a huge land shortage which is not going to be fixed in the immediate future. We are losing midwives and doctors.
I hear the Minister for Health say: ‘We have all these doctors coming, and all these extra nurses’. That is great, but we have to be able to house them. I will get to one of the fundamental problems of that shortly.
The same social worker, her dearest and best friend is a nurse and her husband an engineer. Guess what? They are moving south as well. Over the last six months in this House I have related horrific stories about people having their families ripped apart because their children cannot afford to live in the Northern Territory. This is the very fabric which makes up our vibrant community in the Northern Territory. You start pulling families apart because the government will not release sufficient land, or whatever the problem is. You cannot find out the problem because every time you ask they give you some spin about their intentions. The government is very good on plans, but we are not seeing it translate to blocks of land available at a reasonable price.
I have heard it said the government does not want to release too much land because they do not want to deflate the price of houses. Hundreds of people turned up at a ballot recently where 40 blocks were released! There are people out there screaming for blocks of land.
I went to the netball championships on Friday night, and spoke to many people I know. One family, members of which were born and bred in Darwin, have a son who is a project manager. He told me in several weeks he will finish on the project he is working on, which means he is out of a job because he cannot get any land. He explained he cannot buy land to put houses on. There are no blocks available for purchase to put a land and house package together, especially for first homeowners and young people trying to get into the marketplace. It is a disgrace.
The son of a good friend of mine is a chef, and his daughter-in-law a teacher. There is another son whose wife is a psychologist. They have gone to Adelaide already.
I went to the caravan park in my electorate to do some doorknocking and ran into a specialised pipe fitter. We need these highly skilled people here, who can work anywhere in Australia. He told me he moved from Melbourne two years ago to start a new life and purchase a house. At 47 years, he finds he cannot afford to buy here and will have to move elsewhere. His family love the Darwin lifestyle, but he cannot find a house at a reasonable price.
There are refrigeration mechanic, midwives, doctors, nurses, engineers, specialised pipe fitters, chefs, psychologists - these are the very people the government is trying to attract to the Northern Territory. They are the very people we need in the Territory to develop it and keep it moving forward; to ensure we have good health systems, good education systems, and good services to provide for people. These are the things we need to attract top quality people. Multinational companies which want to start industry and business here will not send their CEOs, or top people, if we cannot provide world-class, ongoing health services.
I am not saying the people working here at the moment cannot do that. We have fine people working in education, health, policing, and all sorts of services. You need to have sufficient people here to make the system work as efficiently and effectively as possible.
The cost of replacing and retaining people, and getting them familiar with the Territory and some of the different things which occur here - we just lose money hand over fist, and we wonder why the health budget is getting chewed up with recruitment. Every time you start recruiting midwives and doctors it is at an enormous cost to taxpayers. These people come, they do not like it, they go, and then we have to pay out more money for recruitment.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I draw your attention to the state of the House. This is the government’s statement; I would think the government would be interested in being here.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ring the bells. A quorum is present. You have the call, member for Sanderson.
Mr STYLES: Madam Deputy Speaker, I quote from page 4, third paragraph:
and it goes on to quote some other figures. Fascinating, when you look at why the Territory economy may have gone into decline at that particular time.
You may recall until 1996, the Australian Labor Party were in government. They brought on the recession we had to have and, of course, ran the Australian economy into debt to some $96bn. The Coalition took over with a debt of $96bn which, of course, they had to pay off. There was, unfortunately, some belt-tightening required because of the largesse of the prior government. Australians had to pay for the wild spending of the Labor government in Canberra.
The Chief Minister says: ‘I am pleased to report that, in 2008, nett population gain from interstate was 691’. I wonder where they are living given they have sold off 2000 homes. I notice the Minister for Housing is quite happy to throw at us the fact the CLP sold 1300 homes, and how terrible it is, how disastrous it is for the Northern Territory. Well, how is 2000 looking? If he thinks that is bad, how is 2000 looking?
In 2008, after this government received the rivers of gold which flowed from the GST, they were able to spend about $1.3bn over and above what they thought they were going to get. I think anyone could spend more if you have an extra $1.3bn. You can say: ‘We have spent more than the CLP ever did’. Of course, because you have had all this extra money to do whatever it was you wished.
When all these people come from interstate, and the government says that is fantastic, what do I say to the people who come into my office? In the last three weeks, 70% of people coming into my office are in crisis regarding housing. There are some really sad cases. I have a single father with three little boys living in a home. He put his name down with the Housing Commission in 2005 and was advised he would have to wait until November 2008. He goes into private rental. He has a job, he does not earn a large salary, but he is out there trying to raise these three boys. He goes back to the Housing Commission in November 2008 and is advised he cannot get a house until June 2009. In June he is advised it will be another nine to 12 months. The person who owns the house he is renting unfortunately has contracted cancer and has sold the house. He has requested emergency accommodation. His advice was if he became unemployed he could get emergency housing within four or five months. He was stunned to receive that advice.
A young lady with one small child, pregnant again, came to my office. She is living with her mother and has been on the list for some years. Things are deteriorating at home, it is crowded, and she is trying to get a house. The Housing Commission advised her to get her mother to throw her out, and stay at the Salvation Army, and then she will get into emergency accommodation much faster. This young lady was stunned.
Here are two people amazed at the advice they were getting from government employees regarding the emergency housing list. The emergency housing list is anything from six to nine months long. So people are expected to live in the YMCA or the Salvation Army for six months to get emergency housing. The young lady walked out in disgust.
We go back to the man with three young children. I am a fair judge of character and I have found him to be a really nice person. He is sitting in my office crying. He is so embarrassed he is at the stage where he has done all the right things, he has been on the housing list for over four years with three little children, and he still cannot get a hand up. And I wonder why? Is it because this government has sold off a further 2000 homes? They accused us of selling off 1300, how disastrous! The 2000 homes they have sold off has put us into a situation where we find it extremely difficult to provide emergency accommodation.
What happens in the domestic violence situations? In the 2007-08 financial year, at the Dawn House AGM, they stated they turned away 352 families, which encompass about 608 people. There are women and children turned away on a daily basis from places like Dawn House because we do not have sufficient emergency accommodation for people who work up enough gumption and get enough intestinal fortitude to leave a violent situation. They take the children, walk out and say: ‘I have finally made the decision to go and get some help, get away, get out of that domestic violence situation, and here I am with my kids and my bag, I have given everything away, can you give us somewhere and put us up?’ They have to turn them away. I find that appalling, and I certainly hope …
Mr CHANDLER: Madam Deputy Speaker, I move that the member be granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr STYLES: Thank you, member for Brennan.
Here we have a situation where people turn up to these establishments and we do not have enough options to give them some form of emergency accommodation. That does not surprise me. Look at SIHIP - that was brought in for emergency accommodation and in two years we still do not have houses being built; we do not even have a design approved. We are still looking at things. I will tell the other side of the House again: if they want to look at how to build houses which might be suitable for SIHIP, they only have to go to Marrara Christian College and see what they are doing out there.
They run young people through school, and side by side they are teaching them how to be plumbers, electricians, welders, carpenters, all the things the other side of this House says we need training for. That is happening out there. They go into the classroom for half the day then they are building transportable homes designed for their communities. Several of them have gone to Elcho Island, a little island off the coast, if you want to know where it is. Marrara Christian College is on the corner of McMillans Road and Amy Johnston Drive.
Ms Scrymgour: Have you been there?
Mr STYLES: Have I been there? I certainly have. I worked there, and I have seen it, I have seen it work. It might do some people on the other side of the House good to see what these young Aboriginal people are achieving. They are achieving great results. We have quality buildings erected, put on the back of a truck, put on a barge and taken to the communities from where these young people come. When they graduate from school and go back to their communities, they take with them skills as qualified electricians, plumbers, builders, and carpenters. They go back to their communities to build. This is actually happening.
I am surprised the Minister for Housing is not aware of this, and has not been there and embraced what it going on there, for the good of all Aboriginal people on these communities who are suffering from overcrowding and everything which comes from that: the sexual abuse, the drug abuse, the physical violence, the domestic violence, a whole raft of things which caused the Little Children Are Sacred report to be written. The money which came to SIHIP came as a result of that, for emergency accommodation.
I am disgusted with the other side of the House. They still are not getting the message. I heard the Minister for Housing today say there is a social aspect to this, and a work aspect. He suggested it was not only emergency housing; that it is a social thing, it is about training people. It is about all sorts of things.
There are children who are still at risk and exposed. I cannot say, because I have not seen any of the police reports in the last 12 months, it is still going on, but I suspect if the same conditions exist, the same things are occurring. We have young people, one of the most vulnerable groups in our community on Aboriginal communities, who are being abused, or still being abused, or about to be. I do not know whether the government is prepared to take that risk any longer, but they certainly do not appear to be doing very much about getting emergency housing and reducing the overcrowding that is occurring in those communities.
The Chief Minister says more money is going into housing. The Treasurer continually says the government has spent more than the CLP and quotes figures from 2001. The government has the extra $1.3bn coming from the GST. Let us take that away and see what they have spent. Let us look at houses built when we were in government and compare it to this emergency. We are not just talking about a housing program; we are talking about an emergency.
Later tonight we will talk about the general situation, the lack of the accommodation for people, and why people will leave in droves. If you do not have a good job, there are not two people working - we are going to lose the service people, the basics, the pillars of our community, health, education, and law and order. We are losing people. Two weeks ago a lady came into my office; she worked, her husband was a police officer, and they had two children. They had lived in Darwin for several years but were considering leaving because they could not get into the property market. How much does it cost to train a police officer? The last time I got a figure it was about $130 000. However we cannot keep people here. The global financial crisis has meant there are fewer jobs interstate, and the attrition rate of the Northern Territory Police Force has slowed down because there are not alternative jobs. However, as an ex-police officer who talks to these people, one finds out they are a little tired of a whole raft of things. I have only got to page 5; if I had three or four hours more I suppose we would get through the rest of it.
There is a whole range of problems caused because the government will not release the land we need to give reasonable cost of housing to a wide range of people – not just low-income people, but middle class people. It is the middle class people who will keep the Territory going. They are the ones with the trade skills and the small business expertise. They are the engine room of our economy and, if we do not look after them, then I do not know what we are going to do in the future.
I have three children who live in this town. I hope they have a future here. If the government does not start releasing land and fixing some of the associated problems, then I fear my children will leave. We have made Darwin our home; I do not want to leave. I do not want my friends’ children to leave because that means my children are losing their friends. Their friends are moving south, or overseas, because there are far better opportunities elsewhere. What will happen when INPEX arrives, or any other industry wants to come to the Territory? We will not have the bases here. Where do we get the service people from? Will they have to fly in and fly out? What health services exist; how good is the education system, what about law and order? People will want to know
There was a situation recently near my office. A young man went to the ATM at 7 pm Friday evening, took out rent money, and was jumped by eight people. He was beaten and had his money stolen. On Monday, his father asked me what he could do. He had not reported the matter to the police because he had no faith in the judicial system. This is the perception we have in our community.
If we cannot keep people here, if we cannot keep trained police officers here, or trained people who understand the complexities of the Northern Territory population and its issues, we are in trouble. I suspect we are already in trouble, and there is more to come.
All I hear from the other side of this House in relation to land and housing is: ‘We have these great plans. We are reviewing this. We are going to do this. We are going to do that’. There is a lot of ‘gunna’ over there, but there is not much happening.
A member: Gunna people.
Mr STYLES: No disrespect to the member for Fannie Bay.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to quickly go to page 8. It says, ‘the need to continue to invest heavily in infrastructure’. This suggests $1.4bn of Territory taxpayer’s money is going to be spent this year. I understand not all of that is going to be spent immediately, it is over a long period of time, and a large portion of that is federal money. I do not know the exact figures, but I am very interested to look at them.
I only have time to refer to something briefly from page 10, and it says in bold print, ‘Land to grow and new places to buy’. Well, hallelujah! If that is the great statement they want to make, I am afraid we are all in a little trouble. ‘Land to grow and new places to buy’. That is why we have ballots. We have people walking away because they cannot get a house at the right price. I ask the government to take note of much of what I have said.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arafura): Madam Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to speak in support of the Chief Minister’s statement, Growing the Territory, opportunities and challenges of growth. Certainly, there are plenty of challenges which confront government, and we all know that. Those challenges have not arisen overnight; they have been there for a long time. I know, particularly in my electorate of Arafura, many of those challenges are issues people have been trying to deal with for a long time.
The issue of housing in remote Aboriginal communities has been around for a long time. It was an issue that confronted the Aboriginal and Torres Islander Commission when ATSIC had responsibility for housing. The Commonwealth did put large amounts of money into housing in remote Aboriginal communities, but it is a bit rich for the CLP to pretend they did the same. The majority of houses in remote Aboriginal communities were something ATSIC had pushed for and had made sure was provided. It was not only main communities; it was also homelands. That was something ATSIC did well, and they should be congratulated for it.
As I said yesterday, it is not about individuals. It is imperative on us all to look at those challenges. We all have electorates which we represent. We all carry the voice of our constituents, both in the parliament, and outside. We represent our constituents and take the view of those constituents to government and work in addressing their issues, such as housing and the issues that confront families on a day- to-day level.
Families are doing it tough. We see that, not only in our remote communities, but also in the northern suburbs where families are struggling. We see it on the eastern seaboard. It is everywhere. Australia has been fortunate in the global financial crisis where we have been buffeted by all the big nations of the world. They probably fared worse than what we did, particularly the United States of America. Australia has been fortunate, and the Northern Territory, compared to other states, has certainly fared better. The stimulus package brought forward by the Rudd government has certainly helped buoy state and territory economies to ensure programs and infrastructure can continue so jobs can be saved. Those challenges, particularly in our remote communities with housing, with SIHIP - I think all members, particularly members from bush electorates, know how hard it has been and we need to ensure we do see the results of better houses for our communities.
Various speakers on the other side spoke of problems at Wadeye. There are issues there, but compared to years ago, the community has certainly turned around tenfold. In 1996, petrol sniffing was endemic in the Top End, and the TRG was at Maningrida nearly every second day. It is the second largest Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory, and I can see how the community has gone forward through leadership and government investment. We still have a long way to go. I am not saying what is out there is good enough. We still have to do more and, as the local member, I will be making sure the commitment of 109 new houses promised to that community will be delivered.
The involvement of traditional owners in terms of leasing has been really pleasing. Now that traditional owners have that control, they are looking at working with the land council to develop other industries to come to the community such as a bakery. With the growth of Maningrida, a normalisation process is happening. There are challenges which have to be worked through with the community to ensure there is protection, not just for traditional owners, but other Aboriginal groups who live in Maningrida and call Maningrida their home.
Whilst there are challenges in some of our communities, there are also opportunities and we need to look at those opportunities and take advantage of them. I have been on record constantly regarding leasing on Aboriginal land, and we have seen the strategic block leasing in Maningrida and Gunbalanya come to fruition. This will bring economic opportunities and jobs to the communities.
I agree with the member for Katherine regarding the challenges facing the Northern Territory in relation to alcohol. I, like other members in this parliament, have consistently advocated what he said. In 2001, when I was elected to parliament, I spoke about mandatory treatment. At that time members on both sides found it hard to accept someone advocating mandatory treatment for habitual drunks causing problems. I do not shy away from my views in relation to grog or ganga, and the problems the facing communities. As Aboriginal people, unless we are brave enough, unless we are honest enough to see grog and ganga are probably our biggest challenge, we are never going to forward. Substance abuse impacts on the ability of our children getting an education. It is grog which impacts on the ability of our parents and families to provide a safe haven for our children; it impacts on our children’s ability to get a good education. In my opinion, the greatest challenge is being honest and facing the issues of substance abuse.
I have outlined previously the process we brought in under the Volatile Substance Abuse Act, where we are able to compulsorily require a person to have treatment, where we have authorised people - if you take the mechanism out of the Volatile Substance Abuse Act and make it happen in terms of the alcohol courts, you will get a better process with people going through that system.
For me it is about the challenge of what we need to do with grog, and what we face as a community with drugs, so we can capitalise fully on those opportunities that are there. For anyone to say there are no opportunities, as I said yesterday, if you have both governments committed, the Aboriginal community on side, land councils, everyone working together, we should be able to capitalise on those opportunities. Those opportunities include better education; every single one of our kids should have access to the same level of education. I know this government has invested in transforming Indigenous education, many of the schools have been fixed up and extra classrooms built, which has enabled many of those Aboriginal kids to finally sit in a classroom.
One of the biggest health problems in many of our remote communities is otitis media; many of our kids have hearing problems. We are now seeing classrooms, for the first time, rolling out in our communities where the acoustics is one where kids can finally hear and understand. That has come about by a Labor government committed to transforming Indigenous education so kids can actually hear what they are learning.
One thing I want to clear up quickly relates to SIHIP emergency housing. I remember with the intervention, the Little Children Are Sacred report, the one biggest issue we said needed to be fixed was housing. I applauded Mal Brough, who was the minister for Indigenous Affairs at the time, on his stance with alcohol. He, with the Prime Minister said: ‘We are going to do a ban of grog’. However, housing was left wanting. That came after. It was not called emergency housing, but it was a program, negotiated with the Chief Minister post-intervention after much pressure was exerted because, when you talk about protection of children, if you do not have the houses or the police on the ground, children are not going to be protected.
Policing was a major issue. It is great to go around my electorate and see how many police there are. For the first time, Maningrida, a community of nearly 3000 people, has nearly 10 police on the ground. Previously, that community only had two police. They have substantial resources now in policing. Much of the drug activity in that community is starting to decrease. The police are grabbing one person too many relating to both grog and drugs going into that community, and it is decreasing. Hopefully, with more police on the ground, that will become a thing of the past rather than a normal part of the activity happening around that community.
Gunbalanya, and other communities, have faced housing challenges. I recently spent about three days at Gunbalanya. There was excitement and activity happening in that community; with the talk amongst the 26 young men who are going to go into the training program so they can be employed full-time in the housing program. Knowing they are going to go from CDEP with 50% of their salary being quarantined, to a full-time job, was giving some pride to some of these young men. Whilst many of the communities are not perfect, there are a number of things happening.
It is imperative all of us, as local members, remain vigilant and ensure the systems that are there, the programs that are happening on the ground in the communities are working; they are going to get the outcomes we all want and which community people themselves want.
I fully support the statement. As the Chief Minister said, growing this Territory has many challenges but there are also many opportunities. Our population, whether it is in our urban, regional or remote centres, will always provide a challenge. I have certainly seen the many opportunities that can happen in places like Katherine.
Member for Katherine, in all the years I have worked in Katherine, and with the networks I have there, people talk about you with much respect, and that is fantastic. That is the measure of someone who does his work well. Having worked in Katherine for about eight years, where I was constantly threatened by the former member for Katherine for opening my mouth or doing my job, to hear many of my former colleagues speak so highly of you and with respect, is fantastic. That community, and the Aboriginal people in that town, deserve people who rise above politics and represent them without fear or favour. During the years I worked in Katherine there were suspicions about CLP members. When I talk to my colleagues, they do not have that suspicion any more, member for Katherine. You should feel proud of your work, and the relationship you have with those people.
We would march down the streets of Katherine with placards and I would be at the front of the protest at Mike Reed’s office, who was the former member for Katherine. You have done a lot in turning race relations around. That needs to be recorded, because Katherine has been volatile in the past. It had a reputation for being a racist town, and to hear my former colleagues talk about you highly is to be commended.
It is imperative …
Mr GUNNER: Madam Speaker, I move an extension of time for the member for Arafura, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I will not praise the member for Katherine too long, Madam Speaker. He might think something is happening here. I was going to send you an e-mail and let you know, because it is refreshing.
When we stand in parliament we often forget we all have different ideologies, and where we come from, and what we represent. Some time ago the member for Arnhem said we have to, as individuals, and as members, unite this Territory. That is the greatest challenge of this parliament. Each one of us as members, attempting to get the Territory united so those challenges out there, the affordable housing, the housing in remote communities, the issues we see with infrastructure, the delivery of that, are all addressed. We are all committed to this great place we call the Territory. I do not think I, nor anyone else, has the high moral ground on this. We all have to work together to get those outcomes, to meet the challenges, to take advantage of the many opportunities which are there, not just for our kids, but for every kid in the Northern Territory who wants to stay here, and live and work and raise a family, because it is a great place to be. I would not want to go to any other place.
I probably embarrassed the member for Katherine, but I believe one member can make a difference in a town, in a community, and I believe all of us can do that. It shows, whilst the challenges are there, the opportunities are too.
Madam Speaker, I fully support the Chief Minister’s statement. There is much work and there has certainly been a lot of investment by our government across health, education, housing and land. I commend the statement.
Mr CONLAN (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I know the member for Arafura is a dyed in the wool Labor supporter and it probably pained her to be so complimentary to someone on the opposite side of the Chamber. I have to say to her, it is terrific to see. It is a shame your federal colleague, the member for Lingiari, cannot bring himself to do the same thing after his appalling outburst the other day, which the member for Katherine is well aware of. In fact, he probably contributed to race relations rather than trying to break down those barriers. So hats off to the member for Arafura, and shame on the member for Lingiari.
In the first couple of paragraphs, the Chief Minister says: ‘I see opportunities, and the government is grasping those opportunities to make our Territory a dynamic place for our children and our future’. That is an extraordinary statement considering you cannot buy a house in the Northern Territory if you are on a low to middle income. It is impossible to rent a house or a unit in the Northern Territory if you are on a low to middle income. It is $350 a week to rent a two bedroom unit in Alice Springs; a house is somewhere in the vicinity of $450-plus a week. In fact it is quite a bit higher - I think it is about $480 for a bare bones home to rent per week in Alice Springs.
Mr Chandler: Does it have a roof?
Mr CONLAN: Does it have a roof? That is a very good question. I am sure it probably does, member for Brennan. I see the point. It does not auger well, and it certainly does not play into this line in the Chief Minister’s statement: ‘I see opportunities and the government is grasping those opportunities to make our Territory a dynamic place for our children and future generations’. We have assaults at record highs across the Northern Territory; law and order is out of control and it has been for a long time. Eight long years under Labor and assaults are at records highs. Crime against the person is at record highs; break-ins are at record highs; hospital waiting lists are the worst in the country.
This is not a really a government that is grasping the opportunities to make our Territory a dynamic place for our children and future generations. Literacy and numeracy numbers are also the worst in the country. It is hardly encouraging stuff to bring people to the Northern Territory so we can grow the Northern Territory into the future, particularly if you cannot buy a house, or rent a house if you are someone on a low to middle income. It is extraordinarily hard, and I have many examples of people in my constituency of Greatorex, and in fact right across Alice Springs, and right across other parts of the Northern Territory. Young professional people coming here to get a start - that is the one thing about the Territory you can say, it is easy to get a start here. There are plenty of opportunities here. There are not many people competing for jobs so it is easier to get into positions you might not find yourself getting into in other parts of the country. The problem is it is very hard to find a house, or rent a house, or buy a house when you actually get here.
Of course, those people trying to make a start in life are usually on those low to middle incomes. It is very rare they come into a high paying job, so if you are looking for a property, a house, or a unit to rent or even buy, it is almost impossible to do so. It is hardly encouraging people to move to the Territory, indeed grow the Territory, and grasp the opportunities to make the Territory a dynamic place for our children and future generations.
I believe it is worth pointing out, in 1978 when the Territory achieved self-government, the Territory’s budget was $50m - $50m in 1978. The CLP has done more with $50m than you have done with the billions of dollars you received in eight years of government. I believe it is worth highlighting some of the achievements of the CLP government and, in fact, stack it up against where things are with the ALP.
We could start at the establishment of national parks in the Northern Territory. The CLP established national parks - Litchfield, Keep River, Charles Darwin and Gregory National Parks. And what has the ALP done? Handed back nine national parks to traditional owners in Central Australia without even testing the validity of the land claim - just handed straight back. And now what do we see? As everyone knew, and everyone said back in 2003-04, when Clare Martin had this harebrained scheme, will tourists be able to continue to enjoy a glass of wine; responsible drinking, in these national parks that never had problems before. Will they be able to continue this? ‘Of course they will’, was the answer from the then Chief Minister, ‘Of course nothing will change’. Well, now what do we see? What everyone knew would happen, and feared would happen, has in fact occurred. Nevertheless, the establishment of national parks was an achievement by the Country Liberal Party
Windows on the Wetlands and the creation of Palmerston were others. I say to my Palmerston colleagues, the member for Brennan, and the member for Blain, the creation of Palmerston. I know the member for Blain has been a resident of Palmerston for 20 years, and he has seen it grow over the last 20 years. Of course the former member for Palmerston, the Honourable Barry Coulter, had a lot to do with the growth of Palmerston throughout those years; he was a Country Liberal too, by the way. The creation of Palmerston - which is now vying for second city status in the Northern Territory. As a resident of Alice Springs it pains me to think maybe you are the second city, I am not sure. In terms of population I believe it is very close.
That is another thing, here we have one of the greatest iconic king of the outback towns in all of Australia, in fact it is staggering we have a town at all in the middle of the desert, and yet here we have this magnificent place in Central Australia which I certainly love living in. My son was born there, and I hope he will grow up there and spend his life there making contributions to the town, and the Territory. It gives me great pride to think of someone who was not born in Alice Springs, that I now have a part of me which is actually a ridgy-didge part of Central Australia. I love the place, and I hope the town will continue to grow, but it is not doing a lot of growing, it is not moving forward at any rapid rate. In fact, if anything, it is probably going backwards under this government, certainly in terms of population at last count. When I first came to Central Australia about 30 000 people lived there but, in fact, it is way down now. It is around 25 000 or 26 000 people. That is hardly growth, and hardly grasping the opportunities to make our Territory a dynamic place for our children and future generations.
We can look at land release around Central Australia; that has been talked about ad nauseum in this House tonight, particularly in terms of this statement. We have seen very little land release in Central Australia, almost stagnated. How can we encourage professionals and people who want to move to the Territory to start a life, to enjoy the lifestyle and perhaps contribute to our economy through employment? How can we possibly encourage them and look them in the eye and say: ‘Yes, come here, but it is going to cost you $450 a week to rent a home’? It is not good enough.
The creation of Palmerston was a vision of the Country Liberal Party as was Kings Canyon, Yulara and, of course, the Katherine Gorge Visitors Centre. The Country Liberals built Yulara as a tourist destination. That was part of the grand plan, the vision. It is worth remembering that in 1978 we started with zero. We had to build everything. In 2001 when you took over, you were just left to manage what was built. The whole Territory had to be built, basically. Look around, and anything over eight years old was built by the Country Liberal Party. That is vision; that is what the Country Liberal Party did. I know you like to look back on the past and drag up things which happened prior to 2001 to justify your own failures, but the truth is there.
The Country Liberal Party started at zero in 1978, and built the Territory from there. Our graph starts here and goes right up here. The Gold Battery and Tourist Information Centre in Tennant Creek and Northern Territory museums were also a major part of the Country Liberal Party platform. Channel Island Power Station supplied power to the Northern Territory. The Country Liberals supplied power to the Northern Territory and built Channel Island Power Station.
A member: It used to run on gas.
Mr CONLAN: Well, there is another one, gas. We brought gas to the Northern Territory. Under our watch were the Mereenie gas fields and, of course, the gas fields in the Timor Sea supplying gas and power to the Northern Territory - all under a Country Liberal Party watch.
Like it or lump it member for Stuart, it is the truth and you know it. You grew up under a Country Liberal Party watch. You were given a good education; you had a house under a Country Liberal Party watch. Many young Territorians will not have the same opportunities you did under Labor because they cannot buy a house or rent a house, they are getting assaulted in the streets, and they cannot get hospital treatments due to the biggest waiting lists in the country.
Mr Hampton: How many secondary schools in the bush?
Mr CONLAN: How many secondary schools have you built? How many schools did you build? How many? Come on! How many secondary schools did the Australian Labor Party build? How many hospitals have you built? How many police stations has the Australian Labor Party built? I would like to know how many hospitals have you built? The answer is zero. How many airports? How many airstrips has the Australian Labor Party built in the Northern Territory? The answer is zero after eight long years.
We brought major sporting events to the Northern Territory - the Masters Games and the Arafura Games. The Territory Wildlife Park, and the Alice Springs Desert Park is world renown and one of the jewels in the crown; both were built under the watch of the Country Liberal Party. Pretty clear! State Square, this building we are working in right now, created hundreds and hundreds of jobs when it was built. Not only this building, the Supreme Court and State Square, all under the Country Liberals.
Dr Burns: What was economic growth in 2001? Zero.
Mr CONLAN: What was that?
Dr Burns: Economic growth in 2001 was zero - all under the watch of the CLP.
Mr CONLAN: Is that right? Is that right?
Dr Burns: That is exactly right.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr CONLAN: So what has happened, if that is the case, with the GST coming in? With all the GST money you have been given, what have you done with it? Nothing! Nothing! This is the point. What have you done with it? You have not built a hospital, you have not built a school, you have not built an airstrip; you have done nothing. You are sitting on $772m, and you cannot even build a house. You cannot put a roof on some of those houses out in the communities.
Economic growth might be one thing, member for Johnston, but you are a completely unmitigated disaster in providing visionary opportunities for the Northern Territory. It is a pretty appalling situation when you say: ‘I see opportunities and the government is grasping those opportunities to make our Territory a dynamic place for our children and future generations’. You have done absolutely jack when it comes to providing a dynamic place for our children and future opportunities. It is a point which cannot be too finely made for the member for Johnston, who lives in denial. We have record assaults in the Northern Territory, crime is out of control, the longest hospital waiting list across the whole country, and literacy and numeracy rates are the worst in Australia.
That is hardly providing opportunities to make the Territory a dynamic place for our children and future generations.
Members interjecting.
Mr CONLAN: Again, the member for Stuart is happy to sit there and mouth off, while he enjoyed the prosperity given to him under a Country Liberal government as someone who grew up in the Northern Territory. I would just be careful how smart you try to get, member for Stuart. You are not known as a great contributor.
Stokes Hill Wharf was also another great vision delivered by the Country Liberal Party. The Alice Springs Convention Centre, where we will all be in a couple of months, as parliament again travels down to Central Australia. We will all be there in that wonderful, beautiful building overlooking the MacDonnell Ranges …
A member interjecting.
Mr CONLAN: What?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr CONLAN: I am not talking about taking the parliament to Alice Springs. I am talking about building the Alice Springs Convention Centre.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Mr CONLAN: Sorry, Madam Speaker, I did not see you.
Madam SPEAKER: You need to resume your seat, member for Greatorex. Thank you. Honourable members, it pains me to once again have to remind you of Standing Order 51:
Honourable members, it is very difficult to follow this debate. Member for Greatorex, you have the call but if you could direct your comments through the Chair rather than across the Chamber please, and if interjections from the government side could be kept to a minimum.
Mr CONLAN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. For the member for Johnston’s benefit, we did need a convention centre before we could actually bring parliament to Central Australia. We were not necessarily going to have parliament at ANZAC Hill High School, or ASHS were we, Madam Speaker? So we had to build that in the first place. He knows it, he does not like it. It is okay, we know he does not particularly like it; that is fair enough.
There is a very long list of achievements by the Country Liberals, Madam Speaker. The list by the Australian Labor Party in the Northern Territory is very small.
The Alice Springs Convention Centre is a marvellous facility and I am looking forward to being down there in a couple of months for the final sittings of the year.
The Marrara Sporting Complex, another magnificent achievement by the Country Liberals while in government. We built Charles Darwin University. We brought V8 Supercars to the NT. We developed East Arm Port. Now, where would we be? Where would the future of the Northern Territory be without such a magnificent port? Of course, we are really the hub of Asia, whether or not the eastern states like to acknowledge that. Darwin is, indeed, the shipping hub for Asia, and that is no small thanks to the Country Liberals for overseeing the development of East Arm Port.
Gas development: the County Liberals brought gas to the NT. The change of government happened just as the railway was handed over. It was not even 12 months from the changeover of government to when they cut the red tape. They did not even have the decency to invite the man who drove the railway, and that was the former member for Palmerston, the Honourable Barry Coulter. That is the type of people they are. Nevertheless, everyone knows it was the result of the Country Liberals.
Madam Speaker, the Country Liberals have delivered. We started with $50m in 1978. We have delivered - I was going to say suite or a plethora – I am trying to find another word, but something to indicate …
A member: An abundance.
Mr CONLAN: An abundance, that is it. We have abundance of infrastructure projects across the Northern Territory, starting from 1978 through to 2001. As I say, we started with a budget of $50m. Now you have billions …
Mr BOHLIN: A point of order, Madam Speaker. I move an extension of time for my colleague, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr CONLAN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thanks to the member for Drysdale. So you have had billions and billions of dollars to deliver infrastructure across the Northern Territory in eight years and you have done very little, if anything. How many hospitals have been built under the ALP? None. How many schools have been built under the ALP of the Northern Territory? How many police stations have been built under the Australian Labor Party? Is it one? In eight years.
Mr Bohlin: But who planned it? Who planned it?
Mr CONLAN: And who planned that? That is a very good point.
Mr Bohlin: The original idea started when I was working there.
Mr CONLAN: That is right. How many airports? How many tourist attractions? The Yulara development! The Beaufort Hotel! The Northern Territory did not have a five star hotel until the Country Liberals said: ‘We really need to have a five star hotel here. If we are going to tap into the Top End tourist market, we need to have a five star hotel’. So, lo and behold! The Beaufort became …
Members interjecting.
Mr CONLAN: The defence relocation of the north - all part of the Country Liberal legacy which stands up pretty well. I would say very well, but nevertheless, a great legacy, something I am very proud out, very proud to be part of the Country Liberals.
I do not buy into this argument that the Country Liberals contributed nothing to the Northern Territory. I know the Labor Party like to reel out that line all the time. It is because they have delivered very little. They have presided under a watch which has some of the highest housing prices in the Northern Territory, the highest rents in the Northern Territory, in the nation. It costs $350 to rent a two-bedroom home; $480-plus to rent a two-bedroom house as opposed to a unit. That is the bottom end of it. It is hardly attractive to those wanting to come to the Northern Territory, particularly in my constituency of Alice Springs.
It is hardly conducive to growth and certainly flies in the face of the Chief Minister’s line today which says: ‘I see opportunities and the government is grasping those opportunities to make our Territory a dynamic place for our children and future generations’. Assaults are at records highs, hospital waiting lists are the longest in the country and, of course, literacy and numeracy numbers are also the worst in the country.
The Country Liberals built the Northern Territory. You people were handed it to manage it. Okay? You have not managed it very well indeed. In fact, you have been a completely unmitigated disaster for the Northern Territory, certainly when it comes to growth. The name of this statement is Growing the Territory: Opportunities and Challenges of Growth. Well, as I say, an unmitigated disaster when it comes to this statement. You are a half-baked government. You mentioned something about half glass empty, but a half-baked government, not only an embarrassment to the federal Labor executive. Kevin Rudd is trying to distance himself from you as much as possible because he knows you are a complete disaster. You are an embarrassment to the heartland of the Australian Labor Party. He knows it. Everyone knows it. Not only that, you are also an embarrassment to the Territory, and indeed the rest of the nation.
Building the Territory indeed! What a load of rubbish.
Debate adjourned.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have received the following letter from the member for Goyder:
It is signed by the member for Goyder.
Is the proposed discussion supported; it is supported.
Ms PURICK (Goyder): Madam Speaker, this government has failed to plan or develop a public infrastructure investment program for the continued growth of the Territory. This failure has resulted in pain and suffering for many Territorians and made us an unfavourable place to stay, invest and bring up a family. This government has failed to provide a secure and confident environment for home builders and purchasers through their complete lack of application of the building registration, investigation and lack of home warranty insurance despite the government saying it would introduce such an insurance scheme years ago.
The lack of planning in future infrastructure, and implementing proper and quality repair and maintenance programs, has seen a deterioration of our valuable assets - roads, bridges, power stations, water supply and public housing stocks. There has been an undermining of our Territory economy and social wellbeing, and under this Labor government, we have experienced poor sustainable growth rather than solid economic and social development.
Under this Labor government we now have the lowest level of home ownership; people cannot afford to buy a home of any shape or size. Recently we saw figures released from the Australian Bureau of Statistics which had the Territory experiencing a dramatic drop in the take up of home finance to buy or build. People cannot afford to obtain finance given the high level of finance they will need to buy a house; the repayments would cripple them, if they can get finance in the first place.
Under this Labor government we have the highest rental levels in the country, with an average price of renting a three-bedroom house at around $540 per week, when in 2004 it was $260 per week, and that is at the cheaper end of the market. People are desperate, and when they cannot afford to rent, they shack up with family or friends, live in their car, live in a tent, or leave the Territory. Usually renting a property is a stepping stone to buying your first home. However, here in the Territory when you rent a home that is where you will stay, as buying a home has become just a pipe dream.
Let me give some real examples of the frustration, if not anger, people are feeling. I will read a letter which was sent to you, Madam Speaker, as the member for Nightcliff; it was also sent to the Chief Minister and to the Opposition Leader, and I quote:
The letter goes on:
In last Saturday’s paper another very unhappy rental person stated his position:
From another person:
A third one:
That was from a Bakewell family.
Madam Speaker, it is not just this side of the House that is critical of government’s housing and land release policies; it is ordinary hard-working people who have been pushed to the limit and, subsequently, leaving the Territory. When they leave, they will take with them their skills, experience, and ability to contribute to the Territory’s development, prosperity and wellbeing. The government’s failure to plan has become a plan to fail. Part of the reason for the exorbitant rise in house prices is directly a result of the difficulty experienced by homebuyers attempting to compete with each other in an under-supplied marketplace.
Poor planning has led to poor releases, to poor outcomes. The government is now desperately announcing all manner of new housing releases, but none have a time line attached. The most advanced subdivision is Bellamack. Although first announced in September 2007, construction on blocks will not start until next Dry Season, given that the titles have not been issued at this point in time. We have seen the backflip on the micro-dot shoe boxes called Bellamack Gardens. It is good the blocks are a little bigger. However, given this government’s track record, titles and construction most likely will not happen until two years down the track.
Land release - or should I say poor, if not, no land release, in the government’s own Budget 2009-10 Northern Territory Economy Overview it states:
We know this figure of required dwellings is probably closer to 2000 needed each year. We are falling well short of that as land is not being released in an orderly and systematic manner. Each time the matter of lack of land is raised; someone in the Labor government wakes up and says: ‘I wonder what piece of land we can claim to be released today?’ No plans, just knee-jerk reaction such as the proposal to develop Berrimah Farm land. Interestingly, that development proposal has dropped off the government’s propaganda - not surprising, given the inappropriateness of the land for residential development. Or will they release a weeny parcel of land on Boulter Road – again, I believe, an inappropriate site for residential dwellings.
The planned suburbs in Palmerston are way behind schedule, which is not surprising given Bellamack is over two years behind schedule, and there are approximately eight to 10 media releases by the minister for Planning in regard to Bellamack. This poor land release process is contributing to the escalating house prices, to people leaving the Territory, and people suffering across the board as they are desperately trying to find accommodation of any kind they can afford.
If all that is not bad enough, we have the lowest take-up of the federal government’s First Home Owners Boost. Out of the 153 449 recipients of the First Home Owners Boost since October 2008, just 1147 were in the Northern Territory. To put that figure into perspective, the Australian Capital Territory had 2400 first homeowners accessing the federal grant in the same period. Despite the ACT having a population just 50% higher than the NT, it had 100% more homeowners taking up the grant. With 1% of the national population, the Territory should be receiving 1% of the grants, which would have seen around 1530 successful applicants.
There is so much more that could be added to the private market discussion; however, I turn my comments now to public housing. I believe this is one of the most important areas where government has failed. We have the highest rate of public housing and, yet, we have an ever-decreasing public housing stock due to sales by the Department of Housing, without making provision for replacement. Public housing has been sold at unprecedented rates nationally to make up for profits lost through renting to the socially disadvantaged. Only recently, we have seen the destruction of the Wirrina block of flats in Parap, which were 100% public housing. They are to be replaced with only 30% public housing, with 70% going to the private market. Where are those 70% going to live in the future? The government stated all the tenants were housed in the northern suburbs. I ask you, if those people were housed in the northern suburbs, was it at the expense of pre-existing people on the housing waiting list who were priority one? What about the Emery Avenue units taken out of the public housing stock and sold for higher prices than the minister tried to tell us they would sell for? Still not all of them have been sold.
A four year waiting list for public housing is appalling and just outrageous. We are almost at the bottom of the country when it comes to population adjusted waiting lists. Let me provide some details to highlight this problem.
A member: Where is the ABS report?
Mr Knight: On the website, go and have a look at it.
Ms PURICK: I will get to that, minister. Current waiting times in Palmerston are: one-bed pensioner unit – 47 months; a one-bed for other people – 46 months; a two-bedroom unit – 38 months; a three-bedroom – 46 months. In Darwin and Casuarina: a one-bed pensioner – 45 months; a one-bed for other – 45 months; two-bedroom unit – 40 months; a three-bedroom place in Darwin and Casuarina for public housing has a 55 month waiting list.
Priority housing in the public housing system is said to take six to 12 months to obtain. However, I know from my experience trying to relocate elderly people from the rural area, they have been told 12 months minimum, and they are a priority one.
This morning, I asked the minister why he had given incorrect information about waiting lists. He claimed we have the shortest list in the country. However, we have almost the worst time for people getting into public housing. The figures I tabled came specifically from the minister’s office in response to a Question on Notice from the member for Nelson in late 2008. The figures were then extrapolated into the graphs, and supported by housing indicators from Australian Bureau of Statistics, and if your research people cannot find them, then you had better go back to school.
There is a complete lack of supported social housing for residents who suffer from a range of physical or mental disabilities. There is no increase, from my research, in trying to place people into industry housing. Industry housing is for people with disabilities, including the need for wheelchair access. There are people in the community in respite housing because they cannot get into industry housing. As they are in respite housing, the people who need respite housing cannot have respite, placing more pressure on families and the community.
Public housing tenants are generally good tenants who are grateful for the assistance they are offered. Sadly, a minority treat their dwellings and their neighbours with contempt. These dwellings are often so badly damaged it takes weeks to repair the mess they leave behind, and the distress they cause their neighbours is unacceptable. The only public housing opening up in the new Darwin suburbs is reserved for seniors, as they are, and I quote, ‘nicer public housing tenants and more acceptable to the community that they will be living in’.
We have even seen the member for Fannie Bay saying in his local newsletter that he wants a better social mix in Fannie Bay. That is code for ‘let us get rid of public housing, as low income people and socially disadvantaged people are not welcome in Fannie Bay’.
Ms Lawrie: Not true.
Ms PURICK: It was in his newsletter.
Ms Lawrie: No, no, the bit you said ….
Ms PURICK: Better check with the member for Fannie Bay. That is a shameful situation, and a position which tells me government is not serious about helping people get a start in life, or the people who need the start and help most.
And why are houses and flats left vacant for long periods of time? Why has a four-bedroom house in Nightcliff been vacant for over two years? I have written to the minister about this house, and I trust I will get a prompt and good explanation as to why. Why are there two public houses on Essington Avenue that have been unoccupied for over three months? What is the issue? Why are they not being allocated? Why is government not repairing them or cleaning them? What is going on?
With these issues confronting us, it is no wonder we now have the highest homelessness rate in the country, and yet we have the smallest population base. Of the majority of homeless in the Territory, 52% are people under the age of 34 years of age. The Counting the Homeless report released recently by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows the Territory has a homelessness rate 500 times higher than the national average. That is shameful, particularly as this Labor government has allowed it to happen, and they continue to stand by and let people live rough, live on the streets, live in cars, and also not to forget they threw a 14-year-old girl onto the streets just after her father died.
Madam Speaker, these are just some of the problems in regard to housing and, lack of housing infrastructure in urban areas and sadly it is no better in the bush. The government website for SIHIP claims:
With not one house being completed under SIHIP in nearly two years, and over $45m having been spent already, there is no help to make families healthier, no strengthening of communities and definitely no economic growth through job training and opportunities. The NT government, under this Minister for Housing, is meant to be managing the program. Quite honestly, they could not manage a chook raffle in a local pub, let alone a multimillion dollar housing program.
This is a serious definite matter of public importance. We cannot stress enough the problems out there in the public housing system, in the rental market and the affordability housing system. Land is not unavailable. It is there. We have plenty of land in the Top End, plenty of land in the Territory. There is just no planning by this government into an orderly and systematic release of land. This is therefore putting huge pressure on families, on individuals, creating the strain that we are seeing and experiencing, contributing to the problems I highlighted last night in my adjournment debate in regard to dodgy builders.
Madam Speaker, I urge both the Housing minister and the Planning minister to get their acts together and to start to fix this problem so the Territory can grow, and people get into safe and affordable housing, which is every person’s right.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery to the Mayor of Alice Springs, Mr Damien Ryan. On behalf on honourable members I extend you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr GUNNER (Fannie Bay): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for the opportunity to speak to this matter of public importance. I agree that we have a significant challenge in the Territory to meet housing needs. I do believe there is stress out there in finding a roof to put over your head, to be able to afford accommodation for yourself and your family, of mortgage stress where you struggle to balance the bills and the income. There are huge worries for Territorians out there trying to find a place to live; there is no doubt about that.
That is one reason the Chief Minister delivered his statement yesterday addressing this issue because, as a government, we believe this is a challenge we need to meet, and that we have a plan to meet it.
Why do we have this challenge? In the matter of public importance the member for Goyder says we have failed to plan to meet forecast growth. Part of the problem is we did plan to meet forecast growth, and in fact our population growth has far exceeded that. Partly because of a strong economy, and thank you, Treasurer, we have had a population growth around double what was forecast. It was forecast a bit over 1%, and it has been over 2%, which is double. It might not sound like much - 1% to 2% - but that is thousands of people. Part of the problem is growth has exceeded the forecast.
Ms Lawrie: ABS forecasts.
Mr GUNNER: ABS forecasts show growth to be around the 1% mark, and growth in the Territory was around the 2% mark. That is a very significant achievement; to have that many people choose to move to the Territory and stay. It was not only a strong economy which saw our population grow. We made a deliberate attempt, as a government, to make this a better place to live and work. That is something the Labor government has deliberately set out to achieve.
We want to keep our people. There is no doubt people are our biggest resource, and I am sure all members know we have a very young population and we want to keep people here. Often people come to the Territory for two or three years for the challenge and are off again. We want to ensure those people stay for a longer period, even permanently. That is one thing which has led to the challenge we are facing in the Territory with housing. Often people get to their early 30s, have a child and decide to move south to their grandparents. We also have a number of students. I know friends, after leaving high school, decided to move south to university.
Our challenge was to find out why people leave the Territory and what we can do to ensure they stay. We have done several things in relation to that. We made sure our pensioner concession scheme is the best in the country. This will ensure more senior Territorians stay here and, as members opposite might appreciate, our seniors’ population is expected to double by 2030. In the recent budget we introduced free pensioner driving licences. We continue to look for ways to make our pensioner concession scheme better; we will continue to find ways to ensure our senior Territorians stay here and to make sure young families want to stay here. We have made deliberate attempts to retain our population, which is one reason we have the current challenges in finding homes for everyone.
I am looking at Darwin and Palmerston now, and the minister for Planning, the Treasurer, will take a broader look at the Territory later in the debate. We have looked at addressing why young people move from the Territory. I have already touched on young families moving closer to family and how we are keeping senior Territorians here. We also looked at improving the options for young families in Darwin. We invested heavily in the Leanyer Recreation Park. It is a fantastic, free facility and I know many families who go to the Leanyer Recreation Park. They love the playground equipment. With all the water problems in the southern states, they think the facility we have here is fantastic, and the new water slides are free.
These are some of the thing we have done to make sure our population …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr GUNNER: … to keep our people and, in fact, we are growing our population, which is why we have the challenge. Members opposite do not want to recognise the reason we have this challenge in the Territory is because people want to live here. Not only do people want to stay here, more people are choosing to come here.
I like the quote from the Chief Minister at the opening of Leanyer Recreation Park: ‘You won’t be seeing me there in my budgie smugglers, but I will be there with the kids during the Easter holiday’. Many people go there; it is a popular place for a birthday party. It has some competition now with the wave pool and the water park. We have even more facilities to encourage people to stay in the Territory. Our challenge is to keep people here.
After being elected to government in 2001, we said: ‘BassintheGrass; let’s have a Big Day Out-style concert here in the Territory.’ It has been a huge success; it has sold out every year with an extraordinary calibre of artists coming to the Territory. This year there was Sneaky Sound System, The Cat Empire, our own Jess, Gabriella Cilmi. In previous years we have had Powderfinger, Wolfmother, Hilltop Hoods, Jet, Eskimo Joe …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! A point of order on relevance. The Hilltop Hoods is a very good band, I know, I listen to them, but I do not think it really beats housing.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat, and cease interjecting. That is a very frivolous interjection and point of order. Member for Fannie Bay, please continue.
Mr GUNNER: This is clearly why population has exceeded the forecast, because we made a deliberate attempt to make the Territory a better place to live and work, and the opposition does not want to acknowledge that. They do not acknowledge the population growth in the Territory has exceeded forecast.
The claim made in the matter of public importance is we failed to meet forecast population growth figures, and we have in fact exceeded that; we have doubled forecasted population growth figures. Members opposite do not want to recognise we have made a deliberate attempt as a government, across eight years, to make this a better place to live and work.
It does not stop there though; we have brought quality sport to the Territory for the first time; regular season AFL matches, test and one-day international cricket, basketball. Recently, we had the best basketball teams in Australia playing in Darwin. That is the first time in Australia, and it happened here in Darwin. These are decisions we made which contributed significantly to population growth in the Territory doubling on forecast figures, making this a better place to live and work. Taking into account our strong economy, this has led to significant housing challenges.
As the Chief Minister outlined in the statement yesterday, it is a challenge which will not be satisfied by a one-size-fits-all strategy. We have looked very carefully at where growth has occurred, in what age brackets, and what family units, and our Housing the Territory strategy recognises those various needs. For example, seniors’ housing and affordable housing areas jump out to me, and I know there are key initiatives occurring in my electorate where we are delivering on those areas. I will touch on them in a moment.
It is not just about turning off big blocks; it is about providing a variety of block sizes, about providing extra services to existing suburbs where the population is going up. The CBD is an example of where the population is going up, literally. We have seen high-rises going up. We have added the new wave pool and the waterfront facility, city beach lagoon, and we are looking at increasing green space at the old hospital site and Myilly Park. That is what we are doing to support the increasing population numbers in those areas. The rebuild of the city could see a whole suburb of people moving to the CBD. Since 2003, 2300 units have been constructed in the CBD. That is a significant number of people.
The Education department is looking at future schooling needs for the inner city. We can support our current cohorts at Larrakeyah, Stuart Park, Ludmilla and Parap Primary Schools, but we are planning for future needs. Our planning for future education needs has already seen the Darwin Middle School built.
Work will start soon on the Southern Cross Care Retirement Village at the old Waratah Oval. The first stage is 85 aged-care beds, and further stages, when approved, will see flexi-care apartments and independent living townhouses built. Between those two, there will be 85 apartments and townhouses. This is incredibly popular with seniors across the Territory, not only my electorate. I get people coming into my office all the time asking to see the plans, asking for information, asking how to get on the wait list. The need is critical in the Territory. People want these options.
I have 850-plus people living in my electorate aged 60 and over. This is the estate they look for. They want to have a retirement village option they like, and in the community they currently live in. This is what the development of the old Waratah Oval will deliver. Southern Cross Care is going to build a fantastic facility, and I commend them. Seniors are very important. That is happening in my electorate. I know there are other things happening across the Territory for our seniors’ needs.
We are also addressing the need for affordable housing options in my electorate. We have announced the creation of an affordable housing rental company, and the first project involving that company is the redevelopment of public housing along Parap Road. Wirrina is the first set of public housing units we are redeveloping, and they have just been knocked down. They are located at the corner of Parap Road and Gregory Street, for those people who do not know where they are.
There is no doubt the current housing model does not work; 100% public housing in that density does not work. We know it does not work; it is not the right model. The opposition insists on saying we need to build on a site we know does not work. They want to go back to a failed model. I do not know why they want to do that. It makes no sense. It is not only the buildings that have passed their use-by date; that housing model no longer works. It is widely recognised by many people and, yet, the opposition insists on saying we should go back to a failed model. I have no doubt the people in my electorate do not want to see it recreated on the site at Wirrina. They know it does not work ...
Mr Chandler: How does Evolution work? How does any high-rise work? They are managed, and you do not manage them.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Brennan, cease interjecting
Mr GUNNER: We need a better model. That is what we need to do. We have a responsibility for Territory Housing tenants, neighbours, and businesses to come with a better housing model; a better environment to live in. With a new model, we are hoping to achieve that. A mixed tenure model which combines social housing, affordable housing, and private housing. We are looking at different solutions to our problems. Instead of repeating the mistakes of the past, which is what the CLP is wanting us to do, we are looking for a better model. We are looking for a better place to live. That is really important. They want to go back to the past. They seem to be stuck in the glory days of the past. They cannot recognise some of the things they did, did not work, and they want us to go back. It makes no sense.
The member for Greatorex said, effectively, in 1978 nothing existed in the Territory. They went from zero and they built everything. I was born in Alice Springs in 1976 in a hospital. I do not remember it; I am sure my mum does. According to the member for Greatorex, that could not have happened because there was no hospital there - nothing existed in the Territory before 1978. That is not the case; he was a bit carried away with his rhetoric. There were things here prior to the CLP, and prior to 1978. Sometimes, some of those things did not work. There is no fault in saying the housing model at Wirrina does not work and we are looking for a different housing model. What the opposition says makes no sense to me. I really do shake my head. Many people in my electorate, and I am sure many others, cannot understand why the CLP support a failed housing model.
We are ahead of schedule on that site. Moving the tenants to their new homes was quicker than expected. It is now knocked down. You can drive past and see the trees still there. The black cloth is up around the fence, but Wirrina itself has come down. The next stage is to call for expressions of interest.
On the site we are going to build a mixed tenure development - a combination of public housing, private housing, and affordable housing. We will also have detailed plans for those who want to submit expressions of interest. It is a large site and I expect, when you consider we are including in the redevelopment a lot that used to have six townhouses, and a single house, the number of people living there will be greater than what was there previously.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The order you called was to the point of order; the interjections, I could not hear.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! It is quite difficult to hear the member for Fannie Bay.
Member for Araluen, I remind you of Standing Order 51. I will not read it again, because I am sure you know it off by heart now but just to remind you. Member for Braitling, cease interjecting. Member for Fannie Bay, you have the call.
Mr GUNNER: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Wirrina is on Parap Road. It is opposite a shopping village and a public transport route also. It is the right location for high density building, and that is what we are looking at doing on that site. Within that complex, the affordable housing rental company will have a number of units.
I am not sure if members appreciate this: there are several affordable housing rental company models around the country and they rent out properties at 75% of the market rate. They are targeted at low income earners, and they have a low income cap. It is through the Australian Tax Office, and there are Commonwealth Rent Assistance and GST exemptions. Effectively, the affordable housing rental company gets a bigger bang for its housing buck than Territory Housing. Not only that, you get more money into the housing system because you are paying at 75% of the market rate. You are subsidising the rent but you are getting more money into the system for repairs and maintenance. You are targeting an area the market is failing at the moment. We have private housing and social housing, and we are trying to ensure the affordable housing rental company targets people on low incomes in areas where they need to live.
We are starting at Wirrina, a fantastic place; it is a great place to live. We are making sure low income earners are located in an area I think they need to be. It is a very positive development. It is going to be a new model that is going to work, and that we can roll out to other public housing sites in the Territory. It takes a little time to roll it out because we have to vacate the premises first. However, I believe this model will work. I am very happy that, in my electorate, we will be able to lead the way and show how the model can work.
There is a point I want to pick up in terms of public housing. An incorrect figure has been used in this House a number of times. I understand during the Estimates Committee process this information was actually provided for the public record, and again last sittings the Minister for Housing provided the correct information. There is every chance the member for Sanderson did not realise this, however, the opposition have said repeatedly since taking government we have sold 2000 public housing homes. You might not appreciate this, but the Minister for Housing explained this during the last sittings …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fannie Bay, you have the call.
Mr GUNNER: Thank you, Madam Speaker. They may not appreciate this, but the ABS statistics they have based the figure of 2000 on go back to 2001, but it is actually reporting on statistics from 1999. Of that 2000, 1400 of those homes were actually sold by the CLP in the last years of their government. He made the information available to the Estimates Committee process, and 70% of the 2000 homes they claim we sold, they sold. I think it is a very important clarification. The Minister for Housing …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GUNNER: I am looking at the Parliamentary Record from the last sittings. The Minister for Housing said, quite clearly - because the ABS statistics are actually based on the year 1999 - so 1400 of the homes they claim we sold, they sold. Seventy percent of those homes were, in fact, sold by the CLP. The information was provided in the Estimates Committee process, it was provided last sittings, and I am repeating it now. It is on the Parliamentary Record, 19 August 2009. The Minister for Housing made it clear but the CLP continues to insist on using a figure which includes the houses they sold. They say it is a disgrace and yet they did it. They said …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr GUNNER: … that is five years of our government. The Minister for Housing has done the maths, they sold 450 houses a year in their last …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GUNNER: … and we sold 90 houses. The majority of houses we sold were to Territory Housing tenants. Addressing that generational inequity people often talk about, that effort to make sure you have something to pass on to the future generation, which is where a mortgage and buying a house is important, and is the reason we are talking about this challenge today.
We want people to be able to buy their own homes. That is one reason we fixed HomeNorth in the first term, under the former member for Fannie Bay, and the Minister for Housing, the then member for Arnhem. We made a deliberate attempt to fix the HomeNorth loan project to ensure people could get into homes, and that is why we are talking about this challenge to house people; we want people to be able to buy their own homes, to love living here and to stay here. Owning your own home is a great way to do that. Often, public housing properties sold have been in an effort to ensure Territory Housing tenants who were renting actually own a home, stay and pass on the asset to future generations.
Mr ELFERINK (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, there are fatal car accidents and there are monumental catastrophes such as tsunamis, and then there are speeches from the member for Fannie Bay. I listened with extraordinary disbelief to some of the utterances from the member for Fannie Bay. His cynicism towards the voting population of this country is breathtaking.
I was set in mind, whilst I was listening to the member for Fannie Bay, of a work called Satire X which was written by a Roman poet, Juvenal, some 200 years into the modern era. In that poem, in the most cynical expression of how people are bought and sold, he said:
If we were to believe the member for Fannie Bay’s world view, not only do the people sit around hoping bread and circuses will be made available to them so they will continue living here, they actually come to Darwin for it. They move. He is so cynical of our people he thinks people make a decision to travel all the way across this great continent of ours to come to Darwin so they can use a free water slide.
That is the measure of the examination, by this member, of the reason people come here - a free water slide. In fact, the first 10 minutes of his speech was dedicated to talking about things like free water slides, BassintheGrass, BassintheDust, all of these wonderful things. People are saying: ‘Goodness, I am going to Darwin. I am going to pull out all stops and I am going to Darwin. I cannot wait to use the free water slide at Leanyer. Goodness gracious me, why doesn’t that happen in Sydney? Yes, that really works for me!’ The logic is undeniable.
Madam Speaker, it is also clear the member for Fannie Bay seems to think if you continue to keep the bread and circuses coming all will be sweetness and the great frosted glass people volunteer to hide behind when they are using a free water slide, will somehow make those people ignorant of the fact they are paying the highest rents in the country. No one noticed that, Madam Speaker. Why? They can go a BassintheGrass concert; they can listen to the Hoodoo Gurus, or whoever comes. They can listen to that and they would be utterly ignorant of the fact they are paying, at the moment, over $500 a week for a rental house.
They are not going to notice that because they have their bread and circuses. ‘We will dazzle them with that; we will put flyers into their impoverished letterboxes saying: “Do not worry, slip down to the water slide if you are feeling a bit hot; you cannot run the air-conditioner because you are paying an extraordinary amount for your power, but that is all right, slip down the water slide, you will be right. Go down to BassintheGrass, you will be right”’.
The cynicism of the member for Fannie Bay is absolutely breathtaking if he genuinely believes that is a defence for the unfolding and unmitigated disaster which is the failure of this government to deal with these very real issues of the provision of housing for the people of the Northern Territory.
We are paying more than Sydney. We are a town of 120 000, if you include Palmerston, and we are paying more than Sydney for the privilege of living here, and it is going to get worse. Things like INPEX will come to Darwin, and the government quite rightly should stand up, and does stand up and say: ‘We are bringing INPEX’. Good! I am sure it also has something to do with the fact Japanese people want to stay warm during winter, but that is by the by. I believe the government did a good job to get INPEX to the Northern Territory, but when that happens, what provision is there in current planning to prevent what occurred in places like Port Hedland when they had a similar gas boom? When three-bedroom houses were being rented for $1300, $1400 and up to $1500 a week; and they were being rented by people in the offshore industry who could afford to stay there in groups. Local residents in places like Port Hedland were being pushed out.
That is where we are going if we are not ready for what may occur. Yes, I do understand growth has exceeded projections, but not so dramatically as to prevent this government from being ready.
In 2007 we were promised Bellamack was going to happen. The Treasurer said:
We have just started releasing land in Bellamack in the last few months. People are now joining a lottery for the privilege of going into debt to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars so they can buy a small patch of land at Palmerston. That is what this particular debate is about, and has been for the last week. To claim that somehow a water slide is going to fix this or a concert is going to fix this, is an impoverished defence. However, nowhere near as impoverished as the defence which has not been mounted by the minister who should be on his feet defending this government’s record with the small scraps that he might turn to, to build such a structure.
In fact, I suspect his silence betrays the fact they are now beyond defence in relation to this, and mere silence is going to be the way they now manage this. They will trot out the member for Fannie Bay, and maybe one other backbencher to deal with this MPI, because they no longer have the capacity to answer any of the criticisms which are being levelled at them.
I have, in my electorate, public housing tenancies and, in the not so distance past, I took the time to meet with some of the residents. As a consequence of meeting the residents, I wrote a letter to the minister, which remained unanswered. Travelling past the particular location one day, I saw a Channel 9 cameraman, so I stopped and said: ‘My goodness, why are you filming Tomaris Court?’ ‘Oh, some fellow has been stabbed in the throat, and he is fighting for his life in hospital’. I have not heard if that person survived. I thought: ‘Goodness, I just wrote to the minister about this the other day’. It was in that letter I accused the minister - after a litany of complaints about how the minister was failing in his duties as a landlord to look after those people - of being on the verge of being confused with a ‘slum lord’, or words to that effect. It was not until this fellow was stabbed in the throat I got a letter, on that very same day, from the minister’s office excusing all of the things which had not been done in that set of units. It just goes to show there is an utter and complete disconnect between the minister and his responsibilities in how he manages housing stock he is in possession of.
The member for Fannie Bay must also understand one important fact: when I say the Territory government has sold off some 2000 Territory Housing dwellings, I am not talking about ABS statistics. All you have to do is go to Budget Paper No 3 and track, year in, year out, the dwindling number of dwellings in those Budget Papers. There is no reference at all to the Australian Bureau of Statistics to line up those sets of numbers.
The original program agreed to and supported - believe it or not, when the Labor Party was in opposition and Tim Baldwin was the Minister for Lands and Housing - was Territory Housing properties had become inappropriately weighted regarding the people they had in them. Because of the change in the social demographic between the 1980s and 1990s, we started getting to a point where we had three-bedroom houses with single mothers and one child living in them. Or there were people who were long-term tenants who were then being offered a very good arrangement to buy their own houses. This is what the new government continued to do.
Syd Stirling agreed with the proposal brought into this House by Tim Baldwin, to sell those houses which were no longer appropriate and, using that money generated, create other homes which were more appropriate. If a single mother had one child, they could move into a two-bedroom unit and that two-bedroom unit would be new. The capital would be raised from the sale of Territory Housing. The difference though, is this government stopped rebuilding new Territory Housing dwellings. They stopped rebuilding Territory Housing dwellings and they started to send that money straight back into the coffers.
Do I have the evidence to demonstrate this? Absolutely, because if you were taking the money from one set of sales and then rolling it into the construction of new dwellings, you would have an equivalent number, or even more dwellings, under your control. However, as I turn to Budget Paper No 3, over the last five or six years it clearly shows each year the number of Territory Housing dwellings has fallen. That is because the money from those sales is no longer being turned into the reconstruction of those dwellings. No, it is going to the construction of water slides, BassintheGrass concerts, and all of those other pieces of bread and circuses which will excite more people to come to the Northern Territory.
This government stands condemned for its failures - its manifest failures - in the delivery of housing services and land! It has failed public housing tenants because of the way it has conducted itself. It is nothing more than a slum lord nowadays. They have failed those people who want to get into private housing, simply because they offer land which, believe it or not, is as small as 150 m2 - to put that into some context it is two-thirds the size of a tennis court. This is how people are going to build their futures in the glorious people’s republic of the Northern Territory under this government.
If you are an Aboriginal person living in the bush, you could have been forgiven for expecting the emergency response and some $700m would build you a house out there, but no. No, it has to be a job creation scheme. At no level has this been good for Territorians other than the people who already own the property.
Madam Speaker, I live at 17 Narrows Road, and the house is a real fixer-uperer. It is the worst house/best street type arrangement. My wife rang me earlier today. She told me the house two houses up from us sold for $699 000. It was purchased not even a year ago for about $620 000. Now, that is fine for us, and I am delighted from a purely financial point of view that it works for us. My goodness gracious me, how are people going to get into this market? How are young families going to do it? How do they have a chance? They do not. They do not have a chance. It is because of the failures of this government to plan. The most consistent hallmark of this government is it could not see what was coming down the pipeline towards them, and now, Madam Speaker, they have given us bread and circuses, panem et circenses.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I have just about talked myself blue in the face on this topic over a number of years. I know the MPI subject is the failure of the Northern Territory government to provide sufficient housing infrastructure and residential land to meet forecast population growth, and I would agree with that. I believe we need to go back into history to look at some of the changes in the way residential land was sold in the Territory. It is unfortunate we moved from a system where the government developed land to a process where the land was sold off to the highest bidder, and that person then sold the land to the public.
That change, in itself, made it very hard for many people to afford their own home. Companies like Delfin bought land on the premise they could develop it to the maximum. The Delfin subdivision of Gunn was one of the first subdivisions with 300 m2 blocks. That was not done under this government; that was done under previous governments. That was a crying shame. Those blocks of land were sold at maximum prices for minimum size. That was the beginning of a process which was, to some extent, anti-Territorian, because we started to develop housing estates which were more suited to the Gold Coast, South Australia or Victoria than they were for a tropical Northern Territory.
The process of selling land, the concept of small blocks has continued on. I do not think any government would be willing to change that, because they would see hectares and hectares of land being sold at a cheaper price than if the land had been sold to a developer, who then sold and subdivided the land.
There is no doubt the government either did not read the forecast properly, or their advisers did not come up with the right statistics. As I said last night, I was told constantly Weddell was not going to be needed for 10 to 15 years and now it seems it will be needed in five. In relation to rural land, I was told there were sufficient blocks and there was no need for the government to look at subdividing its own land.
People then held onto land, the market got tighter and prices in the rural area have skyrocketed. In fact, in one year, land between Howard Springs and Humpty Doo increased by $100 000. It took an enormous jump. The reason for that was because developers released land in small amounts. Had the government released some if its land, it would have encouraged competition and kept the price lower. In the rural area we have a market the government has not been involved in, and we have very high prices. As I stated earlier, $400 000 is what you would expect to pay for a 2 ha block in Howard Springs. Land is certainly not available for the average person. They would have to go further down the track, find a unit, or whatever they can find at a reasonable price.
Although this discussion today is about the failure of government to provide sufficient housing, infrastructure and residential land, we have to say we are in trouble, we have a shortage of land, and how can we fix it. If we are going to be negative we will not achieve anything. It is beholden on members in this House to look at ways to solve the problem.
In Palmerston, we need to bring on more houses quickly. We know Zuccoli and Mitchell are available; the government is doing Johnston, can we bring on those other suburbs quicker. I know it is a financial burden on a government; headworks are not cheap. We can build four suburbs at a time, not two. That is not easy, it is much money for a government, but if the issue before us is we are short of land then it requires big decisions, with big vision and big money, which may mean we have to go into further debt. We may need to ask the Commonwealth for more money. We have to help people get away from the terrible debt they have to incur if they want to rent or buy a house.
The advantage of getting people into their own houses is it will take pressure off the public housing. People go into public housing because they think it is cheaper than trying to buy a house. You can make a house cheaper if you can make land cheaper, which is the key to cheaper public housing. If a block of land goes for $100 000 you can spend more money on a house, but if a block goes for $400 000, you can only buy a tent. That really is the key. If we want to hit the public housing waiting lists hard, we have to work at the other end of the spectrum and make private housing more attractive.
I mention once again the pine forest. I have spoken to the minister today. I know there are developers out there ready to go. There is a possibility of 500 blocks of land of 1 ha at a price of $100 000, which gets people onto those blocks of land. They have a covenant to build a house; they cannot sell it for a period of time and when they do sell it, they pay $100 000 back to the government. The government basically offers the land free because the first $100 000 goes to the developer, but it keeps the price realistic, and allows time for people to pay for their block of land, and it encourages them to get into the market.
We could have 100 blocks of land available in Humpty Doo very quickly; there is sewage, water and electricity available. The Humpty Doo District Centre was designed for a small town. A seniors village down there would be absolutely ideal at the moment. Whether the parcel of land is sold to a private developer or whether it is a government retirement village, someone else can decide that. I believe it could be done very quickly. We are not building a new town. The sewage pond is there, electricity, water; it is all there. We just need to get a tick along.
Another concept which I believe we should be looking at is professional housing, and I have raised this with government. Teachers have told me they cannot afford to stay in Darwin because rent is too high. The government should talk to the teachers union and other stakeholders, and look at investing in blocks of units, a four storey block of one and two-bedroom units available for teachers at a cheap rent. It is not free, but it is much cheaper than the existing market price. That money would go back into the system to maintain the units and perhaps be invested in more units. We aim at the professionals to keep them in Darwin because if they cannot afford to stay here, we are not going to keep them. Why not look at that as a possibility?
We could do the same for nurses. I know they are building more flats at RDH. Again, the government negotiates with the nurses union and other stakeholders, and see if we can build something to encourage people to stay here. We did it years ago. We had QANTAS, and we had nurses quarters at Myilly Point. Someone knocked that building down; it was going to have something on it one day. I wish it had never been knocked down.
A member: We could have used it now.
Mr WOOD: Yes, I know! Concrete cancer was a favourite excuse for knocking down buildings like the old powerhouse. We could have kept the powerhouse as a tourist attraction or even a shopping centre. They have done that in other parts of Australia, but we knocked ours down, which is unfortunate.
I believe we should look at permanent caravan parks. I have heard some people say they are concerned about caravan parks. If you build a permanent caravan park correctly it is quite a legitimate form of housing. In America, they have trailer parks, which are not a bad thing except they tend to get blown away in tornadoes. You could build a good caravan park in the Territory for people to have as an alternative lifestyle. If you have a look at the caravan park near the Katherine Hospital you will see it is a well-run, permanent caravan park where they use industrial sheds. Caravans go in either end; they share the shower and toilet, with a laundry in the middle. They are set out with neat lawns and gardens. They are an attractive proposition to people who would like to stay in that type of accommodation. You have to remember some people actually like living in caravans. I found that out when the Sundowner Caravan Park was being closed down.
I have just had word, and am very upset, at the possible closure of the Bloodwood Caravan Park in Wallaby Holtze Road. People have received phone calls tonight saying they have two weeks to get out. I will not take that lying down just before the Wet Season, and I believe it is wrong. It is not the greatest caravan park in the world, but it is there for people on low incomes. It is their home. I have asked the owner of the caravan park not to do it, however I received a message tonight it will close in two weeks. That is very disappointing.
It is important we do not denigrate caravan parks for the sake of being caravan parks. If people want a house and are forced to go to a caravan park that is a different matter. Let us try to develop some more land for caravan parks; it is a legitimate form of accommodation.
Weddell has to start coming online soon. I do not want to rush into getting this development started until we get the right design. I have just bought the book, Great Obsessions - it only came out about a week and half ago. It is the life and times of Walter Burley Griffin and his wife, Marion Griffin, who designed Canberra. It did not work out that way: the bureaucrats and the politicians changed it, and other people put their ideas in, but most of what he wanted was achieved. I am not saying we are building a Canberra; we have a much smaller city between 45 000 and 65 000. We have an opportunity to do something really special for the Northern Territory, building a tropical, well-designed, visionary city at Weddell. I have not had the time, but I want to talk to the planners and people with information. I would expect there to be some form of cash prize or encouragement to be part of the development. That may encourage people to design something.
I see an opportunity there to really do something, and then develop Weddell with a whole range of opportunities for people who would like to build, the more well-to-do, but also those people who would like to live in Weddell at an affordable price. That is certainly something that we have to look at.
While the good Mayor of Alice Springs is here, I said last night I believe we should be looking at and supporting the concept of rural land at the Alice Springs Airport. It has come out in the master plan for the Alice Springs Airport. The Mayor said as long as they pay rates he would be happy. We might be able to work that too. However, the point is, here is an opportunity for freehold land in Alice Springs. I am writing to Honourable Anthony Albanese, the minister with responsibility for airports, to encourage him to support it. He has concerns regarding residential land developed around airports. This is not in the flight path, it is to side. It backs onto the AZRI land which is to be developed, so it makes common sense. It is an alternative because Alice Springs has the same issues as Darwin. It is very hard to get affordable housing and affordable rental in Alice Springs.
We should be trying to do everything - even Cox Peninsula. It is private development which will be part of the Larrakia development. If we could get that developed in a small way, then good for us. If we can get housing in Cox Peninsula and the Larrakia Association can be involved, I encourage that as well.
We need to bring the Darwin Regional Land Use Strategy Plan out quickly, because without that we do not have a vision. We have to have that also. We do not want to wait too long. People cannot afford housing, cannot afford land, and we have to do something about it. I hope I am putting forward some positive ideas. I believe the government has let the ball drop. We can criticise them all we like, but the reality is while we stand here and criticise for too long, we will not get anything done. Let us move forward and try to get something done for the people of the Territory.
Ms LAWRIE (Planning and Lands): Madam Speaker, I do not think there is anyone in this Chamber who is going to argue there is not a housing shortage in the Territory. This debate is around the options, the opportunities and the challenges, and how they should be met. It is a significant issue in the Territory. As I have said, it is not just an issue for Darwin and Palmerston. We have seen tremendous growth across all of our regional centres. We have needed to release land in Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. We have housing shortages right across our communities, and we have had months and months of robust debate around SIHIP and providing additional housing. Again, as Planning minister, I am very aware of the work occurring within the Planning department around providing proper area plans, for the first time, for those major remote communities.
We have had significant success in negotiating area plans with the CLC across Central Australian communities, and we are negotiating with the NLC across Top End communities to support the roll-out of SIHIP to ensure it is well planned and we know where the residential growth is occurring in these major communities. We also need to know where the future commercial centres are and where the community purpose land is. We should not only have this debate in and around the urban environment. Equally, the challenges exist in the bush and regional environment as well, and we are doing both at the same time.
That is exactly why the Chief Minister presented his statement in the parliament yesterday on planning for growth. We have seen a boom in population - record population because we have record employment growth. The record employment growth is because we have had record economic growth which has created the pressure on our housing market in the Top End and in Central Australia. There is no doubt about it.
The important thing missing from the MPI and not understood by the CLP is to meet forecasted population growth. Therein lies where we are in relation to housing stress: forecasted population growth. That is the genesis of the issue. If we were to look at the market relating to forecast population growth, we would have met it. The reality is actual population growth has dramatically outstripped the forecast. Over the last five years, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has done population forecasts. This is not what I am saying or making up. The Australian Bureau of Statistics, forecasting population growth, had the Territory’s population forecast at a little over 1%, while actually over the five-year period there has been over 2% growth.
Take 2004-05 as an example, it is very much a turning point when you look at the population growth figures. The Australian Bureau of Statistics forecast population growth was 1.2%. Actual growth turned out to be 2.1%. Now, that might not sound like a huge difference, but if you take that over a few years it results in thousands of people. We have around 26 000 more people in the Territory than we did seven years ago.
Yes, as a government, we have been unashamedly trying to increase our population, but we have been far more successful in doing that then what the forecast provided for, and there is a significant reason for this. If you had watched the news tonight, if you are engaged in economic debate around our nation, you will understand climate change has dropped down the list of priorities, and what is at the top? Jobs. Population will follow jobs.
If you want a job, the Territory is the place to be. We have created jobs growth dramatically in the Territory. Manpower, the employment agency based in Queensland, has been consistently saying, if you want a job, move to the Territory. We have seen a doubling of our population growth over the forecast rate, 26 000 extra people here. They have come into a relatively small population with a small marketplace but it has placed an enormous demand on housing. That is why we have such a demand on rental. I can also talk about what was happening with interest rates in the investment marketplace during that time. We had increasing interest rates through those years. Investors were pulling out of the housing investment marketplace because of the crippling interest rate rises. The impact of that was it did not create or extend extra rental stock.
As a government, we have been providing local stimulus to get more investors back into the marketplace while interest rates dropped, albeit to emergency levels. They are now starting to rise and we need rental properties. You need to address the rental property market. Equally, you need to address the private property market; you need to address the affordable market, and the public housing market. There is no one thing; you need to address them all.
In terms of how we are addressing them, we have created the Housing in the Territory strategy. It includes the release of around 6000 blocks of land over the next five years. The release is already under way to cater for this strong population and economic growth. I will take people through it. It is not a figment of the imagination; it is actually occurring here and now. The member for Nelson quite rightly pointed out to release land at this rate is costly to government, and sometimes is hard to find in tighter budget cycles. 2009-10 is a very tight budget cycle. We went into it knowing we would have to announce a deficit because of the dramatic reduction in the GST as a result of the global financial crisis, and the economic downturn. Despite that, we put $108.6m in Budget 2009-10 to deliver land release and the associated community infrastructure required to support it. It is a key priority.
We are not just talking about it, we are resourcing it and funding it so we can deliver it on the ground; $108.6m for land release, for community infrastructure. What is that providing? It is turning off the suburbs of Bellamack and Johnston, significant headworks. For example, the Johnston headworks alone are $10.6m. Johnston will be followed by Zuccoli; the headworks we are doing in Johnston support Zuccoli. Mitchell will follow Zuccoli. Bellamack, we were spending in the 2008-09 financial year, equally rolling through into the 2009-10 financial year in terms of that headworks program. I am talking, in this instance, of those Palmerston East suburbs, because the growth is significant in the Greater Darwin area. That is critical, but it is not coming off a space where we have been doing nothing.
Since 2007, over 900 new blocks of land were approved in the Darwin, Palmerston and rural area. As you heard the member for Fannie Bay say, we put the equivalent of an entire new suburb here in the CBD. That is smart planning because if you can create intensification, which is the new planning key word describing densification, you are building on your existing infrastructure, and every government and every city needs to do that.
This is a debate that is not only happening here in Darwin, it is happening in all our major capital cities around Australia; indeed around all major cities in the world. You build on what you have while you also look at where you expand. We have put the equivalent of an entire new suburb into our new CBD in the last years. Seventeen hundred new units have been approved since January 2006 in our Darwin CBD.
Meanwhile, we have worked with Defence Housing Association to ensure the turn off at Lyons; 700 blocks out there, half of those available to the public. Development is expected to be completed by the end of this year in terms of lots sold, and final housing construction will flow through to the 2010 year.
If you look at other land releases under way, we have Frances Park, we have Heritage Park in Parap, I have mentioned Lyons, and critical to that picture is Muirhead, 1000 blocks, DHA land. Again, we have been in there negotiating with them about the extent of private buy into that land. My view is to get the Defence take down below the 50% it was in Lyons because it is prime land for the northern suburbs of Darwin. In this process we have mandated, for the first time in a policy setting, 15% to be set aside for affordable and social housing. We are not just creating housing stock in a marketplace where we know the prices are high and competitive; we are creating stock set aside for the battler who cannot afford to buy into the existing market rates. We are giving them a leg into the own-your-own housing marketplace, and also providing additional social housing stock.
Having a stream of planned social housing through your urban areas is critical. No other government has mandated and enshrined that. It took this government to do it. What makes those other tools work are things like revamping the HomeNorth scheme, which the member for Fannie Bay talked about, into the Homestart scheme to help people to get that leg up. They are the low-to-middle-income earners. They are not attractive to the major banks. They are not going to get the major bank mortgage yet it is in their best interest to get a leg up into the home ownership marketplace. That is exactly what HomeNorth did. It was popular. We have upgraded to the Homestart scheme.
To talk briefly on that, we base it on an affordable housing model; it provides access to 40% of the Territory’s housing market without the person investing more than 30% of their income in loan servicing, making housing affordable. Homestart also provides a fee assistance loan which helps with costs associated with purchasing a home like stamp duty, fees, and white goods. Homestart NT loans are available for first homebuyers, non-first homebuyers who do not currently own property, and public housing tenants. Much of the stock the Territory Labor government has sold in public housing in urban centres is to these clients, the low-to-middle income battlers who had been sitting in that stock who could never be attractive enough in the private mortgage marketplace.
Let us look at those price limits. We keep upgrading them as the market moves: Darwin, Northern Suburbs and Palmerston, $420 000; Alice Springs, $300 000; Katherine, $267 000, and Tennant Creek, $120 000. If you look at the gross income per annum limit: one household size, $60 000; two, $80 000; three, $85 500; four, $85 500; five, $90 000, and six or more, $105 000. Why describe them like that? Because a household could be a mix of one person, or there could be two people. That two people could be a single mother with a child, or it could be two adults. So we describe them numerically because we realise households are a mix of different scenarios.
Homestart NT, which is an evolution of HomeNorth we revamped, is used by other governments in Australia now as an affordable loans model to get people into the marketplace. It is discussed; it is looked at; it is welcomed. We have been innovative; we have been getting people into housing in an affordable way.
You cannot overlook that product. We are the only government in our nation to create Buildstart to get investors back into the marketplace; to give them a $14 000 reason to invest, to build an investment property whether it is a unit or a house, to revive the additional rental stock. That was about bringing forward construction on existing land to reduce land banking, which we saw happening, which obviously increases the value of the land and the product. It was to provide more housing stock. In reality, it has been a well-embraced scheme by builders; I have had builders come to the government and say: ‘Thank God you came up with Buildstart. It is a great scheme. It has resulted in construction work’. Two hundred and ninety two approved Buildstart grants, 152 pending information. Additional to that, in the same climate and environment, was the Commonwealth government’s First Home Owners Boost Scheme. Between October of 2008 to 31 August …
Mr VATSKALIS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I move an extension of time for my colleague to complete her statement pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: As I understand it, member for Casuarina, there are no extensions …
Ms Lawrie: Yes, there are extensions in MPIs.
Mr GILES: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. There were no extensions last night for my MPI, so I am presuming the same rules apply tonight for this MPI.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Just allow me to seek advice. I am advised there are no extensions.
Ms LAWRIE: Do I get that minute back, or not?
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will allow you to have that time back while we were sorting that matter out.
Ms LAWRIE: I do briefly want to touch on Alice Springs.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have made a ruling on this, member for Braitling, so I ask you to resume your seat. Because there was discussion about whether there was an extension of time, the minister did lose time on the clock to complete her comments.
Mr GILES: May I speak to the point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker?
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have ruled that I will allow the minister to make her closing comments.
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: In Alice Springs, we have turned off Larapinta Stage 1 and Stage 2, Mt John Valley and we have the headworks study under way for AZRI. Obviously we are very supportive of the Alice Springs airport land development. That was something we led at the planning forum in Alice Springs; we have created the planning committee in Alice Springs, co-chaired by the mayor, and our minister for Central Australia. We are investing the dollars in the headwork studies and we are planning to turn off AZRI. That is a very exciting yield down there.
Mr Giles interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, cease interjecting, please.
Ms LAWRIE: … area the community of Alice Springs started talking about. We are also looking at …
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … within the township of Alice Springs itself. Do you go from a three-storey limit to a five-storey? Melanka has come in as a five-story development. That is out on public exhibition. We are planning for land, turning off land, spending the resources to turn off land and being innovative in our housing product …
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Mr STYLES (Sanderson): Madam Speaker, it is very …
Dr Burns: Team work it is called.
Mr STYLES: Sorry, what was the interjection? I cannot hear you. You will have to speak a bit louder, member for Johnston.
Dr Burns: You are just coordinated very well, are you not?
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Sanderson, you have the call.
Mr STYLES: Madam Speaker, I am thankful the honourable member for Johnston allowed me to have the call; it is very nice of him to do that.
It is very interesting when I listen to the Treasurer and the Chief Minister say: ‘We have created these jobs. Yes, we have created all these jobs’. If the government is as confident as it says and has created all these jobs, why are people living in tents? Why are people living in cars? You claim to be great planners and have created all these jobs!
It is like people with a small house - if you are lucky enough to have a house in Darwin - who decide to start a family. They do all the right things and along comes this little child. Then they decide to increase their family. That is great. They then need an extra room. Most people I know, especially responsible people in responsible positions, actually do some planning and think about whether they need to put an extra room on their house or, in fact, get a house at all. What we see here is a government which is planning to increase the population by 1.2% or 2.1%, or whatever. However, what we have is a government which has actually failed to plan for those increases.
The Treasurer stated that in seven years the population has increased by 26 000 people. I might see if I can get some projections and look at them shortly. However, she stated: ‘We are going to release 6000 blocks of land over the next five years’. Fantastic! I applaud the Treasurer for releasing those 6000 blocks over the next five years. When you go back to the recent Chief Minister’s statement, and the Treasury projections – I think it came from Treasury - they are saying just to keep pace we need 1700 blocks a year.
Other people say we need at least 2000 blocks a year released. You do not have to be a mathematical genius to multiply the government figure of 1700 blocks by five; being five years. Lo and behold, you get 8500 blocks of land required just to keep pace! The Treasurer told this House they are going to release 6000 blocks over the next five years. That is fabulous because, in five years time, we are going to be 2500 blocks of land behind. We are still going to have people going to auctions, living in tents, motor cars and in poky rooms under elevated homes! I amazed the Treasurer, who is supposed to be in charge of the bank, cannot seem to count and get to a point where we have sufficient blocks. They have plans; they are going to do this, going to plan. I hear much spoken about plans. Well, I just wonder.
The Treasurer spoke about investment incentives and quoted 292 investment homes out there. Well, that is fabulous; I think it is great. We should give investment incentives to people. The problem is rent on those places is between $500 and $600 minimum. Some of them are even more. When I have people coming into my office saying, ‘I am a nurse’, ‘I am a police officer’, ‘I am a firie’, ‘I work in one of the essential services of this community and I cannot afford to live here’, what do I say to them? ‘Oh, well, mate, do not worry, go down to Palmerston because you can rent a house there for $500 to $800 a week so you can spend virtually everything you earn on rent’.
I do not want to tell you some of the replies I get; I would get into trouble for using that sort of language in this House. Some of these people are absolutely desperate and the government says: ‘This is great, we have houses being built’. The member for Port Darwin mentioned earlier Port Hedland and Karratha, where some of those rents are sky high. It is just another indication of systemic failures in the planning process to get house blocks for people - even middle class Territorians.
The Treasurer also said Territory Housing stock was sold to people on low incomes. I remember, a number of years ago, taking note of some of the houses being sold. Not all, but a significant number of those Territory Housing properties, were actually sold at auction. You could go to an auction every weekend where the government was selling off Territory Housing stock - some to occupants, but not all.
I will go back to a number of things the member for Fannie Bay said. The first thing I would like to deal with is probably a mistruth, that of the 2000 homes the Country Liberals are saying Labor sold recently, 1400 were homes which we sold when we were in government. Budget Paper No 3, 2003 states it was 6119; in 2008-09 it was 5251. In the time frame I was talking about, on 30 June 2001, which was a couple of weeks before the election, total public housing stock was 7469. I will say that again, on 30 June 2001, public housing stock was 7469.
I have some figures from 2006-07, and figures from the 2008-09 which the member for Port Darwin has in front of him, but I will just quote this figure, in the 2006-07 financial year, 5352. You do not have to be a mathematical genius: 7469 minus 5352 equals 2117 Territory Housing dwellings sold by this government. When the member for Fannie Bay stands up and tells us out of those 2000 we sold 1400, I would like to know how we can sell, in a few weeks prior to a Territory election, 1400 homes. I do not think that occurred.
I say the member for Fannie Bay needs to do the mathematics again and come back to this House and correct the mistruth he perpetrated.
Page 110 of the 2004-05 Northern Territory Economy Budget Paper, the second paragraph under Territory Housing Business Services says:
As we see, we have gone down over the period between 2001 and 2007 by over 2000 homes. We go further down and it says:
That is the important part.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I have people come to my office who have been in a public home. One is a very elderly man in his late 70s; his circumstances are he cannot buy his home. He has been in his home for 20 years and has been trying to get it painted for the last 15 years. I do not know when it is planned to paint these homes, but this is a common problem. This says in 2004: ‘they have a significantly increased maintenance and upgrade program in place’. I keep sending those things into the minister’s office, and we ring Housing and we attempt to get things done. It does not seem these people can get thing fixed in their homes.
Earlier, the Minister for Housing stated their priorities are seniors and singles. Well, that is fantastic. I applaud the minister for looking after seniors and singles. However, I have seniors coming into my office, and I also have single dads and single mums looking for accommodation urgently. They are not people who can go to Palmerston and rent one of the 292 investment properties the Treasurer purports is going to be available. They are not in that market. These people find themselves in circumstances, quite often beyond their control, where they need a hand up. How, as a community, do we give them a hand up? We have housing stock available; we do not sell 2117 of them off.
I would like to reiterate: we did not sell 1400 houses because we were not in government. You were in government; you sold them, not us. Sending someone in there to purport we sold 1300 of your 2117 homes is laughable. Madam Speaker, we move along and we say pensioners, we are talking about …
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Sanderson, you have the floor.
Mr STYLES: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I note the government is going to move seniors’ rental assessments from 12 months back to six months. We are now going to be charging seniors twice a year instead of once a year. Jenny Macklin, the federal minister, said seniors should be given the benefit of the increases in their pension. The government is now going to review rental rebates from once a year to twice a year. So we put the rent up and we take it up. The member for Fannie Bay also talked about doing wonderful things with the pension and carer concession schemes; that is great. We give them increases but then we put up motor vehicle registration, we take it away …
Mr Henderson: We actually reduced it!
Mr STYLES: No, no. I pick up on that interjection. Perhaps the Chief Minister should talk to people in the real world, some of the pensioners who are paying this and coming into offices complaining about how much money they do not have these days. They live in an expensive part of Australia and now the pensioners are saying they have to move south because they cannot afford to stay here. Everything is going up on a daily basis and getting very expensive.
Madam Deputy Speaker, there is a whole plethora of problems this government has with the housing policy. It would be really nice to see the Housing Minister sit down and have a look at the real world out there, and do something about it.
Discussion concluded.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Honourable members, it now being 9 pm, pursuant to Standing Order 41A we will complete the item of business before the Chair and I will put the question that the Assembly do now adjourn.
Mr KNIGHT (Daly): Madam Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Opposition Leader claimed in Question Time today, that she was referring to a March 2009 Australian Bureau of Statistics Report in relation to Territory Housing wait lists. I call on the Deputy Opposition Leader to table the report. I noticed she is in the House at the moment, so she has heard the request.
I will move on to my electorate. I place on the record my sincere thanks for the contribution the CEO, Lisa Wain, from the Coomalie Community Government Council, has provided to the Coomalie region and to local government in the Northern Territory. Lisa has made the decision to retire as CEO, after being with the council since 2004. Applications for a new CEO have been advertised, and those applying have some big shoes to fill. It will be a great challenge to replace such a talented CEO.
I first met Lisa in Mataranka. She did a sterling job with Col. As Lisa has said, Coomalie Community Government Council is a very small team, but they have received great outcomes. Many of those great outcomes have occurred through the dedication and hard lobbying Lisa has done over the years with the Northern Territory government, federal, and local organisations. Lisa has left a great legacy for the community through enormous success in attracting funding for the shire; some $4m in grants I am informed. That is individual applications from $1000 up to $100 000, so it is certainly a great effort.
Just to mention a couple of great events Lisa and her team have had tremendous success with, the Adelaide River Anzac Day and Remembrance Day events, and one of the Christmas events on the social calendar is the Seniors’ Christmas Lunch held with the Coomalie seniors in the Adelaide River Show Society Club. It is always very well attended. I believe the Adelaide River Anzac Day dawn service is the best in the Territory. It is the most moving I have been to, it has been growing from year to year, and it goes down to the dedication of Lisa and all of the staff at the Coomalie Council.
As the CEO, Lisa has taken great pride in her job for the betterment of the community. It is not always easy being in local government; Lisa has had many challenges but most residents around the Coomalie region know it is the community Lisa has always had in the forefront of any decision she has made. I have known Lisa and her husband, Colin, for many years and the decision to slow down is completely understood.
Those closest to her need some of her attention, and I wish her and Colin all the best in the future, and she certainly has done a great job. I have never seen a CEO of a local government council out there first thing in the morning cleaning up the rubbish in a park, and in the afternoon chasing stray dogs. It is a regular sight seeing Lisa driving her car around trying to attract the dogs to get in her car.
I thank Lisa for her dedication. I do not believe she is completely lost to the Coomalie region, but she will be relocating interstate, and I thank Col, too. He has done many events as an entertainer, both in Mataranka and other parts of the Territory around Batchelor and Adelaide River, free of charge many times. He is a great entertainer. I do hope Lisa and Colin have a great time in their retirement. I suspect they will not stay in retirement too long, but I understand why they are leaving Coomalie.
I also place on the record the valuable contribution Val Cowan, from the Daly River Community Development Association, has made to that region. Val has been the secretary of the DRDA and has lived in Wooliana for many years. There is always a handful of community-driven people who take on the challenge of being either on the council or association, and I admire their dedication and the voluntary hours these people put in. Val has lobbied, on many occasions, to progress services for the community at Daly River.
I remember last year when nominations were being called for secretary, Val announced then she was not going to stand again, so a new secretary was appointed. I believe it was only about 10 minutes when the new secretary announced they were unavailable to continue, so Val again stepped in and continued for one more year. That year has now come to a close and Val, along with her husband, Brian, has decided to move to the big smoke of Darwin to concentrate on some of their personal matters.
As a community member, I thank Val for her contribution to the Daly River Region, especially the Daly River Community Development Association. She will be missed there, and I wish her and Brian the very best in the future.
In closing, I would like to mention some of the Taminmin Middle School students who have received awards for September. Awards went to Kelsey Considine in Year 7, Megan Craufurd in Year 8, and Nicholas Cook-Eather from Year 9. Congratulations to Berry Springs students, Ellie Collins from Early Learning, and Jack Manning from the upper primary level.
I also mention the great quiz night that will be held this coming Friday at the Berry Springs School. I was a quiz master last year, and I will be there again. The quiz master is a different person, but also a member of this parliament - the member for Nelson, who is very entertaining. I invite everybody to come.
Again, thanks very much to the two people I mentioned - Lisa and Val. They certainly have made a great contribution to the Northern Territory and their local communities.
Mr ELFERINK (Port Darwin): Madam Deputy Speaker, tonight I raise a couple of issues, not least of which in my electorate is the issue of hooning. Whilst this government has made much mileage out of making grand announcements about seizing people’s cars, the expectation has not matched the hype from this government. It is clearly demonstrated in my own electorate of Port Darwin - hardly a far-flung corner of the Northern Territory.
You would expect to find some capacity to effectively police hooning in my electorate. Yet, to my astonishment and dismay, I walked down McLachlan Street next to the Catholic Cathedral and saw a street which resembled a drag strip from the amount of tyre marks there. These hoons congregate in the public car park opposite the church during the evening and at the local BP service station across the street. The police attention paid to them is minimal. That is evidenced simply by the amount of tyre marks left on that particular street. The good citizens of the Marrakai Apartments, Tomaris Court, and other citizens in that area have to put up with this noise.
One would hope the government was able to provide sufficient resources so the police are able to go there and get rid of these little toe-rags and shut down their conduct. It is not a particularly edifying thing to read media releases and grand public statements about what is to be done with hoon vehicles, only to see a handful, if that - a pitiful number of vehicles - actually being seized, and then being returned so quickly to their owners.
The failure of government to effectively resource police at the times they are needed in this area demonstrates, once again, their eyes are clearly off the ball. I urge the government, and the Police minister listening to me at the moment, to turn their attention to this particular matter in this area, but also, more generally, to hooning inside the Darwin CBD.
Mitchell Street continues to be a problem. I walked down there not so long ago at about 5 am with a resident who was particularly peeved with the lack of police presence. I remember thinking to myself: ‘Hang on, isn’t there a dedicated patrol for the closing times of the nightclubs along Mitchell Street?’ When I went for a walk with that particular lady we walked past those nightclubs. I saw people urinating in the street. What I did not see was the police patrol in Mitchell Street at that time in the morning when there were large numbers of drunks. I am not talking about a weekend - this was a Wednesday morning. To see the police were not there - for whatever reason; they may have arrested someone and taken them away, but the police were not there. If they were not there, it means they were not there in sufficient numbers at all. If they do arrest someone, they should find some other way of conveying that person to the watch-house. But they should keep police on the street when these nightclubs close down.
The government made much about spending some money on buying a new Toyota Hilux; how about putting some policemen in them and getting them out on to Mitchell Street. I strongly urge - and I am sure the publicans in Mitchell Street would not complain about this – the Liquor Commission make more visitations than they do to the public houses occupying that street, with a view to trying to contain some of the conduct of the people, especially when they come out onto the street. I would urge the government to look at that particular issue.
I also rise tonight to speak about public drunkenness, and I am talking about the drunks that occupy our parks and gardens at all times of day and night. Nowadays, it is no longer possible to walk down the Esplanade without being confronted by groups of drunks sitting there, quite openly drinking from casks of wine and other sources of liquor. Quite regularly, you will see something like a lemonade bottle with a burgundy type colour in it, which you know is red wine; you do not have to beat around the bush. I would hope there would be some further attention paid to those parks and gardens where this is occurring as well.
For a police force which is supposed to be so substantially bolstered by extra police under the tutelage of this government, they are conspicuously absent so often from our parks and gardens, and this is not their fault; this is an issue of resourcing by this government themselves. If we are going to invest in more police, then I am a firm believer we invest in putting those police on the beat, as promised by this government for such a long time; 200 extra police on the beat. When it was pointed out to this government those extra police were not going on the beat, they were going to different specialty units, they finally had to drop that from their propaganda.
The fact is there still are not many more police on the beat, and that is where they need to be. They need to be in our parks and gardens, and they need to be addressing these sorts of issues, because I know that, if you take command of your streets, if you take command of your parks, you then take command of the crime rates that flow from that sort of thing.
Policing philosophy, in more recent times, is to be engaging in responsive policing, which means you have 1000 little specialty units. That means you do not put police into the roles where they actually stop things from happening in the first place. That is why we are losing control of our streets. It is not for want of resources, it is because of policing philosophy and a policing resourcing system which is not properly putting police on our streets, hence the hoons in our streets not being really effectively dealt with; hence Mitchell Street as a nightclub strip not being effectively dealt with; and, hence our parks and gardens becoming increasingly infested with drunks. We know, just before this government took power, about 11 000 people were apprehended each year; that now has increased to 30 000 people. They are selling swimming pools of liquor more than they used to be selling.
It is not just a case of claiming we have more police therefore they are arresting more drunks. That is not what is happening. What is happening is we have more drunks. I call on this government to start dealing with this seriously, and start placing the responsibility where it belongs, and that is in the conduct of the individuals themselves who choose to get drunk and cause a nuisance for the rest of the community.
Madam Deputy Speaker, that plan has been described in the past; I described how to do it while I was still the member for Macdonnell. This government knows what to do. I have heard the Minister for Health, on radio, articulate the CLP policy exactly in relation to this sort of thing. They made the promise prior to the 2005 election they were going to do this. It has been standing policy for a long time. All it requires is a bit of political will, something which is thunderously absent from this government.
Mr HENDERSON (Wanguri): Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise tonight to pay tribute in this parliament to a unique group of Territorians. I pay tribute to the former residents of the Retta Dixon Home established in Darwin from 1946 to 1980. The original dormitory-style home was located at the Bagot Community, located between Bagot Reserve and Bagot Hospital, and operated from 1946 to 1961. In 1962, the Retta Dixon Home was relocated to the site on the corner of Bagot and Totem Roads, now named Karu Park, as cottage accommodation.
The Retta Dixon Home Association recently held a reunion during the week 31 August to 4 September. What an emotional and fantastic week of celebrations it was. I know people travelled from interstate, and from centres throughout the Territory, to participate in this important reunion. It was the first reunion the people who lived at Retta Dixon had participated in.
For those of you who are not aware of the history, the Retta Dixon Home was established for Aboriginal children, many of whom were taken from their families, and others whose parents may have been working on properties, and others, including white children, who were in respite care.
As Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, I was so pleased to help the reunion committee and thank you to everyone who contributed to this important reunion. I thank the federal government for providing funding, and Danila Dilba for administering the grant. Thank you to NORFORCE for helping with the outside events and to the public servants from government departments who helped with transport, land and heritage issues. And of course, thank you to the reunion committee who worked so hard, especially to Audrey Tilmouth, Mai Katona, Debbie Whelan, Lorna Cubillo, Margaret Shields, Eddie, Dennis and Phyliss Kitching, Irene Pearson, Marjorie Gilmore, Valerie Day, Billy Dempsey, Damien Howard and Sheri Lochner.
Of course it was an emotional experience for many of the Retta Dixon family, but I heard it was a great time of laughter as well. Some experiences at Retta Dixon were definitely sad but some memories and experiences were much happier. The reunion activities included a church service, visits to the site of the original dormitory home at Bagot Community and the cottage homes at Karu Park, Coconut Grove. The group also travelled to some of the Retta Dixon school holiday sites at Casuarina Beach and Coomalie Creek, and commemorative plaques have been placed at Bagot Community, the old banyan tree at Casuarina Beach, and the holiday site at Coomalie Creek. I am sure this has revived some happy memories and great stories have been told to remind each other of those times. I know this was a great opportunity to share experiences with children and grandchildren.
When the Retta Dixon family visited Parliament House, I took the opportunity, as the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, to recognise the enormous value of all former residents of the Retta Dixon Home to our community. The one thing which strikes me and those other Territorians who grew up with the Retta Dixon children was they have maintained an incredible bond with each other and have a strong determination to achieve their goals in life. On behalf of the Northern Territory government and all Territorians, I want to thank the Retta Dixon family for your outstanding contribution to our community.
On behalf of this parliament I say thank you to the Retta Dixon family personally and thank you to the many who have sadly passed on. All of the Retta Dixon family have made an incredible contribution to our community. Their history is linked to the Darwin Buffaloes Football Club, with so many Retta Dixon boys playing with this great team.
Of course the Retta Dixon family has their own legend, the great Bill Dempsey. Bill had a fantastic career playing football in Western Australia and is known throughout Australia. I know Mai Katona has also had an outstanding career, working with governments and working at educational institutions. All of these special Territorians have achieved great things here in the Territory and throughout Australia. Some of them are well-known. Some of them had great working careers and some of them have worked away quietly, growing up their families, supporting their extended families, and making not only the Territory but also Australia a better place.
Many of the Retta Dixon families saw each other for the first time in many years during this reunion, and this must have brought back many emotional memories. During the Retta Dixon Home reunion, there was an outstanding photographic display at the Northern Territory Library and this display, as well as the media reports, provided an opportunity for many Territorians to learn about the story of Retta Dixon Home and to recognise their part in the history of Darwin.
The Territory is proud of the Retta Dixon community, the Retta Dixon family. On behalf of this parliament and all Territorians, I say congratulations and thank you to all of the Retta Dixon community for your contribution to the Territory.
Mr CHANDLER (Brennan): Madam Deputy Speaker, tonight I have a number of letters from people which I was going to speak through, but I am compelled to speak a little more about the MPI that ran tonight. It is quite clear, even under the surface; the government has admitted they have failed. They have failed because, with all the things they do, with all the things they say they have done, we still have people coming into our offices with sad stories. There have been too many of those stories replayed here tonight. Until some real action has taken place, it is going to continue to occur.
I am not going to dwell on that tonight. As the member for Nelson said, if the government is going to continue to look at the world through rose coloured glasses, believe their own spin, believe there is not a problem - we appreciate they are starting to work on the issue. What we say is this should have happened two or three years ago. I will not dwell on it, because as the member for Nelson said, we should be looking for ways forward, so I thought about that, and I have a couple of options you could perhaps try.
Option one: Territory Housing could construct new homes. They can be managed with strict rules and regulations regarding who lives there, and they can be sold off every 10 years. The reality is if you are selling properties off every 10 years you would not have the long-term maintenance we have today. We know there has been no maintenance done, at least in the last eight years, on Territory Housing, and perhaps not even for a few years prior to that under the previous CLP government. But let us put that aside; we are here in 2009. If we were constructing new homes and every 10 years we were selling those homes off, those homes we sell off could become the First Homebuyers Scheme, instead of a $14 000 grant for a new home. We all know that increases the cost of properties. We could be selling off Territory Housing units and houses after 10 years of service to the community, get a decent return on them and construct new homes.
Option two: we could look at DHA more closely. Look at how successful they have been with providing homes for defence personnel all across this country. Perhaps we could use a model similar to DHA. Maybe Territory Housing could construct houses, units and apartments, and they could be sold off to individual investors and leased back, just like DHA do today. Probably the most important thing is Territory Housing would become the managers of these properties and they would have to really lift their game. I believe we have failed miserably in the way we manage the stock. We are not strict enough on the people who live in these properties, and that goes on to create so many antisocial behaviour problems in our community.
If we were to manage them better, if we were to construct new properties, sell them off to investors, and the government were to lease them back, we would be creating real opportunities for local investors. Of course, they would want them looked after. The member for Nelson brought up a very good point tonight. Why not look at ways to house many of our government workers? It could be our nurses or newer, better homes for our police officers. Why could it not be on the DHA model? Why could we not have another level of housing, perhaps some upmarket houses, units and apartments? They could all be constructed by Territory Housing, sold off to investors, so investors are still making money here, and leased back.
As we can see with DHA, there are really good opportunities. They have created a very sound investment for many people around this country with their sale and lease back program. At the same time, they have lifted the quality of homes provided to defence personnel. I can remember arriving here in 1985 and not long after, moving into married quarters on the RAAF Base, and I know defence housing has come a long way since those homes. I can certainly see the difference in what they had, which was more akin to a public housing management style, although we certainly had to clean every crevice and every louver, and anywhere you could find a little dust needed to be cleaned. Today I know the rules are a little easier for defence personnel. They only have to clean the wet areas and so forth, because they have professional cleaners that come into the homes prior to the new defence people moving in.
The reality is that the model is successful. We know DHA was set up through funds from the Commonwealth and, in a very short period of time, paid back the entire amount of money the government invested. It is a model which works. Why could we not look at a model like that for government housing? We could have two levels of government housing; the standard housing and then a model which is the next level up.
That is where our police officers or our nurses could be going, or upmarket apartments which are still run by government, but on a DHA model where investors are actually earning money. They could be sold off to investors where they have a sound investment for perhaps, the next nine or 10 years. At that time, the properties could be on-sold by the owners, allowing Territory Housing to continue to construct new homes and sell them off to investors and lease them back.
The DHA model is a sound model; it has made much money. It certainly has improved housing stock for Defence personnel around this country. Why could we not do the same thing? The problem is we have a government so torn up with their spin, they believe it. I was handed this before; it is a great little thing. This is how the government appears to want to house our people. This lovely little colourful Housing the Territory. I do not know how we are going to live in these, but this is an idea they are going to use to house the Territory. These are just ideas. We have had many issues raised tonight, and heard a lot of heartache regarding what families are going through.
I do not want to dwell on that because we have heard it from so many different members. Even members from the government side have admitted, on Indigenous communities and elsewhere, there are people suffering. They call it a challenge. In fact, the Chief Minister called it housing stress. We have heard about it, we know it exists. If the government can admit what they have done up to now has not worked, it has failed; they need to look at other ideas, they need to start to deliver rather than talk about it. Here are options they could consider.
I know I have mentioned it before, but the government could have negotiated with INPEX to construct the first stage of Weddell. You can just imagine if INPEX came in, constructed new two- and three-bedroom homes, which were sold off to investors and leased back to INPEX for the next three or four years. They also put in a pool, tennis courts, maybe a driving range, a club or two, maybe even a fuel station. Good golly me, we have the start of our new city at little or no cost to government! It would show a great demonstration of community goodwill by INPEX.
It would also take away what could become a horrible intersection on the corner of the Howard Springs and Palmerston lights, where the INPEX village is planned. The number of buses coming through every day will certainly create a challenge there. Had the INPEX worker’s village been constructed in the Weddell area, they would only have to seal Jenkins Road, and they would not be crossing any major roads to the site. They would be away from the community and not causing any undue pressure on our already stretched road system.
However, we will not dwell on it; we know where we are. Here are a couple of options that the government should look at, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Mr HAMPTON (Stuart): Madam Deputy Speaker, I begin my adjournment tonight on a sadder note by acknowledging the passing of a former long-term Central Australian resident, Mr Paul Quinliven who passed away on Saturday. Paul had recently moved to Canberra, I understand. While trying to save the life of a man who was swept off rocks near Batemans Bay, he has tragically not been found and has passed away.
I have known Paul for quite some time. He formerly worked at the Ampilatwatja Health Clinic, where he was the administrator for a number of years. During my time as the local member, during the last term of this government, I would often call in to the Ampilatwatja clinic and Paul always opened up his house to me and had a bed waiting. It is a very sad incident that has happened. We hear too much about it along the New South Wales coast, in particular, where people walking along the coast get swept off the rocks by a freak wave and tragically, fall. Paul, being the man he was, dived in and tried to save this man’s life and tragically, has passed away.
I understand also the New South Wales police will recommend Paul be granted a posthumous bravery award, and that is something his family certainly would cherish.
Reflecting on a tribute from another Central Australian, Angus McIver, just posted on the web, and I think it sums up the person Paul was, and I quote:
As I was the local member, Paul would always be knocking on my door in Alice Springs when he was in town, and was always a passionate person. I know the member for Johnston, whilst the Minister for Health, was involved in a couple of meetings with Paul, and Paul spoke very strongly and passionately about the issues, particularly that of patient assistance travel for those people living in the Sandover Highway region. He will be greatly missed. I pass on my sympathy, in particular to his family, his daughters, who I understand while desperately sad, are quite understandably proud of their father, as he was a man of great courage and compassion. Yes, he will be sadly missed.
I now turn to a couple of events in Alice Springs which are worthy of putting on the public record. The first one is the Drovers Volunteer Service in Alice Springs. On 19 September, the Drovers Alice Springs Hospital Volunteer Service won the Health and Community Service Award at the Australian Rural Outback Awards held in Canberra. This award is truly deserved as these wonderful volunteers provide more than the simple basics of toiletries, reading materials, and refreshments for patients and their visitors. The volunteers’ caring, and gift of time to sit and listen to patients who are often so far away from family and home, make people grateful for such a service in their time of need. This is regularly reflected in Letters to the Editor in the Centralian Advocate expressing patients’ gratitude for the service they provide.
I would like to acknowledge Di Deans, the founder of the Drovers Volunteer Service, and fellow volunteer, Lin Danby, who both went to Canberra to receive the award, which was a cash prize of $2000. I understand Di has stated the prize money will go towards items which are not ordinarily funded by the government, and items which have been on their wish list for some time. As Minister for Central Australia, I know Di popped into the shop in the mall quite a few times and I can say she was extremely proud of this award. So, congratulations to all of those volunteers as well.
The second event I attended in Alice Springs was the McGrath Foundation Fundraising evening at the Alice Springs Convention Centre on 22 September, where Glenn McGrath was the guest speaker. I also acknowledge the MC for the night was none other than 8HA Territory Today personality, Adrian Renzi, and he did a fantastic job on the night. Glenn McGrath, who is the roving ambassador for the Elders Company, was in Alice Springs. The local Elders branch was the leading fundraiser across Australia in 2008. They raised, I think, $18 000 from a fashion parade at the Alice Springs Show. Their reward was having Glenn McGrath come to Alice Springs and do a fundraising dinner; that is fantastic.
I acknowledge the catalyst behind this fundraising campaign, Kevin Prior, who is well known throughout Alice Springs, and always seen at footy on Saturday and Sunday with his camera, taking many photos, and at Auskick at Traeger Park on a Saturday morning. Well done to Kevin Prior and his exceptional deputies, Sandra Fry and Alyssa Wingrove, who did a fantastic job in organising the fundraiser and the fashion parade at the show in 2008.
The function on Wednesday evening was attended by 200 people, raising approximately $20 000 on the night. Fantastic! I really would like to acknowledge Glenn McGrath. I had a chat to Glenn. It was a great opportunity to meet a cricket hero of Australia and hear his speech and his sharing of the personal experiences he endured during Jane’s journey through cancer. It was a remarkable tribute to her, and I take my hat off to Glenn. He spoke really well and passionately about that journey.
When the McGrath Foundation was established, there were only seven breast screening nurses across Australia. Today there are 53 across regional and rural Australia due to the great work of the McGrath Foundation. The aim is to have at least 154 breast screening nurses working either part-time or full-time. I know Glenn was really taken by one Indigenous lady who spoke so passionately and privately about her experiences. She has had a recurrence of breast cancer, and she shared that with the 200 people at the dinner. I know Glenn was really touched. Her plea was to see if the McGrath Foundation could do something about providing education to Indigenous women particularly, but to all women in regional and remote areas in the Northern Territory. Also, to get breast screen nurses into some of our remote regional places in Central Australia. So it was a great night. $20 000 raised and, as I said, my hat is off to Glenn McGrath for the work he is doing in continuing his wife’s legacy.
Alice Springs really does pull together in times of need. Corey Cronin, a 19-year-old lad from a well-known Alice Springs family was seriously injured in July during the Natural Terrain Series at the Alice Springs Motorcycle Club track at Ilparpa. He is still in rehab in Adelaide, as I understand it, and there was a fundraiser held at the Alice Springs Memorial Club on 24 September. A staggering amount of $102 000 was raised on the night for Corey. That speaks volumes for the community of Alice Springs, as I said, in times of need. We do get bad publicity in Alice, but to raise $102 000 in one night as a fundraiser for young Corey speaks volumes of the character and the community of Alice Springs. When people need help, they really do pull together.
It was certainly my pleasure to donate a signed Adelaide Crows football guernsey, which was part of the All-Stars game in Darwin in 2009. I take my hat off again to those people who donated items, particularly to Sue Cawood, Rick Hall and others, and to the business community of Alice Springs as well for getting behind this great fundraiser. I wish Corey all the best in his rehab in Adelaide. I know he has a hard journey ahead, but I know he has the support of his family and the rest of Alice Springs.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE (Katherine): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I often have the opportunity to speak about some of the terrific things that have happened in Katherine. I have mentioned before about people pulling together and really putting in for a great cause. The matter I wish to raise tonight is no exception to that.
Over the last weekend Katherine had the Pink Boots Rodeo event. It would be appropriate for me to start with a little story about how that eventuated. In December 2007, a lady by the name of Robyn Lawton was diagnosed with cancer. She is a Katherine local. She had two daughters living on a cattle station. Of course, the diagnosis brought with it the fear from her daughters they may be subject to breast cancer as well, and they should get checked. Unfortunately, there are no facilities for mobile breast screening to travel to remote parts of the Northern Territory.
Certainly, the Mobile Breast Screen travels to the major centres, but not to remote parts. For example, if Mobile Breast Screen were able to go to a place like Timber Creek, many of the women who live on stations in that vicinity, the VRD and all that area would make the journey to come into town. Robyn set her mind to putting together a breast cancer fundraiser and through her associations, and she is the Secretary of the Top End Rodeo Circuit, she decided to put together a fundraising rodeo in Katherine, the Pink Boot Rodeo.
In conjunction with the Top End Rodeo Circuit she set about the task of putting this event together. She was able to secure what I would call fantastic and amazing support from the Katherine community and also from broader parts of the Northern Territory. By way of a commendation for Robyn, I wish to say in the time she had available to her to put this together, she managed to secure around 150 competitors for the event on the weekend.
The highest prize money they were able to offer was a staggering $1500 for the bull ride, along with many prizes for many other events which took place throughout the course of the evening. She was able, through some very clever marketing, to get around 800 people turn up to the event on Saturday. I am advised by her tonight it looks like she has probably raised somewhere in the vicinity of $10 000.
That is an amazing effort. The money will be donated to the Cancer Council with a special request the money be put towards breast cancer research, and hopefully some of that money can be diverted to the Mobile Breast Screen Unit so they can visit more remote parts of the Northern Territory. This will ensure the women who are hard-working, primary industry producers, the people who are willing to commit to tough times on the land, can avail themselves of the same opportunities their town counterparts can.
As an example of how the Katherine community digs deep to support fundraising efforts like this, I just want to tell a little story. Robyn walked into one business in Katherine, car parts I believe it was, and managed to raise a reasonable amount of money from them. They suggested she tell Peter to write a cheque for $500. She went over to meet Peter, and Peter being Peter Trembath, who is a local vet in town. She did not meet Peter there, he was not there at the time, but met with Kylie and Jim Leonhardt. They are a young couple who have just started a fairly new business in town called Impact Mechanical. She turned up there, told the story she was meant to tell Peter, and Kylie and Jim put their hands in their pockets immediately to the tune of $1000. She walked out $1500 richer because Pete Trembath, I believe, came on board at a later time.
Kylie and Jim, from Impact Mechanical, are a young couple with a new business. We all know with new businesses, or those who have started them or been in them before, those early years are tough times. You have to establish strong cash flows, and putting your hands in your pocket to the extent of $1000 is an amazing effort. They are not unique; there are many people in Katherine who do dig deep for fundraising events such as this, and it really does show how the Katherine people will pull together and support such an important fundraising event.
I mention also one of our stars in the Katherine. He probably is the most talented rodeo rider to come out of Katherine. He is a young man by the name of Cody Tapp. He won one of the events on the night, being one of the bull rides. Cody is a young man destined for great things in the rodeo circuit. He is a hard-working young fellow who has a passion for rodeo. He enjoys what he does and is very good at it. I wish Cody the very best in his pursuits in future rodeo circuits across the Northern Territory and Australia.
Well done to Katherine people. This was an amazing effort to pull such a wonderful event together. I am very appreciative I was contacted and asked to be a part of it. I was able to get there for a time on Saturday night and watch some of the earlier events. You could see the young children come out on ponies. Their parents had obviously spent a long time preparing for the show. They were done up in pink, with pink tails, pink manes, pink boots, or they had pink stars painted on them. It is amazing what you can do with a bit of red and white food colouring. It was such a nice event to see. Everybody had a terrific time. The sentiment, the way people were feeling, was extremely positive, and it really could not go to a better cause than breast cancer; given that October is Breast Cancer Month.
They are looking at further extending the fundraising efforts through the pink rodeo idea. I believe there might be one planned for Pine Creek, and Alice Springs as well. However, it goes further than that. Robyn is also looking towards fundraising for some of the men’s cancer foundations, particularly the Blue Ribbon Foundation for prostate cancer in men. That is something which cannot be understated either; it is an important thing for men’s health, particularly in light of the fact men, and particularly rural men, are often quite reticent and reluctant to explore some of the other medical issues they have.
It is time awareness of men’s cancer and men’s health issues was raised so people out there can have a much better understanding, remove some of those old taboos, and start working on ways to get men’s health issues out into the open arena.
I will finish off by congratulating the Top End Rodeo Circuit and, in particular, Robyn Lawton. Thanks to all the people who turned up and showed such great support for the event. Thanks to the riders, thanks to the people who were involved with the fundraising. It was a terrific night and I really look forward to events of that nature coming to Katherine, and our region, in the future.
Ms WALKER (Nhulunbuy): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I update the House on a number of events and achievements in Nhulunbuy electorate, and have them recorded on the public record.
I was pleased to be in invited to the annual Cadets and Adults Volunteers Divisional Inspection of St John Ambulance held in Nhulunbuy recently. Attending the inspection was the Commissioner of the Volunteers, Mr Steve Peers and the Director of the Ambulance Service, Territory, Mr Michael McKay, both of whom had travelled from Darwin for this event.
During the evening the following people received due recognition for their contributions including Mark Ferguson, the new Officer-in- Charge at Nhulunbuy who was promoted to Divisional Superintendent of Adult Division; and Mandy Paradise, who was awarded the Warrant of Appointment confirming her national recognition of appointment as Cadet Superintendent. Amongst the junior cadets, Mikaela Hockings received Cadet of the Year for her enthusiasm, attendance and consistent attitude, and Kasey Baker was recognised as the Most Improved. Ashleigh, Ky, and Kasey Baker won the Best Consistently Smart Uniform Award. I believe mum Renee laid claim to being the person behind that award.
Emily McIntyre was promoted to Non-Commissioned Officer, Corporal, enabling her to assist Mandy Paradise with cadets. She was recognised for her enthusiasm and leadership potential. Both Phil Sampson and Kylie Newport were promoted to Sergeants in the adult division. Annie Roles was thanked for her back up and for always supporting her husband, Ray, who is a paramedic with St John, when other volunteers are on other duties.
Special thanks also to Mark Ferguson’s wife, Melanie, who kindly prepared a most delicious supper at the conclusion of the Inspection.
Our local group provides an incredible service, with some 2600 volunteer hours put in from the start of the year, and this includes 800 hours alone from Kylie Newport.
We all know St John Ambulance provides a fantastic service to Territorians, and I was pleased to attend their annual inspection and have their achievements recorded on the public record this evening.
The Gove Peninsula Festival was held in Nhulunbuy in August, an event which was most welcomed by the community after an absence of two years. The event is run entirely by volunteers, and to be honest, it is on such a scale I think there was more than a dose of volunteer fatigue. However, thanks to a group of terrific and civil minded local people, a committee was formed at the beginning of this year to see our local festival back on the calendar, with this year’s theme Festival by the Sea. The curtain raiser to the festival on Friday evening was the annual Ray Ross Memorial Speedway Night. Racing certainly did not disappoint the packed out Nhulunbuy Speedway, and what a fantastic night it was.
The festival day commenced with a wonderful float parade and the children’s bike competition. The day included the Gove Olympics, stalls and displays, art and craft competition, and even a sideshow alley complete with a selection of show bags. For entertainment, we had Gove FM broadcast throughout the day, as well as live music provided by the very talented Tamika Kasper, Amy Fullard, Kerry Lee, Victoria Evans, who happens to be our 2009 Gove Idol, Arafura Dance students, Yirrkala School Band, Bunna Laurie and the Whale Dreamers, the African Drummers, and in the evening, popular local band, Ooojah Cockraigne performed.
I do not have a list of all the committee members who where behind the festival, but hats off to committee president, Sarah Hanks, who was very ably assisted by Kendell Kenway and Peter Cox, plus many other volunteers.
I pay tribute to one of my constituents, Rerrkirrwanga Mununggurr from Wandawuy Homeland, who was the winner of the $4000 Best Bark category at the 26th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award. Her work, Gumatj Gurtha, depicts the Gumatj clan’s design for sacred fire. Notably, Rerrkirrwanga Mununggurr is the daughter of the late Djapu clan elder who was winner of the Telstra Bark Painting Award in the 14th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award in 1997.
There is a proud tradition of talented and innovative Yolngu artists who time after time receive national recognition for their extraordinary efforts. I would also like to acknowledge the long-term and enormous support provided to these artists through Buku Larrngay Mulka Centre at Yirrkala along with centre coordinators, Andrew Blake and Will Stubbs.
I wish to acknowledge another of my constituents, Mr Darryl Stewart, whose business, Gove Pharmacy, was named as the 2009 NT Telstra Business of the Year. Gove Pharmacy also won the MYOB Small Business Award, which is awarded to businesses with more than five, but fewer than or equal to 20 employees. Gove Pharmacy has become the source of essential medicines and professional services for several of the region’s Aboriginal health services. Darryl Stewart has built up a very loyal customer base. He is committed to improving Indigenous health, as well as improving access to PBS medicines and professional services for local Aboriginal health centres.
By virtue of being the NT winner, Darryl also received national recognition for being the first pharmacy in the NT to reach the finals of the Pharmacy Guild/Johnson and Johnson Pacific Pharmacy of the Year. Though Darryl and his business were pipped at the post, he did attend Telstra’s National Business Awards in Sydney on 20 August, with his wife, Nicole. Everyone in Gove was extremely proud to see Darryl as a finalist, and to see a business from remote North East Arnhem Land competing against the best small businesses in Australia. I am sure Darryl, in recognising his achievements, would also want me to recognise the contribution his staff also makes to his business.
I took the opportunity, during Seniors Month in August, to hold a morning tea for the terrific senior citizens in my community. It was a small but vibrant group which gathered at our town hall. Maureen Neil, owner and editor of Arafura Times, popped in to take a couple of photos, but ended up staying for the whole morning, and followed up with a series of articles over the following weeks, providing the stories of Elsie McLaughlin, June Bennett, and former resident, Colleen Thomson, who was back in Gove for a visit with her daughter, Jenny Laverty. Senior citizens in my community are a terrific group of civic-minded people who have contributed much to the community over the years.
I would also like to share with the House the excitement of the Gove Aussie Rules Football League final on 29 August. As sponsor of the 2009 GAFL Cup, I was honoured to present the cup to Djarrak who won a hard-fought game over close rivals, Gopu, and had not won a premiership for many years.
Former member, Syd Stirling, has given me much advice over the past 12 to 18 months. One thing he made me promise was to continue supporting local football, which was always very close to Syd’s heart. In the grand final, Djarrak was victorious with 106 points to Gopu’s 92. Michael Mununggurritj was awarded the Billy Buckle Medal for the best on field. For Djarrak, best players were Michael Mununggurritj, Phillip Bukulatjpi, Riccardo Mununggurr, Djalarika Raymond, Darren Mununggurr and Longy Maymure. For Gopu, best players were Gerard Puruntatamerri, Hamish Simpson, Danny Bromot, Ben Callaghan, Jessiah Yunupingu and Samuel Gurruwiwi.
I acknowledge the other teams in our small competition, including Saints and Nguykal. Nguykal literally found their legs late in the season and will be the ones to watch for next year. Of course, the competition can only happen when a group of people do the organising behind the scenes, so I also acknowledge the efforts of the very small committee of Hamish Simpson, Lyndon Snelling and Stuart Loftus as well as ever-reliable scorer and general organiser, Fiona Djerrkura and her partner, Gerry. And last but not least, umpires Mike Sandford and Stu McGill and dedicated manager of the scoring process, my footy made teenage son, Harry.
Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, once again Nhulunbuy individuals and businesses featured in the NT Training Awards which were held recently at the Darwin Convention Centre. Congratulations must go to: VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year, Marlene Organ, for the second year in a row, who is the coordinator of Nhulunbuy High School’s RTO. Vocational Student of the Year was awarded to Samantha Ziegler, who happens to be Marlene’s daughter and who is currently hosted by YBE(2) Pty Ltd for her Certificate III in Business; VET in Schools Student of the Year runner up was awarded to Bryce McIntyre at Nhulunbuy High School who is in his Certificate I in Engineering and Certificate I in Information Technology; and the Training Initiative Award was awarded to Rio Tinto Alcan for their ALERT program which provides a comprehensive training program for indigenous men and women and a pathway to real jobs.
On a final note, I acknowledge a number of Nhulunbuy Primary School students who were recognised by principal, Cindy McGarry, with a Principal’s Award. There are many reasons why students are nominated for these awards. It could be for someone who is consistently cooperative, respectful, enthusiastic, attentive, helpful, kind and considerate to others. The award can also be for someone who is new to the school and has settled in well.
Whatever the reason, the following students received a Principal’s Award because they have obviously shown some very positive personal qualities which make them a great role model for others. In Transition, awards were given to Kateeja Koops, Ted Griffin, Corey Banks and Tia Robinson; in Year 1, awards went to Trista Sims, Jimmy Waters, Olive Griffin; in Year 2, Paige Muir, Jack Collins and Jayden Wagg; in Year 3, Ipsita Singh, Sophie Brown and Shanti Monteiro; in Year 4, Jacintha Misob, Bradon Moyle and Joel Morris; in Year 5, Fraser Humphreys and Ailey O’Brien; in Year 6, Ashleigh Pryer, Ryan Randle and Gemma Hinchcliffe; and last but not least, in the Learning Centre, Tyrone Hislop-Mc Sherry.
Mr STYLES (Sanderson): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I was pleased to attend the Portrait of a Senior Territorian last Friday, 9 October, at Parliament House. It was a fantastic event, well-attended by many seniors and even more encouraging, many young people who came along for the event and accompanied friends, parents or grandparents. It was a well-attended event, made all the better because most people got into the theme of things and dressed in attire to enter the best dressed person on the day competition. The way it was conducted was quite hilarious, and all had a good time. I must thank Madam Speaker for hosting the event. She did an excellent job in providing a fun morning for all, and also providing hospitality for a great bunch of senior Territorians and their friends and relatives.
This is supported by the Government House Foundation, the Legislative Assembly and the Northern Territory government and members of this House. It was great to see people participating in and attending rehearsals for singing, dancing and playing musical instruments, and then later actually performing for these great people and entertaining them and, I am sure, giving them a great laugh. I would say, though, there were many of us there who will not be giving up our day jobs to take up a singing or dancing career, or playing musical instruments.
I will quote from the book produced by supporter, Image Offset, which shows all the portraits painted by the various artists with a story about each subject; then it gives you the background of each artist.
It is a book I have encouraged many people to get hold of and look at, and also, if people have an opportunity, to go to the great hall to see the portraits on display. The person who won this year’s Portrait of a Senior Territorian, and who was the recipient of a $5000 prize proudly donated by the Government House Organisation represented by Mr David Pearson, was Ian Campbell.
I will quote from the book:
It is a fantastic portrait. It is on display in the great hall. Anyone who is a purveyor of fine art should have a look at all those portraits.
I will move on to another function I was very fortunate to attend on 9 October, the Northern Territory Netball Championships. This event was run over the weekend, commencing on Friday night and finishing Sunday. When the usual sponsor was unable to continue, another Territory company very quickly filled the gap. This demonstrates some of the fine people in the Northern Territory.
I believe the owners of NT Link, Tony Smith and Libby Prell, are both active and passionate members of the local community, and the NT Netball Association was thrilled they stepped in and took on major sponsorship for the Northern Territory Netball Championships.
The new facilities at Marrara are second to none in Australia, and I commend the government for investing in those facilities and providing young women with an excellent facility with offices, canteen, change rooms, showers, toilets; everything is top class. The courts, with a number of concrete and synthetic surfaces, for the use of all Territorians, are second to none.
The championships were well attended by teams from Alice Springs, Gove, Katherine, and Darwin, with approximately 200 competitors. It was fantastic to see the energy, which demonstrates to me there are young people out there willing to participate, train hard, and play sport in a fashion we all like to see. The event was open by the President of NT Netball, Helen Smith who made a great speech and thanked the government for the new facilities and the car park. It is a top-rate facility.
One thing which really impressed me was a young eight-year-old girl, Holly Parker, who attended with her mum, Kelly. I recall watching Jessica Mauboy as a young girl about the same age - in fact younger - when I used to teach at Wulagi Primary School. I used to watch her sing. I have to say Holly, when she performed the Australian National Anthem with absolutely no backing whatsoever, did a superb job. To hear her voice, and the confidence of one so young, was fantastic to see. It filled me with great pride, as a Territorian, to watch this young lady perform in front of 300 or 400 people and captivate them as she sang the Australian National Anthem. She did a fantastic job. I commend young Holly Parker, and I will watch with great interest her career and future development as a singer and entertainer. I am sure she will follow in the footsteps of the other recent Territory hit, Jessica Mauboy.
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the closing ceremony due to other commitments, but I make special note that Stacey Campton, who is an IUA/AA badged umpire, was there from Netball Australia to talk on rules and actions on umpiring. There are a number of umpires and it is important that we mention them: Antony Yoffa, Sue Pannell, Michelle Ride, Tenille Arnold, Mel Swart, Di McGregor, Kira Grant, Sara Farrands, Linda Parnham, Lauren Davies, Andrea Read, Jourdan Pym, Linda Brodie, and Helen Clarke.
Madam Deputy Speaker, without those people and their commitment to this sport, it would be impossible to run the games and provide a service for such a wonderful group of young people.
Ms McCARTHY (Arnhem): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I pay tribute tonight to the memory of Rev Bapa Joe Garawirrtja, a senior statesman of the Yolngu people, who passed away on 18 September, and was laid to rest at Milingimbi on Saturday, 10 October. The funeral was attended by the whole community, and many other people travelled from across north-east Arnhem Land and Darwin to join them. On Wednesday before the funeral, a memorial service was held at the Uniting Church in Nightcliff which was also very well attended.
I am very sad we have lost this great man and sorry I was unable to attend his funeral service to both mourn his passing, and celebrate his full and very distinguished life. He was a highly respected Minister of the Uniting Church, a senior traditional owner, and acknowledged for the strong leadership role he fulfilled, despite battling serious illness over recent years.
Bapa Joe was born on 19 January 1947 in Millingimbi, and went to Papua New Guinea in the 1970s to attend Malumaluwan College, before returning to Darwin to work for the YMCA on communities, in schools, and with youth groups.
In the early 1980s, he returned to Millingimbi to serve as a Lay Pastor and started studying at Nungalinya College, where he graduated with a Diploma in Theology in 1984. Bapa Joe was ordained as a Minister of the Uniting Church in April 1985, and was posted to Galiwinku, where he served for nine years. He was loved by all and worked tirelessly with young people in particular, involving them in sports and agricultural work. He would often do the umpiring of AFL games and, on more serious occasions, would act as a mediator of volatile conflicts within the community. He was the person who reconciled everyone and brought them back together.
After his return to Milingimbi in the 1990s, he was elected as a councillor on the Milingimbi Community Government Council Board, serving as Chair on several occasions. After the council amalgamation, he served as the Community Liaison Officer for the East Arnhem Shire Council. It was in his role as Chair of the council, and acknowledged leader of Milingimbi community, where I first met him, when elected as member for Arnhem in 2005. I remember my first visit to Milingimbi. Bapa Joe was there welcoming me to the country and, on many occasions, taking me around and just teaching me about the importance of Yolngu culture, and the importance of many different areas and clan groups at Milingimbi.
I remember in particular my first Australia Day celebrations at Milingimbi. I was intrigued and impressed with the Milingimbi people and the way they celebrated Australia Day, especially as a Yolngu community, when, in many parts of Australia, for Indigenous Australians, celebration is perhaps not always the word used around Australia Day. Not so in Milingimbi, very proud Australians, very proud Yolngu. Bapa Joe was the organiser of the many events that day. They had picnic day races on Australia Day every year, and they did it the first year I was there. I remember the billycan race, where all the sand is piled up in the billycan, and then you have to put the billycan on your head, and you have to walk as fast as you can with that billycan to the next person, and that was your relay team. Instead of passing the baton, you would be passing the billycan from head to head. I am very sad to say, my billycan kept dropping off, but Bapa Joe kept encouraging me with that billycan.
He made me feel so special and welcome whenever I visited Milingimbi, with his open, honest and humble ways. But then again, he made everyone feel special and welcome.
Bapa Joe leaves behind a powerful message for his people: to stand proud in Yolngu culture as they walk a path in the Balanda world. He leaves behind a powerful dream our children will grow strong in both cultures, living with dignity on their country that holds much promise. That dignity was so evident in Reverend Bapa Joe Garawirrtja’s own life, and he will be sadly missed by all those who knew and worked with him. He had a deep and profound faith in the Lord, and we know, and his families know, he has gone home.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
CONDOLENCE MOTION
Victims of Natural Disasters
in the Pacific-Asia Region
Victims of Natural Disasters
in the Pacific-Asia Region
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move - that the Legislative Assembly:
- (a) express its profound condolences to the people of the Philippines who were victims of the most recent floods;
(b) express its profound condolences to the people of the South Pacific region who were victims of a tsunami;
(c) express its profound condolences to the people of Indonesia, particularly those on the island of Sumatra in the Padang region, who were victims of the most recent earthquake;
(d) that the Legislative Assembly commends the efforts of the Australian Defence Forces and relief agencies like the Red Cross; and
(e) further, commends the efforts of community groups who are fund raising and working to assist the victims, families, and relatives who have been exposed to these horrific tragedies.
Madam Speaker, we are very much a close-knit community in the Northern Territory, particularly Darwin and Palmerston. We are truly the most cosmopolitan city in our nation. I believe all of us, as members of parliament, have been absolutely devastated by the three tragedies which have affected our immediate region over the last couple of weeks. I cannot recall a series of intense and devastating natural events which have come one after the other with such horrific consequences in our region.
Over many years of course, we have natural events which cause disasters. However, we have had one after another after another. Coming to work in the mornings, listening to the radio news broadcasts when I wake up, and watching the news on television at night has been absolutely traumatising in terms of the devastation these events have caused.
It started with Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines on 25 September, followed by the tsunami in Samoa, American Samoa and the South Pacific region just four days later on 29 September, and the very next day there was a massive earthquake in Padang, Indonesia on 30 September. In the space of five days, three enormous natural events have caused death, destruction, and devastation across our region.
The Filipino community in Darwin is very large and we all have friends, neighbours, family and colleagues in that community.
Our Indonesian community in Darwin is also large. We all have an affinity with Indonesia through personal friendships, relationships, people who are doing business in Indonesia. We have all had holidays in Indonesia with friends and family. We have enormous connections with Indonesia.
The tiny countries in the Pacific, Samoa and American Samoa, are not big communities but there are eight or nine Samoan families in Darwin. I have met a number of them over the last few weeks.
For me it is not just watching these events unfold on the television and over the news which is so distressing; it is the fact there are people who live here amongst us, work with us, friends, neighbours, children going to school, in the workplace, who are directly affected. They have friends and families in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Samoa. So many of our fellow Territorians have been directly affected and my heart, and the heart of everyone in this Assembly, goes out to Territorians who have been directly affected by these horrific events.
The images we have seen on our television screens and reports we have heard on the radio have saddened and shocked Territorians. The scale of the tragedies has meant thousands of people have lost family and friends, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced as the death toll across the region continues to rise.
Going to some of the latest details on Typhoon Ketsana, news reports from 12 October talked about the Manila evacuation and the displacement of nearly 600 000 people; that is an enormous number of people. There have been 250 lives lost to date, and the damage from the typhoon is estimated, in a relatively poor country, at $100m. However, 600 000 people being displaced and having lost their homes is an enormous number of people directly affected.
In American Samoa and Samoa at least 140 people lost their lives and many villages were destroyed. An 8.3 magnitude earthquake caused the tsunami and waters rose to at least 6 m high. The news reports of how people lost their lives, including whole families, as a result of the tsunami were very distressing.
Then, the very next day in Padang, Indonesia an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter Scale has killed an estimated 1100 people, over 102 000 homes have been destroyed and, in some areas, about 80% of buildings have collapsed. Whole areas remain impassable. That is the scale of those tragedies.
I paid my condolences, on behalf of all Territorians, to the Indonesian Consul, Mr Harbangan Napitupulu, several days after the quake and pledged the Northern Territory would do whatever it could. I met and spoke with John Rivas, the Honorary Consul for the Philippines, and on behalf of all Territorians expressed condolences and support; and to Emma Sullivan, from the Samoan community in Darwin. Each one of those people told me, in a very personal way, of the grief and absolute chaos which has resulted from these tragedies.
Our Indonesian Consul was concerned for the safety of two Darwin residents. On the day I met him, Tommy Djamal and his wife, residents of Darwin for over 20 years, were in Padang for the Idul Fitri celebrations. The Consular staff had been trying to contact Mr Djamal for several days to confirm he and his wife were safe. I believe for a period of five or six days the Indonesian community in Darwin did not know whether Tommy and his wife had survived. They did, and are either imminently on their way back to Darwin, or back in Darwin now. We are all very pleased that they are safe.
The Royal Darwin Hospital was on standby to receive any injured. As we know, RDH has a national and international reputation in aiding victims in the wake of natural disasters, and that plan was stood up. They do an amazing job.
Soldiers from 1st Combat Engineering Regiment based at Robertson Barracks have been doing a great job in Padang with water purification efforts. Last Sunday, HMAS Kanimbla sailed from Darwin for Padang with a team of approximately 140 engineers and support personnel, as well as their specialist equipment, to contribute to the recovery phase of the earthquake and relief operation. We are all proud of our Defence Forces and the work they do in this region. The total ADF commitment to Operation Padang is about 500 personnel. In addition to medical support, the relief team is going to be providing fresh drinking water and tonnes of humanitarian aid.
The ADF responded to the Samoan tragedy as well, with a tri-service disaster relief operation. Medical relief teams, rescue equipment and emergency supplies were provided.
With the size of our Darwin community, it shows how this hits home to us. A new family has just arrived in Lyons, in my electorate. They are an Army family and the husband is an engineer. They had only been in Darwin for three weeks. They have four daughters all under 12. My daughter has palled up with one of his daughters and they have become great friends. Speaking to him the other day, he is new to the Army, this is his first posting and he is off to Padang and cannot wait to get involved and make the difference as an individual. These are the stories we hear in the Northern Territory.
I held a press conference with the Consul from Indonesia, John Rivas, and Emma Sullivan, to kick-start a Red Cross appeal for the three natural disasters. The Territory government kicked off the appeal with $10 000 for each of the relief efforts. I am aware that in many workplaces and sporting clubs Territorians are raising funds.
The executive director of Red Cross, Sharon Mulholland, says the Australian Red Cross has been responding in the affected area since the first warnings in the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Samoa, Tonga, Indonesia and India. She says the biggest priority for Red Cross is to ensure people are safe and their basic needs are being met. She urges Territorians who want to help to donate to any of these three appeals. I know Territorians are very generous and are doing what they can.
The Filipino, Indonesian and Samoan communities are organising a joint fundraising event. I do not have the details of the event, but we are helping those communities. That came out of the press conference, and the two larger communities are saying they are happy to share what they are doing with the Samoan community, which is a very small community in Darwin. I commend everyone involved in the fundraising event.
There is a very direct link between Darwin High School and Padang. I spoke with the Principal, Marion Guppy. Darwin High has had a relationship with one of the schools in Padang, regarding teacher exchanges, for a number of years. Because of security warnings, the student exchanges have been suspended for quite a few years now, but Darwin High has hosted teachers from Padang over the last few years. Darwin High School is going to be holding a concert in the next couple of weeks and, for a gold coin donation, students, teachers and parents will be treated to an all singing and all dancing concert. It is a very small event; however it shows how our wonderful community in Darwin responds when countries in the region with which we have a connection are victims of these terrible tragedies.
In closing, on behalf of the government, and I am sure of this parliament, our condolences go to the people of the Philippines, Indonesia and the South Pacific who have been affected by these horrific events. Our sympathy and support is there for our communities in Darwin who have been directly affected. I urge all honourable members to support the motion.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I support this important motion expressing our condolence, our sadness, and our empathy for those within our region who have suffered as a consequence of these natural disasters. It is good that we pause and reflect and consider our response; to do otherwise would diminish us as human beings.
Further reinforced is the notion of neighbourhood. It is a strong reminder that we are all connected one way or another, more so here in the Northern Territory, and in Darwin in particular, being geographically part of the region. We are also connected through families and relationships, and so that which has befallen those within our neighbourhood has an effect upon us, which obliges and requires us to respond.
I am very pleased to hear the Chief Minister describe the actions of the government on behalf of the people of the Northern Territory. I am grateful for those responses for the communities concerned, with the encouragement for other agencies, particularly Sharon Mulholland and Red Cross, who embody the response of the community. I commend the Red Cross, and thank the Chief Minister for the leadership role in regard to facilitating those negotiations, the conveying of condolences and expressing concern of the community through the parliament, and through the office of the Chief Minister.
In relation to fundraising efforts, it is quite lovely to hear Samoa and Indonesia, which have stark differences in terms of economy, geography, and size of population, are combining to have a joint response. This is very special, and I expect anyone who has the opportunity to provide either moral or practical substantial support will attend these events.
These events remind us of the wider community, and make us consider family and that which is actually important. In fact it should provide some hope to the way we weigh up matters of importance and prioritise. When we look at the television screen we know it is a representation of that which is multiplied again and again and again across the community: loss of loved ones you had hopes and plans for, loss of a house and all contained within the house, and the loss of a community which has been fractured and severely damaged. It helps one to focus on what is important, what is real value, and then to consider in some places, for example in Padang, complete villages have been subsumed and have gone.
These things should arrest our thinking and cause us to question priorities here too. One, of course, is the response we give. Then, to make sure we apply the reminder of what is important; of course family and community. Life is what we have been reminded of here and that is what we are supporting. We are supporting, as human beings, a response to other families just like our own, but in a different place and different situation. It is just a small echo of Cyclone Tracy. I was not here then but I know some members of the Chamber were. To families who have suffered tragedy, who are represented in this Chamber, it helps us to identify and to respond, and that response should enhance us as human beings.
I thank the Chief Minister for bringing this condolence motion forward today. I acknowledge and appreciate the response to date. It was a difficult one to respond to because one, two, three - where do we go? I believe the joint fundraiser will really bring it together in a very special way. I look forward to learning more about that event and hope that I can help support that by attending and encouraging others to support it also.
The typhoon aside the connection between an earthquake and a tsunami links back to Aceh and Sri Lanka, a disaster which still lives large in our memories. It is a reminder of the volatile nature of the geography within the region, and it is once again a reminder of what could be. We shudder to think what could be, and there had been warnings even before the last tsunami, that those tectonic plates are under increased pressure and there is more to come. The other deeper register here is the fear that other natural disasters may arise because of the connection between the tsunami and the earthquake.
I appreciate the role of the Red Cross, and our defence personnel. I am always so impressed with the Defence Force, particularly as someone who has worked with young people for many years, and seeing the young men and women who are trained and fit and ready to serve and to represent the nation so proudly. I commend that response in particular, but broaden it to the families who stay behind whilst their loved ones assist, on behalf of the Australian nation, in places not so far from here.
Thank you, Chief Minister, for bringing forward this motion. It has, of course, our full support.
Ms LAWRIE (Deputy Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I join members of the Assembly in offering my profound condolences to the people who have experienced the most recent natural disasters and tragedies in the Philippines with the typhoons and floods; in the South Pacific region, Samoa, American Samoa, and to an extent, Tonga, with the recent tsunami; and in Indonesia, particularly those on the island of Sumatra and the Padang region, with the most recent earthquake.
I join with members of the parliament to strongly identify with such natural disasters and the tragedies, the loss of life and how it reminds us of what is truly important in our lives - our family and our friends. The multicultural groups of the Northern Territory have been quick and strong in their response to support the communities of their homelands. I join with the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in congratulating the multicultural groups for coming together and ensuring they have a joint fundraiser. The strength of the Filipino community and the Indonesian community is significant. The Samoan community in the Territory is very small. I believe it is a recognition of how truly embracing our multicultural communities are that they are joined together to fundraise for their three homelands.
The individual disasters were shocking in their magnitude. Natural disasters, by their nature, are swift and we saw the horrendous early footage of the results.
I will deal with the tsunami in Samoa in late September. There are recent reports of 143 people dead. The effect on small communities would be significant. It is an enormous tragedy and witnessing the funerals and the mass burials occurring in Samoa has been very moving. Thousands are homeless. We have also seen some deaths in American Samoa and Tonga. There are reports of 20 villages destroyed. Samoa is a very small country. We often talk about the small population of the Northern Territory, but to put Samoa in context, there are only around 180 000 residents. Recognising that, the capacity of such a small country to deal with such a large tragedy is, of course, very limited. They are in the midst of devastation. It is good to see the very swift Australian government response. If you want to illustrate the extent of the devastation and the effect it is having on Samoan life, community and government, even the Prime Minister of Samoa lost relatives in the tragedy. It has affected absolutely everyone in the nation.
Sadly, we heard of two Australians losing their lives. There was also the heartrending story of the twin Australian girls; one was found and they were not sure where the other was. They eventually found the second twin. They searched for them after finding their passports embedded in sand on the beach. They found the second twin in a hospital injured but alive, and reunited them. In the tragedy is also hope, and the miracle stories are starting to come out of Samoa.
Australia immediately sent teams of paramedics, doctors, nurses, and search and rescue specialists, with essential supplies such as tents and medicine. The Australian government has contributed $5m to the rebuilding effort in Samoa. We know that with 20 villages wiped out rebuilding will take a long time.
Samoa is synonymous in our Darwin community with fantastic Rugby players. The Samoan Barbarians took out the Hottest 7s title this year. Amidst the tragedy, we send a message of hope, we send a message of support, and we hope to see the Samoan Barbarians back here to play in the Hottest 7s. If they can gather a team out of the tragedy and come back, I have no doubt there will be widespread Top End support of the Samoan Barbarians. We would warmly welcome them back to the Territory.
The earthquake in Sumatra came less than 24 hours after the tsunami struck Samoa. Sadly, the tragic earthquake in Sumatra is in an all-too-frequent occurrence zone. Sumatra was affected by earthquakes in 2004, 2005, 2007 and, now, in 2009. It is lying on one of the most active fault lines in the world, and more earthquakes are, no doubt, inevitable.
The Territory has had a long and very close association with Indonesia. We have many Indonesian people living in our community and contributing significantly to our community. It was shocking to see the scale of the loss of lives, and the carnage and devastation resulting from the earthquake, and to see those enormous landslides where villages have been completely lost. So far, reports put the number of deaths at 807 - a significant loss of life; an almost unimaginable scale of loss of life. There are still approximately 240 people missing, and there are 2000-plus injured. The number of damaged houses is reported to be around 250 000. What an enormous scale in terms of a recovery. They are saying 1386 classrooms, 168 roads, 241 offices, 16 bridges, 1237 places of worship are severely damaged. We start to get a sense of the enormity of destruction in Padang.
The Australian government has allocated $17m in assistance to Indonesia and, as the Chief Minister said, HMAS Kanimbla left Darwin on Sunday sailing for the Padang region with engineers and medics on board, to help tend the injured and start the rebuild process to provide for basic shelter and opportunities. We are hearing there is a dire need for shelter, fresh water and food.
A significant tragedy occurred in Sumatra. It is one of those times where you are incredibly proud of our Australian Defence Force and their ability to respond, and to give up their time, leave their families, and go into a place completely devastated, in extreme conditions, with enormous grief and tragedy going on around them, and to support people in rebuilding their lives and their communities. My sincere thanks go to the Australian Defence Force personnel who have been involved in the Top End in getting Kanimbla to Padang.
We then saw the Philippines battered by two weeks of killer storms and typhoons, resulting in widespread flooding and over 600 people dead. The main island of Luzon bore the brunt of the typhoon. We have a vibrant, dynamic Filipino community in the Territory, and many have relatives in the regions affected by the typhoons and floods. I sponsor a child in the region, and I was quick to respond to a request from World Vision for additional funding to provide for their aid effort.
It is a time of significant disaster in our region, and Territorians are well placed because we live in good conditions, on the whole, to respond; to provide donations to our relief agencies, and to support the local fundraising efforts to ensure we can help with the basics needed in the recovery phase. The medical equipment is essential, as is the shelter, food and water.
I sincerely thank the Chief Minister for bringing this condolence motion to the parliament today. We are enormously affected by the nature of these disasters in our region. It reminds us how vulnerable we all are to natural disasters. Those of us who went through Cyclone Tracy can empathise with the tragedy those families are experiencing now, and the sheer extent of the recovery effort required, and the enormous time it will take to rebuild the lives of the families, the communities and to get back to where schools are rebuilt and children can get back to school.
I applaud the donation of $30 000 by the Territory government to Red Cross. Every little helps, and that is a significant contribution from a small government. I congratulate the Defence Force for their response, and our community for its generous response, and for the opportunity to help with the fundraiser amongst the Indonesian, Filipino and Samoan communities. I commend the condolence motion to the House.
____________________
Visitors
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Year 2/3 students from Yarralin School, accompanied by Ms Lucy Pedwell and Ms Abby Cunningham. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE (Katherine): Madam Speaker, like my colleagues, I support this condolence motion, and I join my colleague, the Leader of the Opposition, in thanking the Chief Minister for bringing this motion on today.
It is important for not only this parliament but parliaments across Australia and around the world to speak on motions which represent a condolence to people who are so tragically affected by natural disasters across the world. As leaders in the community, it is incumbent upon us to set the direction of the way people consider how these tragedies unfold. Sometimes it is possible for people to look at the television and consider some of these things to be surreal, or far removed. I take this opportunity to remind all those who listen to these broadcasts, who read Hansard, that there is a real human tragedy amongst the people who are affected by natural disasters, particularly those which occurred recently in Samoa, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
A great number of people have died, a great number of people have been left behind, friends and family have passed away, they have had their lives shattered, they have had their homes destroyed, and they are left destitute. The positive which comes out of this is the strength, courage, tenacity, and resilience people display when they are confronted with such enormous disasters in their own community. I have never had to endure a real disaster, but I do take my hat off to people who simply get up in those circumstances and move on and do the very best they can to put their lives back together.
One of the things I think Australians share with people from all the communities recently affected by these natural disasters is our goodwill. That is what gives us such a strong connection with people in those communities so recently affected. I would like to, on behalf of myself and the people of Katherine, send very best wishes for a speedy recovery to a normal life to the people of Indonesia, the Philippines and Samoa. I know there are many people in the Northern Territory, and across Australia, who are affected in one way, shape, or form by these tragedies. I know there are several people in Katherine who have families affected by the floods in Manila. Fortunately, most of our Filipino community are from parts not affected by the flood.
I also join in congratulating our Defence Forces on the hard work they have put in going to countries such as these and delivering the essential services needed. Quite often police officers are called upon to assist in such circumstances. I know a few local police officers who have been seconded, at various times, to the AFP to serve in places like Samoa. I know those people have connections we could not understand in countries they have served in.
Much of what needs to be said, I believe, has been said in the House this morning by both the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister. I take this opportunity to send my sincere thoughts and hopes for a quick as possible return to normal life for the people who are affected by these disasters.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I support the Chief Minister’s motion of condolence for the victims of the natural disasters in the Pacific-Asia region.
We are lucky in this part of the world. I think we can sometimes keep at arm’s length what is happening around our immediate area, and not realise the extent to which our close neighbours suffer when these natural tragedies occur. It is nearly 35 years since Cyclone Tracy; I was on Bathurst Island at the time and we thought it was a terrible tragedy, and it was for Darwin. When you compare it with what we have recently seen, it was just a bump.
I was looking at figures from the United Nations in relation to the earthquake in Sumatra and on 11 October there were 739 deaths, 296 people missing, 2219 people injured, and 234 395 houses damaged. That alone is just phenomenal! A huge number of people now find themselves with very little shelter. They have gone through the pain of losing loved ones, they have gone through the pain of trying to assist people who have been injured and, on top of that, they have no place to live or very little basic shelter. Having watched television recently, I would say most of them have no jobs. In some of these countries there is not a Centrelink down the road to pick up the pieces when tragedy occurs, as in Australia.
It is important we recognise what is happening close by, and understand we need to do as much as we possibly can. We are only a small part of the world, but I believe this motion is very important in saying we do feel concern for what has happened there. We should be doing our best to help those people and recognise we are truly neighbours. In the case of Indonesia, we have our large live cattle exports; we are not only dealing with a customer, we are dealing with people. People rely on our trade and we rely on their trade. When these things happen, as has happened in Sumatra, we need to ensure we show we are not just a trading partner, but we are also a true neighbour who has concerns for what has happened.
I believe that is shown in the response of our Defence Forces, quickly announcing the HMAS Kanimbla, would be offshore. I am not sure if it has arrived yet, it is certainly on its way, with two Sea King helicopters. We remember the tragedy of the tsunami in Aceh, where Australia went to help those people. Unfortunately the crew of one of those Sea King helicopters did not return because it crashed on take off and all crew were killed. It shows Australians do care, and that is recognised when we see the great work done by our Defence Forces.
We also have to recognise the pain suffered by families. When people have lost loved ones, that is painful, but when people are injured, when people have little access to good food and water, it is not just a matter of picking up the pieces at the time; it is the ongoing help these countries require. I believe when the headlines die down, when the television stops reporting these matters, we have to remind ourselves people in these areas still need help.
Samoa lost a large number of houses and for a poor country it must be a huge burden; also for the islands nearby. As the member for Karama said, we do have contact from time to time with Samoa. The Samoan Rugby Union team comes out each year to play in the 7s. We all appreciate them coming here, not only because they are good Rugby Union players, but to meet the Samoans. They are a bit like Thursday Islanders and Fijians; they are happy-go-lucky people and we enjoy them coming to our country.
Some of the people who taught me in Melbourne teach in Samoa. I checked on the website today and their school is not in that particular region.
The Philippines was hit with a double whammy. It suffered a hurricane in September, and got the edge of another hurricane which, fortunately, did not cause quite as much damage. When you attempt to put things into perspective, compared to the tragedy of Cyclone Tracy, and look at the death toll and the damage the Filipino floods caused, 337 000 people in Manila alone were displaced, with 60 000 people staying in evacuation centres. That is one-and-a-half times the Territory’s population being displaced. The effort required to find places for those people must be enormous. Even though we are sending condolences to these nations about the number of deaths, we still have to take note these countries will be suffering from the damage caused by these tragedies for a lot longer, and the human and economic cost will continue for years.
These countries are in an area prone to earthquakes. Since the tsunami in Aceh and Thailand, we are much more concerned about the effects of earthquakes under the sea. If you read some of the reports, you will note Java had an earthquake at more or less the same time as Sumatra. West Papua had a 6.1 magnitude quake around 4 October. Luckily, it did not affect a highly-populated area. These things will continue to occur and, tragically, people will lose their lives. As a near neighbour, Australia will continue to do what it has always done - help those people in need.
It is not just government which should help but people who have personal contacts. The Filipinos have had contact with the Northern Territory from the days of the Macassans, when they came to visit the shores of the Northern Territory. We have traded in buffalo. You will find many Filipino names in Darwin. On Bathurst Island you will see coconut trees which were planted by the Filipinos who worked with the first missionaries there. If you go to any church in Darwin you will see a group of Filipino people who always love singing. We have very strong affiliations with the Philippines through the people who live in our community.
This motion of condolence is very important. It says we are concerned and sorry for what has happened, and we will continue to assist, where possible, as this tragedy continues. As the Chief Minister said, if there is multicultural fundraising which will help all three countries, it will be fantastic. As a community, if we could all get behind that, it would be great.
Madam Speaker, I support the Chief Minister’s motion of condolence.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I agree with the member for Katherine; all speakers have contributed very well to this motion. It is very hard to add to what others have said.
What underlines the comments quite a number of speakers have made is that the force of nature can be powerful, irresistible, and destructive. This has been illustrated by these terrible events in the Pacific region over the past few weeks, in Indonesia, the Philippines and Samoa. One thing about modern communication and television is that all these events are brought into our living rooms. I am reminded of the scripture which talks about seeing earthquakes and other calamities in diverse places. Through modern communication we are seeing, almost firsthand, what is happening within these disaster zones.
It also makes me reflect, as did the members for Nelson and Katherine, on natural disasters which have occurred within the Territory, particularly the Top End, with Cyclone Tracy and the Katherine floods. In many ways, while these were great calamities for us compared to what we see, hear and read about regarding our neighbours, to some degree those natural disasters in the Territory are relatively small by comparison.
For each family with a loss or an injury, or loss of property and employment, it does not really matter in the scale of it but multiplied many times, many families, the scale becomes immense and almost unbearable.
One reflection I have had is could such an earthquake occur within the Northern Territory? I guess the answer to that is: we do not really know. We all know earthquakes rattle through Darwin from time to time, and rattle through the Northern Territory. Newcastle, many years ago, had an earthquake. It could quite possibly happen here; we do not know; such is nature.
In terms of a tsunami, my understanding is Darwin is quite protected from the likely effects of a tsunami. On the Western Australian coast, there is evidence of a tsunami hitting the coast quite some time ago. Australia, per se, is not immune to the effects of tsunamis and earthquakes.
Today we are focusing on our neighbours in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Samoa. As a number of speakers have pointed out, our communities across the Territory have close connections with the Pacific region. We know there is a large Indonesian and Filipino community. We know there are quite a number of people from the South Pacific who live in Darwin and other parts of the Territory. The images from Samoa were very heartrending; people of great faith experiencing profound loss. I know our thoughts and prayers are with all people in Indonesia, the Philippines and Samoa. They are all people with strong beliefs and strong faith, and we hope and pray their faith will be of comfort to them during this stressful time.
As a community, we have been shocked and saddened by these events. As the Chief Minister has said, the government has donated $10 000 to the Red Cross for efforts in Padang, Samoa and the Philippines. I commend the work of the Red Cross. I have known Sharon Mulholland for quite a number of years, and others who serve with the Red Cross, and they do a fantastic job, both locally, and nationally and internationally. The Red Cross is a fantastic organisation and it deserves credit for being very quick in facilitating aid to these areas in such great need. They are very experienced, they have a long history, but their energy is unabated. They continue, and must continue with the sort of focus and commitment they have as an organisation.
The ADF is certainly front and centre with many of the relief efforts. It is useful to reflect over the years we have had our Defence Forces, from World War I and World War II and other conflicts through the time, that gradually the ADF has had more of a relief role in efforts such as these. It shows the diversification and flexibility of our Defence Forces. I believe it is an incentive for many people to join the Defence Forces. As well as the important job of defending Australia, many of the people I have spoken to are very intent on becoming part of relief efforts.
Over many years we have seen how the Defence Force has assisted relief efforts within our region and across the world. They are certainly to be commended. It has become part and parcel of their very important work. We can look to them with pride for what they do for Australia, not only in defending Australia, but demonstrating to the people in the region we care about them, we care about their families, and we care about their situation.
I believe that is one of the best aspects we can have of our Defence Force; they are actually showing a great, practical form of diplomacy in our region. I am sure strong bonds are made and there is much respect within those countries for our Defence Forces which are doing a great job. In Operation Padang alone, there are about 500 personnel. We wish them, and their families who are staying behind, all the best during this time of separation, and we wish them a safe and happy return.
The basics they are providing are drinking water and tonnes of humanitarian aid, and most importantly, medical relief. They have also responded to the Samoan tragedy, and the medical relief they have provided there is front and centre, along with rescue equipment.
Madam Speaker, I do not want to say too much more. Every speaker has spoken from the heart. Our thoughts and prayers are with those in distress in those regions.
Madam SPEAKER: I thank honourable members for their contributions to this motion. I extend my condolences, best wishes and prayers to the people of the Philippines, Tonga, Samoa and Indonesia on this very tragic situation in their countries.
Motion agreed to.
Members stood and observed one minute’s silence as a mark of respect.
PETITION
ANZAC Hill High School – Remain as a Secondary Campus
ANZAC Hill High School – Remain as a Secondary Campus
Mr GILES (Braitling): Madam Speaker, I present a petition from 665 petitioners praying that ANZAC Hill High School campus remains open as a secondary campus. The petition bears the Clerk’s certificate that it conforms with the requirements of standing orders. Madam Speaker, I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read.
- To the honourable Speaker and members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
We the undersigned respectfully showeth that we seek the Northern Territory government to be true to their word and listen to the people of Alice Springs by acknowledging the concerns of parents and the school council of ANZAC Hill High School in Alice Springs.
Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the members of the Assembly commit to keeping the ANZAC Hill High School campus open as a separate campus within the new Centralian Middle School, and the core subjects of Maths, English and Special Education remain at both campuses and students and parents continue to have a choice of campus for education in Alice Springs.
And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY LONG SERVICE LEAVE AND BENEFITS AMENDMENT BILL
(Serial 58)
(Serial 58)
Bill presented and read a first time.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
The purpose of this bill is to amend the Construction Industry Long Service Leave and Benefits Act to introduce a $1bn project cost threshold for large scale construction projects above which an actuarially determined levy rate would apply.
The Northern Territory’s portable long service leave scheme for building and construction industry workers enables eligible workers to qualify for long service leave entitlements based on service in the industry, rather than service to a single employer.
An inherent design feature of the Territory’s scheme is there is a high degree of cross-subsidisation from larger scale projects. This is due to these projects having higher capital costs while labour represents a lower percentage of overall project costs, compared with smaller construction projects such as residential developments. This is necessary to fund entitlements for those workers employed by the smaller scale projects which do not contribute financially to the scheme. However, in very large capital intensive projects, the levy income derived under the current flat levy rate structure may far outweigh the long service leave costs incurred on the project, and cross-subsidisation may be too large.
At the completion of the scheme’s third year of operation, the scheme actuary undertook the first formal actuarial review of the scheme. In addition to the prescribed scope of the review, advice was also sought on options for accommodating large scale construction projects. The review found there is scope to adjust the levy mechanism for very large projects by establishing a $1bn project cost threshold, and introducing an additional levy rate based on the estimated impact on scheme liabilities to apply to project costs above a threshold. Accordingly, it is appropriate to introduce the actuarial recommendations regarding large scale construction projects in a timely manner to encourage further investment in the Territory during the current downturn in the international economy.
As such, the Construction Industry Long Service Leave Amendment Bill 2009 introduces a two tier levy regime for construction projects with construction costs in excess of $1bn. The prescribed levy rate which applies to all eligible construction projects under the scheme would apply to the first $1bn. A project’s specific levy rate, determined by me as the responsible minister, would apply to project costs in excess of the $1bn threshold.
The project specific levy rate would be set at a level sufficient to meet the liabilities imposed on the scheme by the project costs above the $1bn threshold. Under the proposed bill, I must determine the project’s specific levy rate after considering a review by the scheme actuary. I believe the amendments before the House today will reduce impediments to investment in major projects in the Territory while preserving the financial viability of the scheme and its ongoing capacity to provide long service leave entitlements to workers in the construction industry.
I commend this bill to honourable members, and I table the explanatory statement to accompany the bill.
Debate adjourned.
REVENUE UNITS BILL
(Serial 64)
(Serial 64)
Bill presented and read a first time.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
As part of Budget 2009-10, I advised many of the fees and charges for government services had not been reviewed for years. These fee levels have been eroded by inflation and are well below the cost of providing the services associated with these fees.
The existing Revenue Units Act established a scheme to allow for government fees and charges to be expressed as a number of revenue units rather than dollar amounts. It was enacted to provide a simple process for maintaining the value of Territory fees and charges. This is similar to the penalty units scheme already legislated for in the Northern Territory. However, the current Revenue Units Act does not provide for a simple, automated process for changing the monetary value of our revenue unit to take into account the effects of inflation.
The existing Revenue Units Act commenced in May 2006, and the value of a revenue unit has not been reviewed since it was set at $1 in July 2006. The Revenue Units Bill will remedy this by providing for the automatic annual adjustment of the value of a revenue unit. The adjustment will be calculated on the movement in the Consumer Price Index for Darwin, published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, for the four quarters of the calendar year immediately preceding the relevant financial year. Any adjustment to the value of a revenue unit will be declared in around March each year, to apply for the following financial year. Where the monetary amount of a fee or charge expressed in the revenue units is not a multiple of $1, the amount will be rounded down to the nearest $1. A similar indexation mechanism was recently included in the penalty units legislation. Similar legislative fee indexation mechanisms also exist in Victoria and Tasmania.
The bill provides for the value of a revenue unit to remain at $1 until 30 June 2011. This is because the government is in the process of reviewing fee levels as many have not been updated for years. The review process will ensure fees are updated to levels which better reflect the impact of inflation on the cost to government of providing these services. Any increase to these fees will apply from 1 January 2010. This will occur separately to this bill, for instance, by way of amending the regulations which prescribe the fee amounts and the gazettal of new fee levels. As part of this process, suitable fees and charges yet to be represented as a revenue unit, will be converted to revenue units. The Revenue Units Bill replaces the current Revenue Units Act, as Parliamentary Counsel considers this is more practical than amending the current act.
Madam Speaker, I commend the bill to honourable members and table the explanatory statement to accompany the bill.
Debate adjourned.
POSTPONEMENT OF BUSINESS
Government Business Notices Nos 3 and 4
Government Business Notices Nos 3 and 4
The CLERK: It is advised that pursuant to Standing Order 107, Government Business Notices Nos 3 and 4 relating to the Assembly Members and Statutory Officers (Remuneration and Other Entitlements) Amendment Bill (No 2) 2009 (Serial 67) are postponed until the next day of sitting.
JUSTICE LEGISLATION (PENALTIES) AMENDMENT BILL
(Serial 53)
(Serial 53)
Continued from 19 August 2009.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Madam Speaker, we support the bill, but there are some points to make on the way through and, as is increasingly becoming the custom, I ask the Attorney-General to respond to them in her reply.
Some of the matters are reasonably straightforward, and I note there will be some committee stage amendments. I will attempt to be as succinct as possible so matters can be taken up and you can come back to us. Presumably, there will be speakers from the government side, which will take us to lunchtime. You will have enough time, I believe, to come back to us with your responses after Question Time.
I state, for those reading Hansard, this is the Justice Legislation (Penalties) Amendment Bill. The intention of the bill is to remove reference to monetary penalties from Territory acts and subordinate legislation within the Justice portfolio. Many of the changes are quite straightforward, and they reflect current drafting protocols. An example of this is the change from the term ‘penalty’ to ‘maximum penalty’ throughout various legislation. The Interpretation Act defines ‘penalty’ as ‘maximum penalty’ so there is no change to the discretionary nature of the value of the penalty imposed by the courts on a case-by-case basis, but it makes the provision clearer without need to refer to the Interpretation Act.
The use of the term ‘whole penalty provision’ is also amended in various acts by this bill to either reflect a penalty unit value, or a penalty unit value plus a term of imprisonment. The other purpose of the bill is to standardise the use of penalty units throughout legislation. Many acts still define penalties as fixed dollar amounts, which prove unwieldy when penalties need to be changed to reflect inflation so as to not lose their punitive or deterrent quality. Many of the changes from the dollar amount to penalty unit reflect, in some cases, a moderate or realistic increase to the monetary value of the penalty. However, some are significantly higher than those which occur in present legislation.
The current rates set out by the Penalty Unit Act values one penalty unit at $130. Some of the penalty provisions have increased quite significantly. I propose to give some examples, and I will make some contrasts by referring to other legislation where that does not occur.
Some of the examples where penalty provisions have increased quite significantly can be found in the Summary Offences Act. For example, in the Summary Offences Act, section 52, ‘Injuring or extinguishing street lamps’, that is increased to $5500 from what it was previously, that is, not exceeding $1000 to now, in this bill, a maximum of 50 penalty units. In addition, still in the Summary Offences Act, this time section 54, that is the section dealing with domestic animals, and section 55, ‘Challenge to fight’, that has increased from $200 to 50 penalty units, or a monetary value of over $6500.
Again, in the Summary Offences Act, section 69B, ‘Inciting to the commission of offences’, that has increased from $2000 to 100 penalty units, or in the vicinity of $13 000. Again, in the Summary Offences Act, section 92, it currently allows for regulations to provide penalties up to $2000. It has been increased, as a result of this bill, to a maximum of 100 penalty units or $13 000.
I understand the sections to which I have just referred were last amended in 1996. Some years later you would naturally expect the value of those fines to increase, but the increase of the penalty value far exceeds reasonable increases when measured against CPI, and particularly when measured against other offences in the Summary Offences Act, such as section 47AC(2), which is ‘Loitering by sexual offender’ around areas used by children. That has increased from $5000 to $13 000. This represents an increase of 150%, compared to earlier examples which I referred to in relation to the Summary Offences Act which have increased, on our calculations, by around 3000%.
The dramatic increase is not only limited to the Summary Offences Act, but also can be found in other provisions, for instance, an old personal favourite of mine, the Absconding Debtors Act, section 25, relating to offences, has increased from $4000 up to 200 penalty units, to $26 000. The Observance of Law Act, section 3, ‘Misbehaviour at a public meeting’, the penalty of $40 or imprisonment for three months, has been increased to $5600 or imprisonment for six months. So three months’ imprisonment is now six, and a $40 fine is now $5600, pretty steep. Again, the Observance of Law Act, section 4(3), that is the ‘Powers of Chairman of public meeting’, has increased from $100 or imprisonment for six months, to 100 penalty units, $13 000, or imprisonment for 12 months.
We now look to the Prisons (Correctional Services) Act, and in particular section 94(1) dealing with offences. That has increased from $2000 to 200 penalty units, that is $26 000. The Prostitution Regulation Act, section 6(2) dealing with operators and managers of escort agency businesses to be licensed has been increased from $10 000 to 1000 penalty units, which means it has gone up to $130 000.
These are significant issues when you are looking at what this bill seeks to do. We do not oppose for a moment the need to make legislation consistent, and to modernise legislation, and we understand very well the reason why this bill comes before us today. There seem to be some anomalies or some inconsistencies. It really goes from bad to worse. In stark contrast to the increases, and to demonstrate what at best is an inconsistent approach and what at worst could be called a cavalier or shabby approach to this bill and its consequences, some fines have been dramatically reduced.
The Public Trustee Act section 11(1), relating to secrecy, has had its penalty reduced from 400 penalty units - $52 000 - to 200 penalty units - $26 000; that is a 50% reduction. Interestingly, the section applies to confidentiality obligations when the Public Trustee, or his representatives, carry out their functions conferred by the act. This is interesting because this bill we are dealing with today amends similar provisions in the Legal Aid Act, namely section 52(2), to increase the penalty from $2000 to $5600, that is 50 penalty units.
By contrast, section 90 of the Mining Management Act imposes a penalty of 500 penalty units, or imprisonment of up to two years for a similar breach of confidentiality. Another example of a significant reduction in the conversion of dollar values to penalty units is demonstrated in section 36(2) of the Retirement Villages Act relating to the notation of register, which has been reduced from $30 000 to 200 penalty units, that is $26 000. Section 40 of the same act is reduced from $30 000 to 200 penalty units, namely $26 000. That is contrasted with this bill, which increases a number of provisions where penalties are currently set at $2500, that is section 42, or $5000, that is section 39(3), but are facing increases to 200 penalty units, namely $26 000.
It is a sloppy approach where we have some penalties increasing to the point of outstripping CPI. In other legislation affected by this act, you have some odd - some would say bizarre - reductions in penalties. I do not want to sound like the man who does the steak knives ad, I have to say: ‘But wait, Madam Speaker, there is more’.
The bill also introduces penalties of imprisonment, or increases the period of imprisonment, to provisions of various acts, some of which I have already referred to. Another one is the Small Claims Act, section 18(2), relating to inquiries to be made public. The penalty has increased from $1000 with no period of imprisonment, to 50 penalty units, namely $6500, to six months imprisonment. You have a provision in the Small Claims Act which prior to this bill had no period of imprisonment; this bill, which is all about, as I understand from the minister’s second reading speech, getting the penalty units right, and all of a sudden there is a period of imprisonment prescribed.
But wait, there is more. Let us look at the Trespass Act, section 6, section 7, and section 8(4); those sections have increased from 20 penalty units with no period of imprisonment to 100 penalty units or six months imprisonment.
This morning I was made aware of an amendment the government wishes to make in the committee stage. I understand, from what the Attorney-General told me, this was literally found at the last minute, namely this morning, and it is very important that the government amends it; rightly so. Based on reading the amendment, and from advice received by the Leader of the Opposition’s office from the Attorney-General’s office, the amendment will ensure the penalty for imprisonment remains the same in the Misuse of Drugs Act. Without the committee stage amendment, that is, the last minute fault or amendment, the bill brought here today by government and introduced last sittings, would have amended the penalty of imprisonment when it was never intended to occur. This morning we are told someone has discovered a mistake in the Misuse of Drugs Act, in relation to a change of period of imprisonment and the government is going to fix it. It should never have happened.
The government has our support in relation to that amendment. These are just two we have found; there may indeed be more. In the Small Claims Act and the Trespass Act, not only has there been a very significant increase of penalty units but where sections previously did not have a period of imprisonment, as a result of the bill before us, they do.
My point is this: if an error has been found in relation to the imprisonment provision in the Misuse of Drugs Act, is it not the case errors have also been made in relation to the imprisonment provisions or penalty provisions in the Small Claims Act and the Trespass Act?
We would be very grateful if the Attorney-General would reply. If this bill needs to go away again and come back, so be it. If we can pass it today we probably should but, in the absence of a sensible explanation, then it does, as I have said, demonstrate a cavalier, if not sloppy, approach to this bill.
Similarly, in relation to a quite bizarre approach regarding penalties, some penalties in some acts have skyrocketed; penalties in other acts have significantly reduced. We ask: was this intentional, was the government cavalier and sloppy, or was it just missed? If it was intentional then we believe the Attorney-General has the responsibility to tell this parliament and, in turn, the people of the Northern Territory, why. What is the rationale for, as a result of this bill, some penalties going through the roof, a long way in some instances, and others going down? We thought that a reasonable series of questions which should be asked.
Far be it from me, in addition to raising the possibility government may have taken its collective eye off the ball and might not have polished up this bill, or thought about it as much as they should have, it may be open to some to suggest, in relation to those penalties which have increased - and increased significantly - it might be regarded as a revenue-raising exercise by government.
Maybe the Attorney-General, who is also Treasurer, might say to us: ‘We are broke, we have spent all the money because we have been a terrible government for all these years, and the best we can do, member for Araluen, is get the money from somewhere, which is why we have significantly increased some of these penalties’. If that is the answer, we will listen carefully and act appropriately. If there is some other rational explanation, we would be very glad to hear it.
It is, if you like, a fairly schizophrenic approach to this bill when one considers the effects of it. Some penalties go through the roof, and some reduce significantly. There is the eleventh hour amendment; an attempt to fix an imprisonment provision in relation to the Misuse of Drugs Act, yet, there are other acts which, prior to this bill, had no period of imprisonment and now, as a result of this bill, do. If there is a sensible explanation, we would be very glad to hear it.
I make a final point in relation to fines recovery. The Attorney-General would think less of me if I did not go to the government’s appalling record of recovering fines. During estimates the Attorney-General revealed, when questioned, $6.4m is outstanding in fines and penalties in the Northern Territory for the financial year 2008-09. Let me repeat that figure: $6.4m in outstanding fines for the 2008-09 calendar year! We know the government is one which has wanted to spend, spend, spend and not have any regard to putting money away. My colleague, the member for Port Darwin, has been on and on regarding the issue for some time. However, $6.4m? The government cannot even recover the fines it sets in its own legislation. This is remarkable. I would have thought a broke government would try harder to recover outstanding fines. This is a government very happy to spend and does not, on the face of it, care very much about collecting the money due to it.
At estimates, we found 58% of court fines issued in the financial year 2007-08 remain unpaid. In total, more than $13m of fines and penalties levied in the last three years remain unpaid. That is a staggering figure: $13m in three years remain unpaid!
Why is that relevant? It is relevant because this government introduced a bill to parliament which, in many respects, significantly increases a broad range of penalties, presumably to send a message to those who break or do not comply with the law that there is a consequence. You will get 50 penalty units, a fine of 100 penalty units, if you do not comply with the law. That is a reasonable message for governments to send. However, the government’s history is: do not worry about it because no one will chase you up regarding payment of those fines. That is the history of the government. I just cannot see there is any other interpretation when it comes to the government’s atrocious form regarding fines recovery. I remember in 2001, or early 2002, the government introduced the Fines Recovery Unit. I remember Peter Toyne saying it was going to be terrific and a real attempt to recover fines. It clearly has not worked very well.
Those are my comments regarding what I call a fairly cavalier approach by government to fines recovery. I think even a casual observer would question the government’s approach to this bill, for reasons I have outlined relating to penalty provisions going up and down for no apparent reason, and in stark contrast in some areas; and some acts previously not having a period of imprisonment now under this bill they do.
Madam Speaker, not a great bill it would seem to us, but I am always ready to hear a sensible argument or submission. I hope the Attorney-General can address some of the issues, particularly in relation to the changes I have highlighted. With those comments, I will conclude.
Mr GUNNER (Fannie Bay): Madam Speaker, I support the bill. As always, I thank the member for Araluen for her contribution to the debate. She raised a number of questions during her contribution and I saw the Attorney-General nodding her head. I know she will have answers to those questions.
The member for Araluen used the word ‘sloppy’. I know the Attorney-General has a number of bills before this House every sitting, and is one of the hardest working ministers when it comes to the passage of legislation. I know she takes a very considered approach to every bill coming before this House. Legislation is a very serious issue; it is the most important business government deals with in this Chamber. I know the Attorney-General always takes those matters seriously, and she will answer those questions during her reply.
The member for Araluen commented that it could be purely a revenue raising exercise. I know in the last budget we went into a temporary deficit to deal with the global financial crisis. We have a $1.3bn infrastructure budget, which is centred on fixing a global problem locally, by ensuring we have jobs, making sure we move ahead in a timely and temporary fashion. Infrastructure investment is not recurrent and it helps meet that need.
I do not believe the Justice Legislation (Penalties) Amendment Bill is a get-out-of-deficit strategy. The Treasurer has a strategy to get us from a temporary deficit into future surpluses, and I do not believe this bill is part of that exercise. The opposition has a role to raise those questions, and I know the Attorney-General, with her Treasurer hat on, will address those.
As the Attorney-General outlined in her second reading speech, this bill modernises penalty provisions in 62 Justice portfolio acts and seven pieces of subordinate legislation. This covers most of the acts the Department of Justice administers.
In making it easier for people to read an act, I can understand the clarity provided by using the words ‘maximum penalty’ where the word ‘penalty’ is currently used. It makes no difference to the effect of the legislation but it aids comprehension in reading an act, which is always very helpful.
Another important change is the movement from expressing the penalty in monetary terms to expressing it as a penalty unit. There is no doubt this makes the administration of penalties and the cost of a penalty much easier. You can change the value of penalty units in the Penalty Units Act and it automatically flows through. An effort is always made to ensure penalties are comparable to other penalties. That is something the shadow Attorney-General raised.
I believe, in modernising this act, much work has gone into comparing different penalties and attempting to ensure they balance; they are comparable with each other. When such effort is made, it makes sense for those penalties to rise and fall together; it is rare for parliament to reduce a penalty. However, as the member for Araluen recognised, that occurs in some parts of this bill. It makes sense for them to rise and fall together, and that is where a penalty unit can provide such assistance. I can think of a notable exception for having penalties rise and fall together. There are those instances where parliament recognises an offence has taken on greater significance in the broader community, and we need to amend that specific penalty. We do that, from time to time, in this Chamber, usually through an act of parliament separate to the Penalty Units Act. That is, I think, a suitable role of the parliament and the Attorney-General.
To express penalties and penalty units, or other monetary terms in this bill, does make sense. The bill also amends the maximum penalties for perverting the course of justice from two years’ imprisonment to 15 years, based on suggestions from judges of the Supreme Court to reflect the seriousness of this offence.
I understand the Attorney-General, over the next 12 months, will review the penalties in the remaining acts under her purview. Again, that makes sense. It is not a revenue raising exercise, as the member for Araluen pointed out. It is very suitable, appropriate, and timely that the Attorney-General reviews penalties under her administration to ensure they are comparable, do balance, and do make sense. Over time, with CPI and other increases, penalties can no longer provide a deterrent, and it is sensible for the Attorney-General to review these things and bring them before this Chamber.
It makes sense the penalties be measured in terms of something to compare, and importantly as the Attorney-General noted in her second reading contribution, they have the appropriate deterrent effect. I commend the bill to the House.
Ms LAWRIE (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I thank members for their contributions to this debate. The bill reviews and modernises the penalty provisions in most acts administered by the Department of Justice. Penalties in the legislation are being reviewed across all Territory government agencies. This exercise is to ensure, across the statute book, penalty levels are reasonably consistent, and they have, importantly, an appropriate deterrent effect.
I go directly to the view expressed by the member for Araluen that this is all because potentially the government is broke and we want to revenue raise. No, it is around ensuring the appropriate deterrent effect within our justice legislation is effective. The amendments in this bill mainly address monetary penalties and not maximum imprisonment terms. Yes, there are some amendments which include imprisonment terms for certain offences which, in accordance with Department of Justice policy and recent practice, are suitable for the court to have the option of imprisonment.
These offences mainly relate to dishonesty, fraud and contempt of court. The bill also increases the penalty for perverting the course of justice from a maximum penalty of two and seven years respectively - sections 109 and 289 of the Criminal Code - to a maximum penalty of 15 years. The amendment modernises the penalty and reflects the need to deter people from conduct which interferes with the process of justice.
How we addressed the approach to this legislation was not sloppy; quite the contrary. Department of Justice officers, when requested by me as Attorney-General to ensure we convert into penalty units and look at the value of those penalty units as they have applied, and look at the time frames in which they have not been adjusted, found some back to 1996. We then cast back through all the penalty units and applied the policy governing the level of penalties to be imposed in legislation. We readjusted significantly in the instances we need to, to ensure it reflects the current policy applied by the Department of Justice to penalties to be imposed in legislation. So it was putting rhyme and reason into the penalty system, because those natural adjustments had not been able to occur over time and, of course, weight is applied by policy settings.
We very clearly identified, in all these adjustments, we wanted to apply more serious penalties to the offences of dishonesty, fraud and contempt of court. We recognise some penalties are significantly increasing, other penalties are thereabouts in terms of the way they have adjusted over, and indeed, some which are found to be of lesser significance have gone down - all within the context of the policy governing the level of penalties to be imposed in legislation.
We are ensuring the monetary penalty provisions in the Justice legislation, currently expressed in a range of ways, would be expressed as a maximum penalty. This was picked up by the member for Araluen as something they did not have a problem with.
Justice officers had instructions to go through this in a methodical, clear, and precise fashion, not sloppy or cavalier, and not only look at the penalty units going forward, but back cast to see which ones had not been adjusted for a number of years, fix that, and apply the policy governing the level of penalties to be imposed in legislation, which saw those significant adjustments occur.
I want to ensure that everyone is very clear on what we are doing here. We are not hiding anything. I will table the list of penalties where imprisonment has been added or changed. I will table the list of penalties with changed penalties in monetary value.
Member for Araluen, I know you have done much research and pointed out certain sections. There are more sections with adjustments, and I will table that. I want to put on the Parliamentary Record where significant adjustments occur so everyone is aware.
The first task was to look at reviewing all the penalties in the legislation. In July this year we increased the penalty unit from $100 to $130, so we had to see how that applied. We then provided for the increase in the value of a penalty unit on the basis of CPI, and we realised in many acts penalties were expressed in dollar amounts making it inefficient to amend every year, which is why we have gone down this Penalty Units Act path.
Some monetary penalties were out-of-date. They have not risen for many years and have not kept up with inflation. For that reason, some had significant adjustments. Some penalties were far too low for the offence to achieve its deterrent effect. For some offences imprisonment was included where, in accordance with Department of Justice policy and practice, it is suitable for the court to have the option of imprisonment. These offences mainly relate to dishonesty, fraud and contempt of court. I will table the list of penalties where imprisonment has been added or amended. I will table the list of penalties which have been significantly adjusted. If we apply Department of Justice policies and practices governing levels of penalties, they needed adjustment.
It was a very thorough process. In relation to attempting to pervert the course of justice, we have significantly increased the imprisonment term. This was raised by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and he recommended this increase to me. We were working on this legislation, and incorporated that rather than have it in a separate body of work.
Over the last 10 years, the Department of Justice has developed a policy to decide the maximum penalty depending on the type of offence. We know there are no hard and fast rules in setting maximum penalties in legislation. There is always an element of subjective decision-making on the maximum penalty for the worst-case breach of a provision. Maximum penalties in the Territory may also be affected by penalties existing in other states or territories.
The first step is to identify the maximum penalty, in dollar terms, for breach of a provision. The identification occurs in accordance with the department’s policy governing levels of penalties to be imposed in legislation. I have the policy with me. I will not be tabling it because it a working document the Department of Justice relies on. It is important to note the assessment looks at the penalty for a worst-case breach, hence the term ‘maximum penalty’.
The second step is to convert the dollar amount into the corresponding penalty unit amount. The Penalty Units Act provides assistance in the conversion because it states the value of each penalty unit.
Section 38DB of the Interpretation Act, provides some assistance in deriving the appropriate maximum penalty. For example, a penalty expressed as the penalty for a natural person would have a corresponding penalty unit for a body corporate, which is equal to five times the penalty unit for a natural person. Where a penalty is only expressed in terms of imprisonment, other than life imprisonment, section 38DA of the Interpretation Act allows the court to impose, in addition to or as an alternative, a maximum monetary penalty which is equal to 100 times each year of imprisonment.
The aim of the review of penalties in this bill is to ensure, across our statute book, penalty levels are reasonably consistent and have an appropriate deterrent effect. The Department of Justice undertook this review. We believe the penalties appearing in this bill before the parliament accord with the current practices and policies, developed over a 10-year period, by the Department of Justice. We believe another important aim is to ensure penalties do have the appropriate deterrent effect. A penalty which is archaic and too low will not achieve deterrence.
Penalties for minor offences are proportionately low and, after this review, will still remain proportionately low, even though the equivalent monetary amount may have increased. The increase only makes the penalty more current. Some penalty provisions have not been reviewed, for a very long time.
How will we ensure the Penalty Units Act remains contemporary - this is part of the process and pertinent to this debate - by ensuring the Penalty Units Act increased from $100 to $130 in July, and the act also contains the formula for the Darwin CPI increase, taking into account inflation, from July 2010. Every year the value of the penalty unit will be reviewed. If, by following the formula in the Penalty Units Act and taking into account inflation, it goes up, that will affect the penalty units in this act. That will, by regulation, be gazetted by the Administrator. It is possible there will be further reviews of penalties in legislation.
The next stage of the review undertaken by the Department of Justice is to complete the task with other Territory legislation.
This is not a sloppy, cavalier body of work. It is many months of thorough review undertaken by Department of Justice officers, following those steps through; applying CPI back-cast adjustments to get penalties to the level where they are truly deterrents; providing the overlay of the policy in governing the levels of penalties to be imposed in legislation, recognising the seriousness or otherwise.
We are aware we have introduced imprisonment. We have done it for a reason. We are being tough on acts of dishonesty. This is quite a specific policy direction and a significant body of work. It makes our maximum penalties contemporary, and it will be adjusted to keep them contemporary.
I know the member for Araluen thinks the fine recovery unit process introduced by the former Attorney-General, Peter Toyne, is ineffective. I think it is potentially an ideological disagreement to its core. The Fines Recovery Unit often goes into time to pay agreements with its clients so, for any given year, you will have a monetary amount outstanding because it covers a period beyond a calendar year. The revenue collected in 2006-07 was $6.4m; in 2007-08, $7.4m; and to 30 April 2008-09, it collected $6.8m.
Ms Carney: Sorry, minister, could you repeat that figure and the year? I could not hear you.
Ms LAWRIE: As at 30 April 2009, $49.8m had been collected for the Northern Territory government in court fines and penalties issued since the financial year in which the Fines Recovery Unit commenced, so …
Ms Carney: Which was 2002-03 or 2001-02?
Ms LAWRIE: In 2001-02. Outstanding debt for that period was $22.8m, of which $6.4m related to penalties issued in the 2008-09 period. The figures do not include fines and penalties issued by external entities, such as local councils, or under the Commonwealth legislation, for example, DPP prosecutions of foreign fishermen.
The average collection rates for court fines and infringement penalties since 2001-02, by value, 69%, and by number, 81%. That is not, by any stretch, a failure, recognising these are based on time to pay agreements which cross over calendar years. This is in response to the issue raised by the member for Araluen. It is quite separate to the legislation we have before us.
We make no apology for the penalties in our legislation being contemporary and current by applying our existing policy to them. That is reflected in this bill; that is why we have significant movements, and indeed, some new imprisonment terms. I am serious about ensuring we are thorough in our work. We could have introduced maximum penalties with CPI adjustments. That would have been sloppy and cavalier. We recognised where the penalties had not been adjusted and moved over many years, and where harsher penalties were needed to reflect the deterrent emphasis. We are marking out the area of dishonesty offences to reflect contemporary practice and policy, and picked up on the Chief Justice’s concerns also.
I will table the list of penalties where imprisonment has added or changed. I will also table the list of changed penalties and monetary value. There were thorough reasons behind all the changes. It was not a cavalier approach, it was not a sloppy approach; it was a very thorough approach taken by the Department of Justice on my instructions. I ensured I was made aware of any significant changes coming from those processes, and I was in a position to table them in this parliament so they are public.
In any process as thorough as this is, from time to time instructions from the Department of Justice to Parliamentary Counsel do not get translated perfectly. We do have some committee stage amendments. They are technical in their nature. They are minor amendments correcting typographical errors in the Justice Legislation (Penalties) Amendment Bill, and they ensure the Misuse of Drugs Act amendment does not reduce the term of maximum imprisonment from two years to 12 months. That was not the intent of the government; we have picked it up through the thorough process of analysing the legislation. I make no apology for that, and I make no apology for bringing in the technical committee stage amendments which reflect the government’s intention in this legislation.
Madam Speaker, I sincerely thank contributors to this debate. This is not a revenue raising exercise. It ensures our penalties and offences are contemporary, and reflect the policy adjustments made over the last decade by the Department of Justice, and that they are well placed to be adjusted going forward.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
Debate suspended.
JUSTICE LEGISLATION (PENALTIES) AMENDMENT BILL
(Serial 53)
(Serial 53)
Continued from earlier this day.
In committee:
Madam CHAIR: Honourable members, the committee has before it the Justice Legislation (Penalties) Amendment Bill (Serial 53) together with schedule of amendments No 21 circulated by the Treasurer, Ms Lawrie.
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Chair, I move amendment 21.1 regarding the Schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
I will explain. This has occurred as result of a drafting error with Parliamentary Counsel we discovered. There was no intention, in the schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act, to change the imprisonment of two years, so we are removing the reference to 12 months to ensure the existing imprisonment provision remains at two years.
Madam CHAIR: Member for Araluen, did you have specific questions on those amendments?
Ms CARNEY: Around the bill, Madam Chair.
Ms LAWRIE: Do we want to do the amendments and then go to the questions on the bill?
Ms CARNEY: Yes, that is what I thought we would do first. That is what we traditionally do.
Ms LAWRIE: Happy to.
Amendment agreed to.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Chair, I move amendment 21.2 regarding the Schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Amendment agreed to.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Chair, I move amendment 21.3, to correct an unintended typographical error.
Amendment agreed to.
Ms LAWRIE: At this point we go to the shadow.
Ms CARNEY: Madam Chair, I have questions arising from what the minister said this morning, and some specific questions in relation to various penalties.
Can I ask the minister a question about the two documents she tabled earlier, that is the list of changed penalties and monetary value, and the list of penalties where imprisonment is added or changed. Minister, why did you not table those documents when you introduced the bill?
Ms LAWRIE: There was no requirement to table them when I introduced the bill. I expected debate in the second reading, which is where you get provided with additional information. That is when I did so.
Ms CARNEY: Do you not concede this documentation would have had assisted the parliament when you introduced your legislation, and it could have been included as part of the explanatory memorandum or some sort of aide-mmoire thereto?
Ms LAWRIE: It is quite normal, in second reading debates, for additional information to be led by government, which is what I did. I would have been happy to provide that information to you if you had so requested.
Ms CARNEY: Minister, has government changed its mantra of being open, honest and accountable? If so, why? If it is the government’s position to be open, honest and accountable, why did you not table these documents? They clearly assisted and showed the divergence of increases and decreases in penalties. I have not counted how many there are, but the first document you tabled is 12 pages, and it comprises endless pieces of legislation and sections of pieces of legislation. Do you accept it is open for others to conclude that you did not table this information because you did not want Territorians to see the extent of the changes proposed by this bill?
Ms LAWRIE: No, quite the contrary. That is why I tabled the documents today. I do want it to be on the public record. It is my view changes of significance should be provided as tabled documents, which is what I have done. That is very open and very accountable. If you wanted to avail yourself of the resources of my office to get that information, once the information is on the books, we would have provided it to you. I know you have a very robust legal background and you like to do your own research, but I would encourage you to seek a briefing. If we can provide you with additional information, we are happy to.
Ms CARNEY: Minister that is a disgraceful explanation. You have a ‘do not ask, do not tell’ policy when it comes to disclosing information. Had it not been for the fact your government is in a shambles and you have a revolving door of ministers, you would not have reached the point of freeing up freedom of information. Now that you rely on the support and assistance of the member for Nelson, you are forced into various reforms. We saw that illustrated yesterday regarding changes to the length of adjournment debates. You are being petty in the extreme, and mischievous and sneaky. When you saw us go through various pieces of legislation in some detail, we forced your hand. That is a slippery and slimy way for the Northern Territory’s first law officer to conduct herself - you should be ashamed of yourself.
I move on. Why did you increase the penalty in section 54 of the Summary Offences Act, by 2700%? That is the section dealing with stealing domestic animals. It is a $200 fine, or thereabouts. You have increased it by 2700%. How did you get to a figure like that?
Ms LAWRIE: In terms of significant changes in penalties, we looked at matters of dishonesty. The offence of stealing animals, within the policy governing levels of penalties to be imposed in legislation, which guided the Department of Justice in this work, their advice to me, and my views on what we would bring forward, is an offence of dishonesty, and it is a public disorder offence. We believe $200 had very little deterrence.
Ms CARNEY: In your answer now, and the one you gave before lunch, the rationale for such hefty increases for some offences is if they are a dishonesty offence your government thought it really bad and you should increase the penalty accordingly. Have I, in a nutshell, understood your answer?
Ms LAWRIE: As I took you through previously.
Ms CARNEY: Is that a yes for Hansard purposes?
Ms LAWRIE: I mentioned dishonesty, fraud. I will refer to my notes: dishonesty, fraud, and contempt of court. Contempt of court was in relation to the approach by the Chief Justice.
Ms CARNEY: Therefore anyone listening to or watching parliament, or reading Hansard in future, will take the view, because you want them to have it, that some of the considerable increases came about as a result of your government cracking down on dishonesty, fraud and contempt.
Minister, are you familiar with section 65AA of the Summary Offences Act? No, let me tell you. Section 65AA of the Summary Offences Act relates to the dumping of certain containers. Eskies are the usual thing dumped where people might be prosecuted under that section. My point is trying to understand the rationale of this government. I do not believe what you have said. You are slithering around trying to make the best of it. I would like to know how the dumping of containers, such as eskies, falls into the category of dishonesty, fraud, or contempt of court.
Ms LAWRIE: I am checking with officers. The specific advice from Justice is it was deemed dangerous to the public. If there is a cyclone things dumped pose significant threats to the public. It was within policy guidelines around danger to the public and serious threat. There is no imprisonment of course, just a fine.
Ms CARNEY: Deputy Chief Minister and the Territory’s first law officer, you thought the dumping of eskies would be so potentially injurious to the health and welfare of Territorians that you decided to increase the penalty by 6400%. You expect people to believe your answer?
Ms LAWRIE: I point out to you, a previous legal practitioner, it is a maximum penalty. It is not necessarily the penalty imposed by the court. Having lived through Cyclone Tracy I can understand the seriousness of dumping large objects which could be very injurious to many people during a cyclone.
Ms CARNEY: Is that your answer? This is bordering on the absurd. You are a good slitherer. We came into parliament together and your slithering ability has improved as our years together have gone on, member for Karama.
Ms LAWRIE: I will take that as a compliment.
Ms CARNEY: I assume the reading you favour would lean towards the fiction, as opposed to the non-fiction; but I digress.
Are you familiar with section 55(1) of the Summary Offences Act, minister? It is the offence dealing with a challenge to fight; which even the ordinary person would maintain is potentially something injurious to another person’s health or wellbeing. That went up by 1200% to, in terms of its monetary value, $6500. In light of your previous answer regarding the dumping of eskies and how potentially serious that could be to people, why did you not come up with a commensurate increase, or one which equalled the same monetary value, maximum albeit, for the challenge to fight, which is clearly a dangerous pursuit?
Ms LAWRIE: The difference between the two, whilst they are both public disorder offences, whilst they are both potentially serious in terms of consequences of injury, the previous offence does not have a penalty provision of imprisonment, whereas the challenge to fight for money does attract the option of imprisonment. Therefore, it is more serious than the previous offence, which only attracted a monetary penalty. That is the distinction between the two.
Ms CARNEY: Can I ask you about section 52 of the Summary Offences Act, injuring or extinguishing street lights. The penalty for that has increased by 550% to the monetary value of $6500, albeit maximum. What is the rationale? I am not saying people who damage street lights should not be punished. There should be penalties. It seems, when measured against some of the sections to which I have already referred, disproportionate.
Ms LAWRIE: Fifty penalty units are used for a less serious public disorder offence, as in summary offence provisions. It would be unusual, and would not reflect the comparative seriousness to go as low as 20 penalty units, which would usually be minor regulatory requirements, or five penalty units which would be a minor breach of social order rules, such as a parking fine.
In terms of damaging street lamps, the imprisonment penalty has not changed; the monetary 50 penalty units has to reflect the 50 penalty units used for a serious public disorder offence. Maliciously damaging public property, such as street lights, could be extremely dangerous to motorists.
Ms CARNEY: Towards the beginning of my questions in this committee stage, you said underlying the rationale for these changes was the government was concerned about dishonesty, fraud and contempt of court. Injuring or extinguishing street lights does not fall into either.
Ms LAWRIE: That is quite right. I made it clear during the second reading speech, and mentioned it during committee stage. We put a greater emphasis on dishonesty, fraud, and perverting the course of justice. I have singled it out to show some of the significant changes in the penalty levels. However, overlaid across this is the policy governing the level of penalties to be imposed in legislation. I have given you a general comment regarding serious public disorder offences.
Ms CARNEY: In all the legislation affecting this bill, do you know which attracts the greatest percentage increase, and if so what is it?
Ms LAWRIE: I ask for my tabled papers so I have the charts in front of me.
Ms CARNEY: We can come back to that if you like.
Ms LAWRIE: We did not do a calculation based on percentage increases so we do not have that answer. We adjusted the monetary to penalty units; we recognised the CPI effect and back cast to ones which had not shifted for many years. We then overlaid the policy governing the level of penalties to be imposed in legislation to ensure what we had previously reflected; then we applied additional emphasis to the areas of dishonesty, fraud, and perverting the course of justice.
Ms CARNEY: With respect, minister, that is a …
Ms LAWRIE: As I said, this is not a revenue-raising process. We did not say: ‘Okay, let us raise everything from a range of 10% to 5000%’. We went through offence by offence, adjusted to penalty units, looked at the policy governing levels of penalties to be imposed in legislation, and adjusted them accordingly. We then applied additional emphasis to the areas of dishonesty, fraud and perverting the course of justice.
Ms CARNEY: With respect, that is a very lame answer. Section 65AA of the Summary Offences Act, the dumping of eskies, scored an increase of 6400% along with section 66(1), which is the regulation of places of public resort.
You and your colleagues talk about a whole-of-government approach. I suggest you, as Attorney-General, had no idea the broad nature of these increases would impact on so many pieces of legislation and, when you realised it, you thought: ‘Yes, that is a great way to get money so let us increase a broad range of fines’. Do you accept that?
Ms LAWRIE: Not at all.
Ms CARNEY: I will read the Hansard, but I have to say for the record your answers have been dreadful. It is clear to me you really had no idea about the extent to which this particular bill would impact on a good range of Territory acts, and Territorians should expect more from their first law officer.
Section 56 of the Summary Offences Act deals with begging. This will be of great interest to the true Labor supporters out there. The current offence of begging goes from a penalty of $500 to $6500. The current maximum penalty of imprisonment is three months; this bill increases it to six months. The increase in financial penalty is 1200%. Were you aware this bill impacted on this provision of the Summary Offences Act?
Ms LAWRIE: Very clearly. Public disorder was dealt with in the policy governing the level of penalties to be imposed in legislation, so 50 penalty units is used for what is described as a less serious public disorder offence. Begging has seen the increase, as you have said. It is public disorder, they are maximums, and I am quite confident each matter, as is dealt with before the court, will be dealt with accordingly.
There are degrees of impact and seriousness to that, and I am sure our judicial officers will manage that within the maximum penalty regime set down within this legislation.
Ms CARNEY: I do not know whether this parliament has deemed the word ‘cowardly’ unparliamentary, Madam Chair. I suspect it has not. That was a pretty cowardly, not to mention lame, response. You did not answer the question, which was whether you knew one of the consequences of this bill would increase penalties for begging from $500 to $6500, or from three months imprisonment to six months
I have been unable to obtain copies of transcripts from radio interviews, but I am fairly certain I heard the Chief Minister commenting on by-laws the Alice Springs Town Council is proposing. They are controversial by-laws with a great deal of community debate. I believe the Chief Minister has been less than complimentary or supportive of the Alice Springs Town Council seeking to increase the penalties for begging in our town, yet, the woman who wants his job but at this stage his friend and colleague, is supporting a bill where begging receives a 1200% increase.
How do you reconcile those two positions? Your position as Attorney-General and Deputy Chief Minister, and the Chief Minister in relation to comments I believe he made regarding begging in the Alice Springs by-laws case?
Ms LAWRIE: Most of what you say is wrong. I can guarantee you that you are a fool if you think I want the position of Chief Minister. You are very wrong on that, you continue to be wrong on that, and you are a fool if you have not heard me across all sorts of forums confirm categorically I do not want the office of Chief Minister. I spoke in clear, simple terms for you then, member for Araluen, all because you spend most of your time knifing the Leader of the Opposition in the back, because he knifed you in the back. Then the member for Port Darwin started knifing the Leader of the Opposition in the back, and you cannot quite get the numbers because the member for Fong Lim equally wants to knife the Leader of the Opposition in the back. It has nothing to do with my views.
Mr Elferink: Think you forgot me?
Ms LAWRIE: Member for Port Darwin, I did, I started with you in the list.
Mr Elferink: Thank you. I was feeling a bit…
Ms LAWRIE: If you want to go around in the space of your own strange fantasy, I will respond with facts, and I will repeat with facts. Behind the legislation we have before us today is the policy governing the level of penalties to be imposed in legislation. Within that, the policy reflects 50 penalty units is used for less serious public disorder offences, such as in the Summary Offences Provisions, which is one provision you are referring to at the moment. Even though you like to gloss over this, and I know you will issue a media release and say whatever you want, I repeat, these are maximum penalty units.
Mr Elferink: Which are used as a guide to determine the given on the occasion.
Ms CARNEY: From your answer you do not acknowledge any inconsistency between your position as Attorney-General and the increase in the penalty for begging, and that of the Chief Minister, and probably many of your other parliamentary colleagues, in relation to the Alice Springs by-laws issue and increasing fines against begging. Is that a fair enough assessment, you do not believe there is any inconsistency?
Ms LAWRIE: I will repeat again, and again, and again: we have a series of policies regarding the levels of penalties to be imposed in legislation. We have set a level for serious public disorder, and if you want to belittle the issue of serious public disorder, so be it. We have the policy which governs it, we have introduced it and implemented it in this bill and this legislation, and we stand by it. I stand by it, my Cabinet colleagues stand by it. This is important; it is a matter of public disorder on the scale which attracts the 50 penalty units as a maximum.
Ms CARNEY: Section 78 of the Summary Offences Act is headed: ‘keeping clean yards’. Why, as a result of the bill we are currently debating, does the penalty for failure to keep yards clean increase to $2600, when the penalty for begging - come in true believers - increases to $6500?
Ms LAWRIE: Applying the reasoning right across this in terms of summary offences was looking at serious public disorder which attracted 50 penalty units, and then the lower level of seriousness, such as keeping the yard clean, attracted 20 penalty units. Then we went to an even lower level, five penalty units, for a minor breach of social order rules, such as a parking fine.
Ms CARNEY: Minister, the effect of the difference between an increase of penalty for begging, and an increase in penalty for failure to keep your yard clean is the mums and dads of Karama or Gillen who can presumably afford to keep their yards clean, and afford to pay a fine, are going to be fined less than the people who are begging. Are you the Labor Party? How do you reconcile these two somewhat bizarre and extreme positions?
Ms LAWRIE: The Labor Party stands on its record of going hard to address antisocial behaviour in our community.
Ms CARNEY: How many prosecutions for failure to keep yards clean?
Ms LAWRIE: It is a very old provision as you should know, so I would be very surprised if there have been any. I can get officers to check that.
Ms CARNEY: I note the Northern Territory Labor government favours a maximum $6500 penalty for beggars compared to a maximum $2600 for people who fail to keep their yards clean. I have received extracts of comments made by the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory in relation to the proposal by the Alice Springs Town Council relating to begging.
ABC Online report dated 31 July, and I quote:
- Another proposed by-law would see beggars fined $130, a plan labelled as ‘wacky’ by Mr Henderson.
I continue to read from the report:
- He …
… is encouraging the council to consider more practical solutions to poverty than punishing beggars with financial penalties.
- I am a politician that is into the solutions business, rather than the stunts business. Certainly it beggars …
- … it beggars belief to think that somebody that is out there impoverished and destitute that they are begging for money, can afford to pay the fine.
You clearly, minister, were not across this bill. You clearly had no idea one impact or consequence was to increase the financial penalty for begging from $500 to $6500. You either did not know or did not care your Chief Minister, in July this year, labelled as ‘wacky’, a plan by the Alice Springs Town Council to fine beggars $130. He made the point it defied belief someone out there so impoverished and destitute they are begging for money can afford to pay the fine. How on earth can you explain that inconsistency?
Ms LAWRIE: We know, and the Chief Minister knows because he is the Police minister, summary offences relating to antisocial behaviour such as extreme cases of begging are in our communities. Sadly and tragically you see them. They need to be dealt with because they are a public disorder problem. We know, and have resourced our police force to tackle these issues, that summary offences is the appropriate way to deal with it. We do not think it appropriate for council by-laws to deal with it; we think they should focus on delivering council services. We should ensure police are around to tackle antisocial behaviour and lay charges under the summary offences.
Ms CARNEY: Although it is not directly related to the bill, do you, Attorney-General, label the Alice Springs Town Council’s plan as ‘wacky’, like the Chief Minister?
Ms LAWRIE: I cannot recall my exact words at the time, but I pointed out the police are better placed to address antisocial behaviour. We have laws in place to address antisocial behaviour and, therefore, I did not agree with the by-laws. I point out it is some time ago now.
Ms CARNEY: I know you well enough to know you will not answer this question. Your answer, again, demonstrates the inconsistency. You fall short of labelling our town council ‘wacky’ but you are less than complimentary about their by-laws insofar as they relate to begging, yet you stand by an increase of 1200% for begging under this bill.
Loitering by sexual offender, section 47AC(2) of the Summary Offences Act, only had an increase of 160%, as opposed to begging, which had an increase of 1200%, and not dumping an esky properly which had an increase of 6400%. Can you advise why there has been a discrepancy?
Ms LAWRIE: The existing monetary amounts under the Summary Offences Act, regarding the penalty for sexual offender loitering were actually much closer to the current policy. In other areas, we adjusted because they were out of step with the policy. Regarding the sexual offender loitering, the monetary amount was closer to the policy. The policy has this at the serious summary public disorder offence. That policy level is 100 penalty units. It also has the imprisonment potential of 12 months. We have both the serious level of summary public disorder offence penalty unit applying in this instance, which is the 100 penalty units, plus the imprisonment of 12 months.
Ms CARNEY: There is really nothing worse than asking a question and getting an answer completely ignoring the question. Your answer does not quite fit the question, which is why I am having difficulty with it.
From what you have said it seems, as a government, you believe $13 000 is a reasonable maximum penalty for loitering by a sexual offender provisions, and you think that is just as important as the dumping of eskies, which also attracts a financial penalty of $13 000. Is that correct?
Ms LAWRIE: No, you would notice the imprisonment applying to this one.
Ms CARNEY: What part of the dumping of eskies, section 65AA, would you consider a serious public order offence?
Ms LAWRIE: Clearly, it is less serious than the sexual offender loitering because it does not have the imprisonment penalty attached to it - clear distinction there. One has an imprisonment penalty attached to it, which elevates its level of seriousness, which is the sexual loitering. You are describing an esky, but what about a big metal bar! Try that flying through the air when you are trying to survive cyclonic conditions.
You are being mischievous in the extreme with that particular offence. If you talk to people who work in emergency services about the impact and serious injury which can result from this sort of dumping, and it is not …
Mr Elferink: It is not the reason this section exists. Get some advice on it quickly. You are making a fool of yourself.
Madam CHAIR: Order!
Mr Elferink: Honestly, you are making a fool of yourself. Get some advice on that section.
Madam CHAIR: Member for Port Darwin, I call you to order please. Minister, you have the call.
Mr Elferink: That is not why it exists.
Ms LAWRIE: If you want to be mischievous …
Mr Elferink: It has nothing to do with cyclones.
Madam CHAIR: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … by all means, shadow. The Department of Justice …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Chair! Under Standing Order 51, I ask for less interjections.
Ms Carney: ‘Fewer’ is how you say it, not ‘less’.
Madam CHAIR: Yes, thank you, member for Fannie Bay. I ask the member for Port Darwin, to allow the minister, she has the call, and to desist from interjecting.
Mr Elferink: Thank you, Madam Chair. I was just trying to help the minister.
Ms LAWRIE: … all sorts of objects which can be dumped. It is mischievous in the extreme to pretend, and go off on your fantasy land about dumping an esky, because only a fool like you would lead that sort of an argument.
We know the police are responsible in the way they lay charges. There is serious public injury as a result of the dumping of all manner of things around our community. This is a matter which we have said is serious enough to attach a penalty which sits within the guidelines we have fully tested. Go and lead your stupid esky argument, but you will be called out for the fool you are.
Ms CARNEY: Madam Chair, I appreciate the member for Karama is losing the plot, but I do ask she withdraw the word ‘fool’ as it is unparliamentary.
Madam CHAIR: Minister, I ask you to withdraw that, please.
Ms LAWRIE: I withdraw, Madam Chair.
Ms CARNEY: Is that withdrawn?
Madam CHAIR: Yes, it was withdrawn, member for Araluen.
Ms CARNEY: It is no wonder no one will vote for you in the leadership challenge you say you do not want. It is because no one likes you. Part of the reason is you are a really bad actor. There is a bit of acting in politics, perhaps more so in this House than any other, but you just are not good at it. You can fly off the handle and try your best at being rude, which I suspect comes naturally, but it is just not on. You use the expression, ‘oh, what we do know is blah, blah, blah’. What I know, and what those watching and listening to this debate, and reading it in due course, is you, as Attorney-General, you did not look. You did not consider it and you did not know.
Through you Madam Chair, I understood the member for Karama was on the left of the Labor Party, and she prides herself on that. The left leaning Laborite, the member for Karama, I know she accepts it as more than reasonable to impose a fine of $2600 maximum on the mums and dads of Karama and Araluen if they do not clean up their yard. She thinks that is fine and reasonable, as against a fine maximum of $6500 for begging. That is what I know.
You are a bad actor but a pretty good scriber. You have not satisfactorily explained, in my view, why other than the line about policy there is such divergence in so many of the penalties. I am happy to move on. Something the …
Madam CHAIR: If you could, please, member for Araluen.
Ms CARNEY: I beg your pardon?
Madam CHAIR: If you could, please? It is a rather long preamble to what we are looking for. Questions around the …
Ms CARNEY: I have 10 minutes, Madam Chair, for each question, so I guess I could go longer. I am not quite as egocentric as the member for Karama, so I will not.
The member for Karama, who is the Territory’s first law officer, and Treasurer, said before lunch - and I do not have the Hansard obviously - she made the point this bill was legislating penalties for the future. She referred to some bills not having had the penalties increased since 1996, and you were very keen, minister, to talk about the future and how some of these new penalty provisions have had future CPI increases based on, presumably, Treasury advice, factored in.
I am advised from 1978 to 2008 the CPI increased by 318.6% over 30 years. It would take, presumably, thousands of years for the CPI to continue to increase to meet the enormous percentage increases in some of these penalties; 6400%, 1200%, some going as low as 500%, some even lower. Minister, would you like to revisit your answer, or perhaps add to it, by telling us how future CPIs have been factored into some of the new penalty provisions?
Ms LAWRIE: What we have before us is CPI adjusted back cast, not CPI adjusted forecast. I said, in the second reading wrap, by changing from monetary value to penalty units, which we are doing in this legislation - we had a look at the CPI increases back cast, did some calculations then applied the policy governing level of penalties to be imposed in legislation. That is probably the last half hour or so of debate. This is for dishonesty, fraud, and perverting the course of justice. Having these offences appear in future as penalty units on the passage of legislation, there is an ability to adjust penalty units across all legislation once it is factored over to penalty units through a separate act which does the penalty unit adjustments. We have made a decision to adjust by Darwin CPI going forward.
Ms CARNEY: There is other legislation to which this bill applies; in fact, there are many. What is the rationale behind increasing under the Observance of Law Act, section 3, misbehaviour at a public meeting, by 15 000%. Can you confirm it is 15 000% for a fine for a person misbehaving at a public meeting and, if so, what the rationale?
Ms LAWRIE: It goes back the general comment I provided at the start, which is the policy governing the level of penalties to impose in legislation. In terms of 50 penalty units; it is used for a less serious public disorder offence. This falls in the category of a less serious public disorder offence. It has not been updated for quite some time, and the view is it sits within the category of a less serious public disorder offence. That category attracts 50 penalty units, and adjustments were made.
Mr ELFERINK: By way of comment rather than question, Madam Chair. Whilst I was trying to protect the minister from her own utterances, clearly it was not going to help.
In relation to section 65AA, the dumping of certain containers, that section did not have anything to do with containers becoming missiles. The section is entirely dedicated to the protection of children and demands a person who dumps an article such as an esky, refrigerator or other such vessel, remove the lid from it and render it in such a condition as the lid cannot be easily reattached.
The reason is refrigerators seal themselves, and if you have one at the dump and a child climbs in and the lid closes, it can suffocate or trap the child. That is why the section was created. This demonstrates how little research the Attorney-General did regarding this bill before the House.
I believe the point the member for Araluen has been trying to make the whole way through is we have a government, personified in this instance by the Attorney-General, who have a bill from the department placed under their nose; come to this House without so much as a critical thought about it, rattle it off, pass it into legislation, and off it goes.
It behoves us poorly, as legislators, to take such a blas and pedestrian attitude towards the legislation we are passing.
If the minister had taken time to read section 65AA of the act, let alone anything else, she would realise her excuse about the section being designed to prevent things becoming a missile is arrant nonsense. What has been portrayed here today is the lack of preparedness and thought the minister has put in to what she assumed to be a pedestrian bill. There is no such thing as pedestrian legislation.
Whilst we may be less than fulsomely engaged by every bill which passes through this House from time to time, we are still legislators with a responsibility to get our heads around what we are talking about. What I have seen today is a minister who has clearly been making it up as she goes along.
Ms LAWRIE: In response, the advice I was given on the effects …
Mr Elferink: It is not …
Madam CHAIR: Order! You do not have the call, member for Port Darwin. You have asked a question and the minister is endeavouring to answer it. Thank you.
Ms LAWRIE: I have provided advice given by my Department of Justice regarding the effects of that provision. If that advice is wrong, then I have provided the wrong advice. I reiterated it was in the summary offences level of a serious issue, which is the way it attracted the penalty units. At no stage did I view this bill as pedestrian. I predicted to my colleagues the approach which would be taken by the member for Araluen, and the approach taken by you. At no stage did I consider a dramatic overhaul of the penalties across so many pieces of legislation pedestrian. No one has gone here before; no one has had the temerity and the strength to go here before. I went there, never in a view it was pedestrian.
I congratulate the Department of Justice staff who, in a thorough way, followed my instructions, as Attorney-General, to make contemporary and relevant the offences which exist across our legislation, and to take them from monetary to penalty units. I congratulate them for the work and the policy which guided them. This is policy which has evolved over a decade and has been applied concisely and thoroughly. I have availed myself of briefings to go through the effects of this, and at no stage did I take a pedestrian view of the importance of this bill or, indeed, the extent of debate that it should generate.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Chair, I will quote for the minister section 65AA, Dumping of certain containers:
- No person shall abandon a refrigerator, icechest, icebox, article of furniture, trunk or article of a like nature which has in it a compartment of a capacity of 40 litres of 40 000 cm3 or more or any prescribed article on any vacant land or on any dump, tip, sanitary depot, public reserve or public place unless he has, before so abandoning it:
- (a) removed from the compartment every door and lid thereof and the hinges or locks for those doors and lids; or
(b) otherwise rendered those doors and lids incapable of being fastened.
Penalty: $200.
When legislation and amendments come into this House, what normally happens is we take the amendment and the legislation, and read how it would appear after we amended it. To do that is a matter of competence. I am being told the minister has not done that; she has received advice, which was errant. She is quick to blame the department and someone else for the advice. When does the minister actually stand up and say: ‘This is my responsibility to do my job in an effective and competent way’.
Any person reading section 65AA could not come to the conclusion this minister did. The only conclusion I can draw is the minister did not bother to read this legislation before bringing it to this House and relied on advice from the department. That is the point I was trying to make before, Madam Chair. That is how this government governs; they rely on advice they receive.
The principle of governing means we take responsibility for what we bring to this House, and we take time to read the material, not merely rely on advice. We are the leaders in this community and, if the only defence we have is someone told me something and it was wrong, it is not good enough. It goes to competency.
Ms CARNEY: You will be pleased to know, minister, I am nearly finished. I have had trouble hearing you today, but did you say reforming all of these pieces of legislation was an initiative driven by you? I do not mean to put words in your mouth, but I understand you said you initiated these reforms because you wanted to modernise penalty rates and so on. Is that right? Could you please repeat loudly what you said previously regarding your role in the reform process agreement?
Ms LAWRIE: This has been discussed in Cabinet for several years. When it came up in discussion, we saw the value of adjusting from monetary value to penalty units in legislation across government. I have picked up on the will of government, and my Cabinet colleagues, and embarked on the process with the agencies I have responsibility for. I instructed them to do the work and set parameters. It comes as no surprise to me the Department of Justice is ahead of the pack in getting the work done to this point. There is still more to do.
Ms CARNEY: It would assist me, minister, when answering questions, if you could look at me, because that is where your mouth is pointing. I have trouble hearing you. I understand what you are saying is someone in your Cabinet said it was a good idea, and you instructed your department to attend to it. I asked the question for a couple of reasons. One, to suggest you had a hands-off approach, which is not good enough. You instructed your department to fix it. You introduced the bill without an appreciation of the wide-ranging consequences of the bill. I do not expect …
Ms Lawrie: No, I did have an appreciation. I absolutely did.
Ms CARNEY: … you to answer that question honestly. Can I just say it would be best if you paid more attention? You did not issue a media release when you introduced the legislation, and I am not aware of any, am I correct? Why have you not, as Attorney-General, issued a media release?
Ms LAWRIE: I cannot recall whether we issued a media release; I would have to check. Sometimes we do, sometimes we do not. Sometimes we capture introductions of legislation through a general media release by the Leader of Government Business, sometimes we do separate ones. There would be no particular reason why we would or would not. What this legislation does is change about 69 acts, moving from monetary to penalty units.
I pick up on the point made by the member for Port Darwin. I should have read that particular division within the Summary Offences Act. I take that on board. I will have to double check advice from lawyers in future. I take that on board also. This is an overdue process. It puts all governments in a better position than prior to its passage in changing from monetary to penalty units. It is contemporary in the description of maximum penalties. It applies contemporary policies around offences, the seriousness of those offences, and where the levels of penalty units apply to those offences.
There is still more work to, but the Department of Justice has done a thorough job with the 69 acts amended. We had three minor technical amendments; in and of itself, a good body of work. I did not take a pedestrian approach to this. I did not take a hands-off approach to this. It is an important body of work; that is why it is here.
Ms CARNEY: The Attorney-General’s ego is so big. You issue media releases for the opening of an envelope, and as was contained in the explanatory memorandum, this bill amends 62 justice portfolio acts and seven items of subordinate legislation, and on and on you went.
There is no doubt, minister, that you were not across this bill. We know you well. We know your propensity for issuing media releases. You issue a media release if someone in the opposition says the wrong word at the wrong time. You said this is an important body of work. We know you people on the other side well. You issue media releases left, right and centre, and here you are proclaiming this is an important body of work, and you are across it. It is just nonsense, and you have been sprung.
As the Territory’s first law officer you should be doing a better job. Of course you were not meant to be in this job. Your predecessor is the member for Arafura. Unfortunately, due to ill health, she had to relinquish that role, so you are there by default. That is unfortunate. I thought the member for Johnston was a pretty reasonable Attorney-General, not bad, but not appalling and of course …
Dr Burns: That is the nicest thing you have ever said about me.
Ms CARNEY: … Syd Stirling was always entertaining. I am not sure Syd was always across everything as well as he should have been, but he did a good job. Peter Toyne, talk about a person who worked hard. I suspect it nearly killed him. All your predecessors …
Ms Lawrie: They have all been better than me.
Ms CARNEY: …all of the Attorneys-General in the Labor government have been good. You are an awful Attorney-General. In your demeanour, your appearance, your intellect; as an Attorney-General, everything about you is terrible!
I know on the other side you are all stabbing each other in the back and have a go at each other. Presumably the member for Nelson comes in occasionally and you sit up straight and say: ‘Yes, Gerry, anything you like Gerry. Ssh, Gerry is coming’. I do hope …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Chair. Is there any relevance whatsoever?
Madam CHAIR: Member for Araluen, the purpose of the committee stage is to be asking questions about the bill. If you could put your question to the minister please.
Ms CARNEY: Yes, and I have some time to come to it. I know you are a bunch of unhappy, miserable campers, but if I could be granted one wish it would be the member for Karama is not the Attorney-General. Madam Chair, my question to the Attorney-General is: will you resign?
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Chair, it is not Christmas yet so the member for Araluen does not get her wish. I was privileged to be appointed Attorney-General and Minister for Justice. I am thoroughly enjoying the portfolio. I am engaged with the stakeholders, they are fantastic. I know the sector well; I love the job, I am enjoying the job, and with the good grace of my colleagues, I will continue in the job for as long as they want me to.
Ms CARNEY: Okay.
Amendment agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
Bill reported; report adopted.
Ms LAWRIE (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.
MOTION
Note Statement – Growing the Territory
Note Statement – Growing the Territory
Continued from 12 October 2009.
Mr KNIGHT (Housing): Madam Speaker, I add my support to the Chief Minister’s statement on the challenges and opportunities presented by the growth of the Northern Territory. We are growing at an amazing rate, and this is a good thing for the Northern Territory. One challenge for government is to ensure we manage this growth to allow all members of our community a chance to share in the benefits. Growth means employment, it means economic development, and it demands increases to services.
The Chief Minister remarked we had seven quarters of growth in the last two and a quarter years. What a great endorsement of our economy by Territorians, and those moving into the Territory. It also shows businesses are choosing to invest here.
The recent growth in our economy and population is unprecedented in recent years. I will focus my attention in this debate in two areas. First, I will focus on how this government is investing in essential services to keep ahead of the demand for power, water and sewer infrastructure. Later, I intend to inform the House of my plans to increase our social housing stock and boost these services for non-government housing providers to help those most in need.
We are investing in our future by ensuring we have utility infrastructure capable of supporting this growth. We are committed to investing in power, water and sewerage services to increase the capacity and reliability of the service. We have an infrastructure investment program valued at over $1.4bn for a five year period starting in 2008-09. Comprehensive planning has been undertaken, and our capital works program is based on delivering above our demand projections.
New power stations are being built at Weddell near Palmerston, and Owen Springs in Alice Springs. These gas-fired power stations are increasing our generation capacity while improving the efficiency of our power services. This is great news for the environment, and complements our ongoing investment in renewable power supplies and green energy.
Increasing power supplies supports our growing population and meets the growing demand from business; we need the extra capacity to give businesses the confidence we can meet their needs. Augmentation of power supplies is also under way in Katherine, Tennant Creek and Yulara. Investing in our regions to support development in the bush is essential for our future. Much of our population growth is in the bush and this investment is supporting Indigenous economic development. Energy intensive industries such as manufacturing, tourism and mining will be growth industries in the bush and all require greater power supplies. We are investing to meet this challenge.
Territorians use the highest amount of water per capita in Australia. You can understand this usage with our climatic extremes, but it is not a statistic we should be proud of. Power and Water Corporation is running a number of awareness campaigns to promote water conservation. I am confident, over the longer term, we will make the cultural changes needed to reduce our water usage but, for now, we are investing to boost supplies to ensure we keep up with demand.
Our programmed investment in water infrastructure is huge and totals over $300m over five years. We do not want to make the same mistakes of other jurisdictions. Our planned investment keeps our suppliers tracking well ahead of demand, and this investment, in conjunction with demand mitigation, ensures water restrictions are not part of our agenda. I recently inspected construction work at the raising of the dam wall and spillway at Darwin River Dam. This work will increase the total capacity of the dam by some 20% or 9100 megalitres per annum for the northern water supply.
Manton Dam is our next major supply. Planning and engineering studies are under way to return this site to service. The return to service will be undertaken with retention of the site for recreational use for skiers. Drilling and investigation of new bores is under way to increase water supplies in Alice Springs, Katherine, Mataranka, Borroloola, Larrimah and Tennant Creek. These arid areas face substantial challenges for water, and our ongoing hydrological investigations are important for supplementing existing supplies.
We also need to be managing waste from our growing cities. Our projects achieve two aims: increasing the capacity of services, and increasing the environmental quality of the outputs. One example of the commitment of this government is to close the Larrakeyah outfall. This outfall has been pumping for more than 40 years, and was completely ignored by the CLP. We are investing almost $60m in delivering the Darwin Sewer Strategy, which includes the closure of the Larrakeyah outfall, and significant upgrades to Ludmilla Waste Water Treatment Plant. Our capital works expenditure for sewerage also includes infiltration basins in Alice Springs, expansion of treatment facilities in Palmerston and Katherine, and a new sewerage scheme at Borroloola.
Much of the Chief Minister’s statement was about population growth, and the amazing growth we are witnessing, especially in Palmerston. Providing the headworks to support the growth of Palmerston is well under way - $50m worth of works in total. The expansion of the sewerage system in Palmerston requires particular attention as it will soon be supporting around 3000 lots in urban development in Bellamack, Johnston, Zuccoli and Mitchell. This work is well under way, and the Palmerston pond will be upgraded and expanded to support the growth of Palmerston.
The Henderson Labor government is also increasing investment in existing infrastructure, and we have dedicated $268m to repairs and maintenance. Decades of under investment has led to the need to redefine the focus on preventative maintenance. Supporting existing infrastructure, and growing and training our hard-working Power and Water personnel, are key planks in managing our growth. We are managing our strong economy, and we have planned for the growth of the Northern Territory. Power and Water Corporation has been repositioned to support our growth and is focused on delivering for the future of the Northern Territory.
This is a government committed to providing access to housing for all Territorians. We have listened to Territorians, and this government knows housing affordability is an issue which needs priority action. Housing affordability challenges are not confined to the Northern Territory. Our record speaks for itself. In this year’s budget, we will deliver $390m for housing - a $187m or 92% boost on the previous year. Of course, we would be in a far better position today without the poorly-conceived mass sell-off of public housing stock by the CLP. Since 1996, there has been a total of 2742 public housing stock sold off. Of these, only 706 have been sold since 2001. I tabled this information yesterday for all members to see.
Through the Housing the Territory initiative, we are committed to delivering more land, more places to buy and rent, and new public housing. Operation Stimulus, or the nation building plan, is a key part of our plan for new public housing. Construction is under way on new homes, and I am looking forward to meeting with my federal Labor colleagues over the coming months to turn the key and open up the first of over 200 new dwellings for Territory families. In total, we will deliver around $60m in building new homes across the Northern Territory and refurbishing existing public housing.
As I have said, more than 200 new homes will be delivered across the Northern Territory. Refurbishments are being rolled out and, to date, 289 dwellings have been refurbished. Eighty-four dwellings have now been brought back online for Territory families. This is a great achievement. I met with one of the families on Sunday, and it was great to see the joy of this young family who will be moving into their new public housing home, probably next week.
In the Northern Territory we have unique challenges in delivering social housing. One of my key priorities is to ensure the Territory gets the most out of the National Affordable Housing Agreement with the Commonwealth government. In the past, Commonwealth Liberal governments failed to invest in social housing. The Rudd government has turned this around. We are rebuilding from a decade of under-investment, where funding declined in real terms, and the 19 200 dwellings delivered by the nation building package is a great step forward.
During those 12 long years of the Howard government, there was not one federal housing minister. It highlights the neglect of public housing during these years. I am pleased we now have a Minister for Housing in Tanya Plibersek. Our last Housing minister was Brian Howe, the Deputy Prime Minister in the Keating government. It is great to once again see the federal government focus on delivering social housing right across the Northern Territory. We are acutely aware of the issues of housing affordability. It must be addressed, and it will be.
We are fast-tracking land release to provide Territorians with access to the housing market. Our approach takes into account the challenging nature of urban and rural environment, and the varying needs of all the Territory residents. We have a strong history of support for low wage earners and first homebuyers. In this year’s budget, we replaced the successful HomeNorth scheme, which had assisted more than 1000 Territory families since 2004 to purchase their own home. That is approximately five NT families a week since 2004. The new Homestart NT threshold limits were introduced to increase the uptake of the scheme. We have a particular focus on families with dependents. These arrangements ensure our shared equity scheme remains among the most generous and effective scheme of its type. The scheme is attracting great interest from Territorians wanting to invest in their first home, and also the many public housing tenants who want to buy their own homes. It enables a greater level of home ownership, and also eases pressure on our public housing stock.
The issue of homelessness and helping those most in need of assistance is a challenge for our community in the Northern Territory, and one we must face head-on. I have met with the non-government housing providers in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs. The meetings were well attended, and I am looking forward to an ongoing dialogue with this sector to ensure the funding we put into addressing this issue best meets the needs of the homeless.
We need to be working with the housing service providers to increase support services and accommodation. The Northern Territory and Commonwealth governments will invest $54m in homelessness over the next four years. This will deliver 32 new dwellings and services needed to reduced homelessness and rough sleeping. There is currently $1m on the table for our housing support sector to provide new accommodation and services for the homeless, and those at risk of becoming homeless. This funding is from the Street to Home Initiative, which will be rolled out this year. I expect people to be housed before Christmas. I will keep the House informed about the progress of that initiative, Madam Speaker.
SIHIP is the biggest, most ambitious, integrated housing campaign in Australia’s history. It is an entirely new approach with governments working together with communities. Our governments are changing their behaviour and the way they interact with people in the bush. The opportunities at hand can capture the imagination and that is important; the vision is critical to ongoing success.
We have rigorously planned SIHIP, but the procurement model provides flexibility without additional cost. The program is being built around the needs of each indigenous community. What we are doing now, and will continue to do for the life of the program, is take a greater involvement in the management of the program. This government, and the federal government, are taking a greater role in the program delivery, fine tuning, and looking at opportunities to improve and capitalise on those. We are committed to meeting the challenges of accommodating those in the bush, and we will deliver on our construction targets.
To elaborate on the first of the three packages, they give a real sense of what can be achieved under SIHIP. Many months worth of detailed planning were set in train in April, when work totalling $128m began for the first of the three strategic alliance contracting packages. On Groote, construction of the first six houses is under way at Umbakumba and the first nine rebuilds have now been completed. Work on the next 18 of the 75 rebuilds is currently under way. There are 15 Indigenous employees undertaking work with SIHIP on Groote. Eighty new houses will ultimately be constructed over the life of the program; that is very good news.
On the Tiwi Islands, two rebuilds have now being completed and work is continuing on a further 15. Work has begun on the new construction sites, with six building pads now complete. Ninety new homes will ultimately be constructed on the Tiwi Islands over the life of the program. Work is well under way on the first of the 155 rebuilds and refurbishments. SIHIP is more than a construction program. It is great news 38 Indigenous employees are undertaking work with SIHIP on the Tiwi Islands.
In Tennant Creek, eight currently unoccupied houses are in the process of being completely rebuilt. Eleven Indigenous employees are currently undertaking work under SIHIP, learning skills and earning a good income.
In Tennant Creek, all 78 houses will be substantially rebuilt over the next 18 months, including 10 houses which were previously uninhabitable. This is what the community wanted, and is what we will deliver in partnership with the local people.
Looking to the future of SIHIP, more packages have been announced and works are beginning on the following communities: Wadeye, with our commitment of 105 new houses; Maningrida, a commitment of 109 new houses; and at Gunbalanya, a commitment of 62 new houses.
I am also looking forward to announcing the southern region refurbishment in the very near future. This package will include a broad scope of works on 29 communities in the MacDonnell, Barkly and Central Desert shires.
In reflecting on the statement, it boils down to an effort to change the lives of people of the Northern Territory for the better. This government is focused on meeting the challenges of growth, and I am proud to be part of the Henderson Labor government.
Madam Speaker, I commend the Chief Minister for introducing this statement to the House.
Mr TOLLNER (Fong Lim): It is quite interesting, I managed to get the jump right after the member Daly and he has had his effort at filling this Chamber with propaganda. That is exactly what it is, Madam Speaker.
The member for Daly is, of course, a complete failure as we learned today in Question Time. He was a complete failure prior to coming into this House. We see the letter in relation to his summary dismissal from a particular Aboriginal association in the Northern Territory. The member for Daly says it was just a couple of disenchanted people who wanted more than their share and …
Mr Vatskalis interjecting.
Mr TOLLNER: … was exactly how he explained it.
Dr Burns: That is a pretty good point.
Mr TOLLNER: Interestingly enough the letter was signed by the association President, the association Vice President …
Dr Burns: Come on, get on with it.
Mr TOLLNER: … seven or so members of that association - maybe they had some personal …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I would like you to remind the Leader of Government Business about Standing Order 51.
Madam SPEAKER: Indeed, member for Port Darwin, and also about digression from the topic. Member for Fong Lim, you may continue.
Mr TOLLNER: I was talking about the letter tabled today in Question Time, and his dismissal from that association. It talked about a rump of people who had some issue with him not getting more than they deserved …
Dr Burns: A bit like the union movement …
Mr TOLLNER: … so in the most evil way they decided to sack him. He says this is not the letter of dismissal, there is another …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! What relevance is there to the statement on Growing the Territory? He is sinking into the abyss of questionable politics and trying to go into people’s past history. I am asking him to address the statement.
Mr GILES: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, you might like to wait until you are acknowledged. You have a point of order, do you?
Mr GILES: Speaking to the point of order, the member for Fong Lim is being relevant; he is talking about the challenges of growing the Territory. One of those challenges is the member for Daly. I am very interested to hear what the member for Fong Lim has to say about the challenges of the member for Daly in continuing the debate.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, if you could come to the point of the statement which is before the House as soon as possible, that would be helpful.
Mr TOLLNER: Yes, of course, Madam Speaker. I should have explained the relevance. I notice the Chief Minister, when he read this statement onto the record, said he utterly rejects the glass-half-empty view of the growth of the Territory; he is a glass-half-full-man.
Madam Speaker, I put it to you, and I put it to this Chamber, in relation to Growing the Territory, and the role of the Housing minister in the Territory, he is a glass which is empty; he is a glass which is completely empty. No one talks about the glass half empty with the Minister for Housing; no one talks about the glass being half full, because there is nothing in the glass. It is a vacuum; a wasted vacuum. That is what we are talking about. I will continue, because it is not the first time these shortcomings have been identified in the member for Daly.
In relation to letter which was tabled today, it reads:
- This is notification of summary dismissal on the grounds of gross neglect of duties. This has been discussed with the below signed …
- … members, regarding the following issues: lack of ability to set priorities and manage and delegate decisions …
Sound familiar, member for Daly?
- … lack of ability to encourage team work amongst staff and elected members; lack of ability to motivate others and manage conflict; lack of timeliness and clarity with which information of importance is communicated to other parties; failure to provide effective leadership …
- … failure to ensure sound management of council’s financial, physical, and human resources; failure to maintain a good rapport with council members, community representatives, and staff; company time spent focusing on personal pursuits; failure to be present at work during normal office hours; failure to ensure environmental health and safety standards are met on communities for community members.
It has been decided that the council has lost confidence in their coordinator. This notice is final and effective from the 7th day of March 2001. You have 14 days in which to vacate your place of residence and leave the property.
- Please advise of business or pending business requiring immediate council attention.
That is what the president, the vice president and seven members wrote to the now member for Daly. I wonder where that log of claims comes from. We hear the member for Daly talk about how many houses he is building, what a wonderful job they are doing in government, but the reality tells a completely different story.
The member for Daly said there was not a federal parliament Housing minister until the Rudd government. I ask the member for Daly: where did the $10bn, which was put up by the Commonwealth for the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement come from? Where did the $1bn the Commonwealth provided to the Northern Territory to build public housing come from?
At the same time we saw both the previous Country Liberal government and this Labor government receiving $1bn in Commonwealth money for housing, we have seen a massive decline in housing stock; a massive decline! The member for Daly can justify this because he is sitting on $672m in Commonwealth funds, has been for two years, and not one single house has been built - not one!
You talk about Growing the Territory, and the relevance of my comments regarding the Chief Minister’s statement. I believe it is complete fiction. There has not been a government in the history of the Territory which has received more money from the Commonwealth and has frittered it away so uselessly. The member for Daly talks about three houses which had their roofs blown off in Santa Teresa - how long ago?
A member: 12 months ago.
Mr TOLLNER: Twelve months ago. He went down there several weeks ago to have a look. In the meantime, he had received $440 000 to put roofs on those houses. Did he put roofs on the houses?
A member: No.
Mr TOLLNER: No. Were people paying rent on those houses without roofs?
A member: Yes.
Mr TOLLNER: Yes, they were. Where has the $440 000 gone? No explanation. We do not know whether it was returned to the Commonwealth, or whether it has gone into repairing a house somewhere else. No explanation. $440 000 disappears and this minister thinks it is all right.
We have a ludicrous situation where we are trying to attract tourists to the Northern Territory. I am sure the Leader of Government Business, who is the Minister for Business, and Tourism, will agree with me, that it is an absolutely ludicrous situation where we have tourists arriving in Darwin having to stay in tents, cars, and sleep on our footpaths.
We have a housing crisis in the Northern Territory, and the member for Daly buries his head in the sand and says: ‘Everything is all right’. The Chief Minister says he only rejects the glass half-empty view of growth of the Territory. I do not know what planet the Chief Minister is on when he can sit idly by and support the failure that is the Minister for Housing.
This is not the only area where the member for Daly has failed. Most people who live in Darwin, Palmerston and the Top End have had to endure blackouts. The response we got from the member for Daly was: ‘Go and buy a generator. We cannot guarantee power’. A whole sub-station fails in the northern suburbs; it is nothing to do with this government; people need to buy generators.
We see the problems with the sewage outflow into our harbour. We were promised years ago this would be fixed - nothing. Absolutely nothing has been done. The minister, and the government, used the sewerage farm in Ludmilla as an excuse to stop a development. Rather than say it has to be moved they say: ‘Oh no, that development cannot happen there because we have a sewerage farm there dumps raw sewage into our harbour’. That is one of the reasons government said they were not going to let that development go ahead.
At the same time, we have the Northern Territory’s public servants, who have worked tirelessly through the financial crisis, tirelessly trying to prop up this shambolic, useless government, being told by their minister they are now going to get a maximum 2.5% pay increase. That is absolutely shameful.
I go back to the letter tabled today: this is a notification of summary dismissal on the grounds of gross neglect of duties. I believe that sums up the member for Daly to a ‘T’. The man is a complete embarrassment.
How can the Chief Minister expect to grow the Territory, grow the Territory economy, when he has a minister who cannot deliver one house in a $672m program. He has sold off more public housing than any other minister in the history of the Territory; he has seen power outages take place all over the Top End of the Northern Territory, and McArthur Mine, and he sits by and idly watches sewage being spewed into the ocean, something which is a national disgrace. We spew more sewage into our harbour than any capital city in Australia. It is a shameful situation, the minister refuses to budge, and at the same time he stops public servants applying for wage increases higher than 2.5%. The man is a failure and he must go. He is a complete and utter failure in a shambolic government.
Madam Speaker, if you cannot see what I am saying is directly relevant to the Chief Minister’s Growing the Territory, the opportunities and challenges of growth - I can tell you the biggest challenge is the member for Daly, closely followed by the member for Karama, who is sharpening the knives, working out a way to put the knife into the back of the Chief Minister and maintain the support of the Independent member for Nelson. When the Chief Minister finally passes on, in political terms, you can be guaranteed the member for Karama will be dancing about on his political grave singing Hallelujah.
The government is not served well by any of its ministers. The Chief Minister has proven to be completely powerless to change this shambolic state. The first thing any leader would do would be sack the member for Daly; just get rid of him. Today’s little effort, I thought, was a damning result.
A few weeks ago, when the member for Daly, heartlessly and remorselessly tried to vindicate tossing a 14-year-old girl out onto the streets, I thought that would be the end of the member for Daly, following on from his failures in SIHIP, public housing and power failures. The Chief Minister shows himself to be a weak man with no heart, and he persists with this incompetent, useless minister.
Going through this statement of the Chief Minister, there is nothing which reflects the reality of the Territory. We continue to see crime spiral out of control. People are afraid to walk the streets at night. The streets are littered with itinerants and drunks. Families cannot use their local neighbourhood parks. Shops are spending extraordinary amounts of money on security and nothing is being done.
We have heard announcements on a range of different areas. There is a complete failure to plan. We have new associations being set up in Darwin and the Top End to lobby government for proper planning policies. It seems the government does not care. They stick their heads in the sand and say: ‘Oh no, the Territory is a wonderful place’. I know it is a wonderful place; that is why I live here. That is why many people live here. People are leaving because it is getting to expensive and too difficult to stay.
We used to talk about the wonderful Territory freedoms and things you could do in the Northern Territory you cannot do anywhere else. That seems to be changing at a rapid rate of knots. This government is very keen to be a nanny state-style government, exercising control over all aspects of the lives of Territorians, but at the same time giving nothing back in areas of safety, shelter, food, transport systems.
Everywhere you look we have decaying roads. Driving up the track is terrible. On the verge of roads there are ant hills three foot high, which is a sure indication roads are not being maintained. Due to lack of maintenance by this government, we saw the Barkly Highway washed away a year ago. That is not even funded by the Territory government; funded completely by the Commonwealth. The Territory government, in their shambolic useless way, cannot manage to do the work they are being paid to do. It is costing them nothing.
Madam Speaker, I go back to my original point. I listened to 20 minutes of dribble from the member for Daly in relation to housing. Listening to that, you would think things are all roses here. Pity the poor Aborigines who have been putting up with this situation for years and years.
The member for Daly says no, we are not going to rush housing. We are going to build million dollar houses; we are waiting on designs. We see all the ‘nodders’ wandering in, the member for Arafura, the member for Arnhem, the member for Barkly and they seem to say: ‘Oh well, that is all right. Let him wander on and not put our constituents in houses, and not fix anything up. That is okay’.
Madam Speaker, this government is a joke. It is an utter joke. The first thing the Chief Minister should do is sack the member for Daly. He is an incompetent, useless fool.
Ms McCARTHY (Children and Families): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak in support of the Chief Minister’s statement on this government’s leadership in managing for the growth of the Northern Territory.
I am especially pleased our government is focused on the planning issues associated with expected growth, and that growth is not just about an economic bottom-line. It is also about infrastructure, and yes, it is about social and community development. It is also about prosperity and wellbeing; it is about ensuring all Territorians can benefit from the opportunities growth will bring and make available to us.
The Chief Minister has noted a key feature of our future is likely to be continued growth in interstate migration to the Northern Territory, which is a good thing; younger people coming to the Territory and embracing what we have to offer here, as well as contributing to its development and its future. I am reminded the bulk of our population growth comes from within, and the natural increases of our residential population. We are very aware of the Australian Bureau of Statistics data as we look at the increase in population across the Northern Territory in our regional and remote areas.
As Minister for Indigenous Policy and Minister for Children and Families, I am particularly focused on the fact over one third of the Territory’s population is Indigenous, and 70% of that population lives in remote centres, and over one third of our NT Indigenous population is children under 15 years of age.
While we know we will be seeing significant growth in our aged population, especially in our remote regions, it is obvious a key issue for any government of the Northern Territory will be the natural increase in the population of our remote growth centres. This means planning for the services these families will want and need to access, as well as creating an environment where every Territorian has the opportunity for a safe, healthy and happy childhood and access to facilities, services and opportunities to support the growth of their own families and, of course, the ongoing development of the Northern Territory.
We also know we have to understand people’s aspirations, and plan to support the life choices Territorians would like to make concerning education, training, jobs, and a place to call home. This also means understanding and planning intelligently with a good understanding of mobility patterns, the internal movement of people around the Northern Territory; it means getting our planning absolutely right, proper sequencing of work, correct prioritisation of investments, and the involvement of local people - the real key in all of this - in setting priorities in designing and delivering programs, responding to local needs.
In this context I am pleased to have a lead role in the development and implementation, with the Chief Minister and my colleagues, of our government’s cornerstone policy, A Working Future. It is a big job and one we cannot do on our own. It is a reality one of our core difficulties is the legacy issues we have to deal with in terms of supporting our remote growth centres, and decades of inattention have led us to the situation where we know we have huge infrastructure and service gaps to deal with in our remote towns.
All across Australia there is an increasing need for access to government services and support for communities in responding to economic and environmental challenges. These issues are magnified in the Northern Territory, built around a high level of un-met services and knowing service demand will grow in the Territory faster than any other part of Australia.
This is a job we are totally committed to, with the necessary support of the like minded Australian government. The roll-out of A Working Future is now well under way across all Northern Territory government agencies, driven by a dedicated service delivery coordination unit established in the Department of the Chief Minister, and with the support of the Independent Coordinator-General for Remote Service Delivery, Bob Beadman. I have mentioned the need for the support and financial muscle of the Australian government and their help in underpinning our joint work. A Working Future is closely aligned with the COAG Remote Service Delivery National Partnership Agreement.
Through this agreement, the Territory and Australian governments are investing $160m over five years in a coordinated, single government approach to ensure billions of dollars in remote service delivery is expended effectively and in partnership with local people - an incredible achievement in coordinating these agencies between the federal and Northern Territory governments.
Work has started on developing community engagement plans for 20 Territory growth towns, baseline social and economic indicators for 20 Territory growth towns; the services and infrastructure gap analysis has begun, development of inter-government MOU for joint management of that single government interface of both the Territory and federal departments; mainstream town planning for the 20 growth towns; negotiations to secure land tenure for investment; a workforce and industry development plan; and development of the Northern Territory government integrated Remote Transport Strategy which my colleague, the Minister for Transport, is currently dealing with.
As well as focusing on infrastructure and service gaps through A Working Future, I am very focused on growing the social fabric of our communities. As I have said in this parliament on many occasions, it is not just about growing the infrastructure, the houses, and the towns. My focus is the families. The emphasis is back on individual and family responsibility on the way we raise our children and the hopes we have for the future. We also need to look at beyond infrastructure and work to build that social fabric. I have had discussions with my department in Alice Springs and in Darwin, and with staff in the Families and Children Services area, as to how we can work with the 20 growth towns and the families in these towns to take that responsibility, and assist them in progressing to a future filled with choice for the children of families of these growth towns.
Of course, we need to ensure we provide a sound education for our children, and the Chief Minister has outlined our important commitments in that area. We will build the capacity of our hub towns to provide employment opportunities for young people. We will certainly support local people build an ongoing sense of purpose, community, and social inclusion. It is not just government which will help this happen; we will partner with private enterprise and non-government organisations to deliver the broad range of services and opportunities every Territorian deserves. We need to ensure a holistic approach to growing our children and families, and the provision of services which support families meet the developmental, physiological and health needs of our children, which is essential to the future of our communities.
The protection and provision of assistance to children and families who have suffered due to domestic and family violence, child abuse, neglect, and sexual assault is also pivotal in the development of healthy communities. Our government has been firmly committed in the need to see the attitudinal change towards families and violence within families - something our government has committed to in the mandatory reporting of domestic violence, and also in $15m we have put towards, over the next three years, ensuring this attitudinal change begins in a strong way. Northern Territory Families and Children has an active role in providing services and support to families and children in remote areas, and I am pleased to say the Northern Territory government’s recent partnership with the Australian government is enabling and expansion of these services.
The Safe Places Program has been developed to address issues of domestic and family violence. In addition to the shelters we have rolled out across the Northern Territory with the federal government, there are now 19 safe places operating across the Northern Territory. Seven safe places and six cooling-off places are operating within nine of the 20 growth towns: Maningrida, Wadeye, Nguiu, Ngukurr, Angurugu, Yuendumu, Ramingining, Kalkarindji and Lajamanu. The Safe Places Program provides not only a shelter, but community education and support services. Safe Places staff are employed from within the communities. It is early days and, of course, this is the area we want to see grow in terms of the educational campaign, and a place where families can come to.
Our Strong Family, Strong Community, Strong Future Aboriginal family violence project focuses on engaging directly with community for communities to develop responses to domestic and family violence. Acknowledging the role of men in our communities supporting this work, the remote Aboriginal Family Community Worker Program focuses on increasing community capacity to respond to issues of child protection within the community. Fifteen family support worker positions have been created across the Territory, with two team leaders based in Darwin, two team leaders based in Alice Springs, and one team leader based in Tennant Creek. Six of these positions are within 20 growth towns: Borroloola, Nguiu, Galiwinku, Yuendumu, Kalkarindji and Papunya.
Responses to sexual assault in remote areas have improved with the introduction of the Mobile Outreach Service. The service provides therapeutic intervention with children on the communities. This service is expanding to provide intervention in relation to all child abuse. The capacity to undertake forensic medical examinations in remote areas is also being enhanced.
Madam Speaker, I turn to my area of disabilities. One of the recommendations of the Disability Services Review was for the Department of Health and Families to work with other Northern Territory government agencies to agree and implement a whole-of-government approach to support people with disabilities in the Northern Territory. I am keen to see this particular recommendation from the review worked in closely with the A Working Future headline policy. Our Disability Advisory Council, chaired by Bill Medley, is currently doing some work on disability action plans for government departments, as well as local government shires and private enterprise. I look forward to working with the Disability Advisory Council on this.
It is important that the needs of people with disabilities should not be an afterthought or even an extra. They should be a key part of any new development and all new work we do. In some areas I know this is already happening. On Groote Eylandt, for example, within my electorate of Arnhem, Machado Joseph Disease is prevalent and disability access is a particular concern. Steps are being taken to ensure SIHIP housing is appropriately tailored to the needs of people with a disability. I have seen firsthand, and taken the federal Housing Minister, Tanya Plibersek, to Groote Eylandt, to Angurugu in particular. I have also seen at Umbakumba the steps which have been taken to ensure the people who are working with GEBIE, the Aboriginal enterprise on Groote Eylandt, in the training and employment of local people for these houses, their focus is on the areas of disability within the houses of SIHIP.
However, we need to take a similar approach in all of our communities to ensure people with a disability can be active and equal participants in our communities. As Minister for Children and Families, I believe it is important we keep this in mind in this exciting time of our Territory growth, and it is an exciting time, and we make sure as we grow, our awareness of the needs of people with disabilities and our ability to respond to those needs improves.
I turn to the portfolio of Statehood, which I carry in a bipartisan role with the member for Goyder. As the Chief Minister pointed out in his statement, quite extraordinary population growth is anticipated in the Territory in the coming years. In this context, it is appropriate the Territory should come into its own as a state, with Territorians having the same rights and privileges as residents in the states, and the Territory parliament having the same level of independence and standing as the states’ parliaments.
One of the unique things about this parliament is we do stand very strongly in a bipartisan way, and it is in this partnership I travelled with the shadow minister for Statehood to Canberra earlier this year to meet with federal parliamentary representatives. The member for Goyder will probably agree that our joint approach to representatives from all major political parties was noted and respected. If there was one message we wanted to make clear to the Australian parliament it was the parliament of the people of the Northern Territory had wanted this process to be bipartisan, and we ask the parliament of the Australian people to also share the view of walking together in a bipartisan manner towards us becoming the seventh state in the Federation.
Throughout 2010, workshops will be conducted by the Statehood Steering Committee across the Northern Territory, as you in your capacity as Chair, Madam Speaker, are very aware, to inform people about statehood and seek their views. I encourage all Territorians to get involved with the workshops, to take this very important opportunity to contribute to one of the most important aspects of the Territory’s growth.
I take this opportunity to welcome back to the Statehood Steering Committee Secretariat, Michael Tatham as Executive Officer. It is fantastic to have him return and be very much involved with the next 12 months of incredible work which will take place with the committee across the Northern Territory. I also take this opportunity to say thank you to the staff in the Secretariat, Marise Riddell and Poppy Lelekis for the work they have given to Statehood in the Northern Territory.
2011 will be 100 years since South Australia handed the Northern Territory to the Commonwealth. In my view, as Minister for Statehood, this is a very significant time for the Northern Territory to reflect on its history and its standing, and to focus our energies on the move towards statehood. I am very keen to hear from all members of parliament and all Territorians about how they think 2011 should be commemorated by children in our schools, in our towns and communities, in our regional centres and in the national sphere. It is a year where we can, and this parliament has a very real opportunity, to recognise the 100 years of a Northern Territory under the leadership of the federal government in that time. That will be a year we can work towards with particular events across the Northern Territory, and to encourage people to look at where we are going, and what it is we would like to leave for the children of the Northern Territory.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE (Katherine): Madam Speaker, what a lovely motherhood statement made by the Chief Minister yesterday. Another exercise in self-flagellation from a government whose empty rhetoric is matched only in scope and scale to the extent of its failures in both planning and delivery of core services to Territorians.
This ministerial statement was along the lines of opportunities and challenges to growth in the Northern Territory. There are many challenges in dealing with potential growth in the Northern Territory. What I notice coming out of this statement was the Chief Minister conveniently left out probably one of the most major and significant challenges to achieving and accommodating growth in the Northern Territory. That, of course, is the challenge presented to us all by having such an incompetent Labor government at the helm of this particular ship we call the Northern Territory.
It is easy for me to stand here in opposition and make broad sweeping statements like the one I just made, but it might be useful for me to provide some examples of how the ongoing failure and incompetence of this government is affecting people who live in the Northern Territory, or more importantly, who could potentially live in the Northern Territory, which, of course, is what this statement is all about.
One of the biggest topical issues at the moment is SIHIP, and I will touch on that first. As members of this House have pointed out many times we are almost two years on from the inception of this program with not one single house completed for Indigenous Territorians. Yet this government barely admits there is a problem. Not one house built in communities like Wadeye, where children take turns to sleep in a house at night such is their plight. Their housing crisis is so dire there are too many kids for the community, too many kids for the number of houses, too many kids for the number of bedrooms, and too many kids for the number of beds.
What do the kids do? They wander the streets all night causing all sorts of trouble and mayhem. They place themselves in danger, they place others at risk, they are in danger of getting into serious trouble and they have nowhere to go. The next day half the children in Wadeye are too tired to go to school, and that is where the rot starts. We have tired kids, bored kids, and kids not getting an education, kids with no hope. What is truly amazing is that is just one community in the Northern Territory facing that raft of problems.
So how does it work? The Minister for Housing, who is also the member for Daly, does not care enough, cannot show the leadership required and does not have the compassion let alone the competence to deal with the problem right in the heartland of his own electorate. That defies belief. The people of the Daly electorate are looking for something and it is the antithesis of what the member for Daly represents. They are looking for someone who is prepared to take up their cause, take up their challenge, and actually achieve some results, unlike the member for Daly who constantly sits on the other side criticising.
Let me continue with the statement. Page 8 outlines how the population of Katherine is set to increase by 18% over five years. If I take the population of Katherine to be around 9000 people, increase that by the stated 18%, it equates to 1620 new people in Katherine between now and 2021. That would be terrific for Katherine. Katherine is a go ahead place with so much potential, so much upside, I get excited thinking about it. It is a wonderful place to live and the opportunities there are staggering. The business community is fully supportive of my statement in spite of the government and its policies dealing with anywhere south of Weddell at this stage.
On the assumption some people will be single, some will be couples, and some families, about 800 dwellings would be required in Katherine by 2021. We have had no land release in Katherine since 2006, which is the date outlined in the Chief Minister’s statement - that is the start of the 15 year period up to 2021. There has been no land release in Katherine since 2006, except for the latest token effort by the government in Katherine East. Between now and 2021 we will need 800 new dwellings, assuming some will be single and some will be multiple dwellings. It is not inconceivable, on a conservative estimate, that some 500 new blocks of land will be required to be released in the next 12 years to achieve the target outlined in the Chief Minister’s statement.
Do you believe that will happen in Katherine? Based on the prior convictions of this government, I do not believe so. You can see all over the Northern Territory, none more obvious than across Darwin, the number of people who are forced to live in circumstances which defy belief because of the failed policy of this government with respect to land release. They stand here and say: we are going to do this and we are going to do that. Well, they are a lot of gunnas.
Ms Purick: Gunna do this, gunna do that.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: That is it. They have not worked on a land release policy which has had a positive effect for people who live in the Northern Territory, and for people who would like to come to the Northern Territory. Right now there is no place for them to live, and when they do find somewhere to live, it is so expensive they cannot afford to stay. One only has to look at the Letters to the Editor in the NT News on any day and there is another one, or another two, or another three: I cannot afford to live in the Northern Territory because of these outrageous house prices and rent prices.
I am a bit of a fundamentalist when it comes to looking at cost and effect. If you take the simple equation of supply and demand, a low supply with high demand always means a high price. That is a very simple concept the government ministers, the members on the other side, seem to lack the capacity to grasp.
While we are talking government policy, let us look at a very specific issue where these people on the other of the House cannot get it right. On Giles Street, Katherine is a block of government owned land zoned multiple dwelling which could have been rezoned to accommodate 30 or 40 existing or new Territorians. That land was zoned many years ago, presumably by people who knew what they were doing when planning Katherine, yet the government, in its infinite wisdom, has chosen not to develop that land to provide housing for Territorians, or potential Territorians. They have chosen to change the zoning, change the use of that land, so Katherine can have a new sobering-up shelter.
People tell me they cannot believe the government’s priorities are so wrong. Surely to goodness, with so much government-owned land around Katherine, this government could find, without trying very hard - I only have to pick up a zoning map of Katherine and I can figure it out - some alternative place for a sobering-up shelter which would leave this piece of land zoned for multiple dwellings to accommodate Territorians. They would much rather use their shallow alcohol policies to house Katherine drunks who do not, or cannot, benefit from any comprehensive policy which comes from this government, rather than provide housing for Territorians. That is a crying shame, and the government should be absolutely ashamed of itself.
Let us stay on the same page of the Chief Minister’s statement. He said the population growth will be characterised, particularly in Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, by increases of Indigenous and aged Territorians. What is this government doing for Indigenous Territorians when it comes to housing in Katherine? Not one single house under SIHIP. Not that we have not had any built yet; we are not getting any at all. I am advised there is a paltry $1.1m being made available in 2011 to upgrade some houses at Binjari. Yes, all that but no new houses.
What about aged Territorians? If Katherine’s population growth, in part, is going to be as a result of an increase of our aged population, then why in heaven’s name are we seeing a cutback in services for our aged by this government?
Community Connections was an NT government-funded program which used to provide services to our aged in Katherine. Since 2006, this service has been slowly falling away. It became noticeable as grounds and other maintenance in the Kintore Street properties started to deteriorate. Fewer opportunities were being provided by the service. Excursions were slowly knocked on the head until they were nonexistent. This service was implemented by the CLP government and let slide away by this Territory Labor government.
Let me talk about what it used to do for the Katherine aged. Three days a week, a bus would pick up, anywhere in Katherine, about 24 of our senior Territorians and bring them to the facility in Kintore Street. They had morning tea and lunch. They spent hours together engaged in activities like exercise, and arts and craft. They had excursions as a group. They are all the things senior Territorians need.
Last week was Mental Health Week, which addresses dementia and other issues. We know keeping our seniors active and healthy and engaged in different activities helps prevent dementia. However, I am sure the government does not quite get that. That service would also pick up our seniors and take them to medical appointments, get them to the hospital, get them to the chemist. The service has been falling away since 2006, until its final demise in 2009.
I refer to a letter sent to Ms Merle Barry dated 3 July 2009, where the Minister for Children and Families, who is responsible for this organisation, said:
- I have been advised that the Community Connections Program has been closed due to a decrease in the number of people accessing the service. The program is being reviewed with the aim of developing a service that will be accessed by more people.’
I can tell you this service did not close because of fewer people ‘accessing the service’. It was closed because the government allowed the service to fall back to such a point there was nothing for seniors to do, and nothing the organisation could offer our seniors in Katherine. It was a deliberate ploy on the part of the government to cut funding to a very important part of our community, and they did it by stealth. They simply let the service fall away. They cut the funding over a number of years, and now it is nonexistent. Not only that, the Minister for Children and Families had the audacity, in the same letter to say, and I quote.
- A range of other services are available in Katherine, including the Red Cross Craft Group, Senior Citizens and Meals on Wheels. These programs offer a similar service to the Community Connections Program, and I would encourage you to access these services.
What a cop-out. These services mentioned in the minister’s letter exist through the kindness, generosity, and donations of people in the community. We are talking about a range of government services where the Minister for Families and Children has said: ‘We are not going to give it to you any more; you have to go and get charity’. That is absolutely disgusting. How can the Chief Minister stand in this House with any sincerity, acknowledge the Katherine population is going to grow, and many of them would be ageing, yet he presides over a minister who is in charge of a department which has cut back services so savagely to the aged people in Katherine.
There is a challenge in dealing with the growth in population of the aged in Katherine. I am sure this is happening all across the Territory. The statement mentions Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs, not to mention Yirrkala, Numbulwar and Gapuwiyak, where they are saying there will be significant increases in population due to the aged factor. I would offer a challenge to the Chief Minister: do something for our aged. Give our seniors something to look forward to in their old age, and accept responsibility for providing services necessary for them in their twilight years.
The statement goes on to talk about infrastructure. $1.3bn was the figure mentioned, most of which is Commonwealth funding. Let me point this out: of that infrastructure spend, a paltry $19m is being spent on beef, and mining roads in our regions. This is despite the fact, in the last financial year, the NT Labor government received a windfall of more than $160m from mining royalties, which is $160m in extra mining royalties they did not expect to receive. You would think that would go back into investing in the infrastructure required, certainly within the mining sector; the offshoot of that would be benefits for the cattle sector. The government can only afford to spend a trifle, and that is only a trifle back into our regional roads. The County Liberals would do far better than that for the bush.
Unlike the Labor government, we are focused on the entire Northern Territory, to ensure there are fair and equitable means for the regional parts of the Northern Territory to receive funding for infrastructure projects they so desperately need, infrastructure projects which have been ignored for eight years by the Territory Labor government.
I often hear ministers on the other side of the House, and particularly the member for Daly, enunciating we have no policies on this side of the House. In fact, that is not true. Perhaps the Minister for Housing, the member for Daly, should actually listen to some of the things the opposition says, and he will realise that we are regularly issuing policies.
Here is one, Madam Deputy Speaker, like the Western Australia conservative government, we will instigate a Royalties for Regions program where a percentage of royalties received from the mining and petroleum sectors will go back into regional parts of the Northern Territory. This is in stark contrast to the policy of the Labor government, which can barely see past the northern suburbs of Darwin let alone anything further south. At the moment we are not in a position to quantify the percentage of royalties for regions because we cannot calculate the exact amount of debt the Territory Labor government is going to leave as its legacy in the wake of its eight years, or however long it manages to stay in power. I can assure you long after this Territory Labor government is gone Territorians will pay the price, and they will be paying the price for what we are seeing today and have seen for many years now - their abject fiscal irresponsibility.
Let us look at another challenge the Chief Minister conveniently failed to mention in his statement, which is, of course, alcohol abuse in the Northern Territory. If I had to pick the two biggest policy failures of the NT government, it is SIHIP and alcohol policy.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! I move that the member for Katherine be granted an extension of time pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and thank you to members for graciously allowing me some extra time.
Of the two policy failures of the NT government which probably stick in my craw, the biggest would be SIHIP and alcohol. I do not know which one is worse because they have very significant and far reaching effects right across the Northern Territory. Why is alcohol policy a challenge? The Chief Minister’s statement is Growing the Territory – The Opportunities and Challenges for Growth. The problems associated with the lack of alcohol policy from the Labor government reaches into every corner of the Northern Territory; it affects every single aspect of life in the Northern Territory.
If I have to be very specific about it, let us talk about it as a challenge of population growth for the Northern Territory. When a tourist arrives in the Northern Territory one must look at what they face. They would drive into a town - and I do not need to be specific about any particular one because they are much the same - they will see significant alcohol abuse going on, they will see drunks lying around the streets, they will see people fighting, and spitting, and swearing. They will see inordinate amounts of antisocial behaviour fuelled by alcohol. Sadly, most of the violent crime we see perpetrated in the Northern Territory comes from Indigenous people, and largely upon other Indigenous people; they will get to see that as well.
We know alcohol abuse is largely linked to levels of violent crime in the Northern Territory. The most recent release by the Minister for Justice acknowledges some 74% of violent crime in Katherine is alcohol related.
Mr Vatskalis: In Alice Springs; 74% of crime in Alice Springs is alcohol related.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Madam Deputy Speaker, in the release there is an acknowledgement by the government that 74% of assaults in Katherine are alcohol related. That sings a very sad song for this government. If you can nip alcohol problems in the bud, if you can find a way to address alcohol issues before they manifest themselves either on the street as antisocial behaviour or violent crime …
Ms Scrymgour interjecting.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Comment, member for Arafura?
Ms Scrymgour: I am agreeing with you.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Thank you. … we will then go a long way towards solving the over-arching issue as it relates to getting people into the Northern Territory and seeing fewer of the antisocial problems they would ordinarily be observing. The problem is the government has only really one hat, one tool in their armoury, one weapon in their arsenal they are willing to use, which is alcohol restrictions.
I heard the member for Casuarina today talking about how things have improved in Alice Springs. I am not so sure that would be the case. What I can say is in Katherine the policy is failing dismally. In the nine months to the end of September this year, there were approximately 6000 people taken into protective custody in Katherine through the police cells. That does not count the number of people who went through the sobering-up shelter; compared to fewer than 4000 taken into protective custody in Katherine, in the police cells, for the corresponding period last year.
Regardless of any assertions by the government that their policies are working, particularly in Katherine, I can tell you they are not. That is raw data which cannot be manipulated or made to say something it does not actually represent. What it says is there was approximately 50% more alcohol related harm going on in Katherine in the first nine months of this year compared to the first nine months of last year. The Country Liberals have said many times in this House, and I will say it again - here is another policy for you …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! I bring your attention to the state of the House.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Braitling. Ring the bells. A quorum is present. Member for Katherine, you have the call.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Where was I? I believe I was talking about failed government policy on alcohol and how the Country Liberals do actually have some policy we believe will work. It does not revolve around having one weapon in the arsenal; it revolves around a multipronged approach. I should mention, of course, the alcohol court in Katherine and how well it has done
Ms Scrymgour: What is your policy? What are you going to do?
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Seventeen referrals in 18 months, four successful completions. The alcohol court clinician had to resign because her hours were cut back by the government. Mind you, when her hours were cut back she could not afford to live on the part-time wages the government was paying and she had to leave.
The government says we do not have any policies, so I have to spell it out for them because they are a little thick. We need to institute some rehabilitation for people who have problems with alcohol. This needs to be done not on the voluntary basis they think will work now; it needs to be mandated people attend compulsory rehabilitation. We also want to get them off the alcohol roundabout, we want them to get some literacy and numeracy skills, some job skills, proper detox and rehab, and get these people back out into the community ...
Ms Scrymgour: Sounds like ours.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: A far better product.
Ms Lawrie: Yes, we are doing all that.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Are you doing all that? I would like to see where! I pick up on the interjection from the member for Karama. I would like to know exactly where they are doing all that, because all they do is talk about alcohol restrictions. The only time I have heard anything other than alcohol restrictions come out of this government is a media release talking about mandatory rehabilitation. That is the only time I have heard anything.
If the government and the member for Karama say they are doing all of those things, then I am very pleased. They have listened to what we have said over recent months regarding alcohol policy, and picked up on some of the ideas. It is quite gratifying to know we are getting a little win. The Country Liberals represent more than 50% of the voters in the Northern Territory, therefore we have some credibility, and the government really should be listening to what we say because much of what is said on this side of the House actually makes sense. The government does not seem to be able to grasp that.
Many of the challenges facing us in the Northern Territory are simply not being addressed by this government. They do not seem to have much of an idea about dealing with the major social issues occurring. My challenge to them is to pick up their game and get on with the work they are supposed to be doing as the government of the Northern Territory.
Mr HAMPTON (Regional Development): Madam Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to support the Chief Minister’s statement on the challenges and opportunities presented by the growth of the Northern Territory. We are living in exciting times in the Territory. Our biggest challenge lies in ensuring all Territorians have a stake in our society, and have the chance to enjoy the fruits of our strong economy.
As a born and bred Territorian, I am never surprised to hear about migration to the Northern Territory. There are quite a few from interstate in this House. Our great Territory lifestyle appeals to most people, both from overseas and interstate. I suspect our strong economy is also attracting people to the Territory. Indeed, I have heard anecdotal evidence backpackers were giving Sydney and Melbourne a miss, and heading straight to the Territory because jobs were getting harder to find down south.
The Chief Minister identified the Territory’s growth hot spots as being our remote communities. This is clearly a massive challenge for government, and one we are tackling head on. Last week, I launched the Henderson government’s Indigenous Economic Development Strategy. There are a few points I would like to raise today. Indigenous Territorians comprise 30% of the Territory’s population and control more than 40% of the Territory land mass through Aboriginal land trusts. However, the unemployment rate is three times higher among Indigenous people compared with non-Indigenous people. That such a large proportion of our Indigenous population is not participating actively in our strong economy is totally unacceptable.
Tackling this issue requires commitment from a range of sectors and organisations, including the public sector, the Territory government in partnership with the Commonwealth, the shires and the land councils, the private sector, big business, small business, Indigenous stakeholders and Indigenous people themselves. We all have a job to do and need to work together if we are to close the gap on Indigenous economic disadvantage. I look forward to expanding on our vision to improve the quality of life for Indigenous Territorians through full participation in the economy.
As the Territory grows, we want Indigenous employment rates to also grow. We want Indigenous businesses to grow, and we want Indigenous wealth to grow. We want to support Indigenous Territorians as they seek to achieve their aspirations and dreams.
As our economy grows, we are confronted with other challenges, such as ensuring industrial development is compatible with our precious natural environment. We all recognise the benefits of development to the Territory, which brings jobs and significant economic growth. In my role as Environment minister, I am committed to ensuring this development occurs in an environmentally sustainable manner.
There are currently several large developments planned for the Northern Territory. They all have to undergo vigorous environmental assessments under the Environmental Assessment Act before they are allowed to go ahead. A major developmental proposal currently under assessment is the INPEX project. As members would be aware, INPEX Browse Ltd proposes to pipe gas from the Browse Basin off the West Australian Coast, to a liquified natural gas LPG and LNG plant at Darwin’s Blaydin Point. The proposal is being assessed jointly by the Northern Territory and Australian governments at the level of an environmental impact statement. Guidelines were issued to the proponent in September 2008, with the environmental impact statement due to be released for public comment later this year.
Also under assessment is BHP Billiton’s proposal to transport copper concentrate and increased quantities of uranium oxide concentrate by rail from the expanded Olympic Dam Mine in South Australia, to storage and ship floating facilities in the Port of Darwin. The transport option proposal is being assessed at the level of an environmental impact statement, in line with the current assessment by the South Australian, and Australian governments, of the broader mine expansion proposal. A draft environmental impact statement was lodged, and the public exhibition period ended on 7 August this year. BHP Billiton will now prepare a supplement to address public and government comments on the draft EIS.
Another project under assessment is the Arafura Resources proposal to develop a mine at Nolans Bore, 135 km north of Alice Springs. The proposal is to be assessed under the bilateral agreement between the Australian and Northern Territory governments at the level of an environmental impact statement. We also have the Redbank Mine’s proposal to expand copper leaching operations at the Redbank oxide copper mine near the Queensland border, 250 km from Borroloola. The proposal is to be assessed under, again, the bilateral agreement between the Australian and Northern Territory governments and, again, at the level of an environmental impact statement.
There is also the Tenax Energy’s proposal to establish a series of tidal energy generators in the Apsley Strait between Gunn Peninsula and the Tiwi Islands. This proposal is to again be assessed under the bilateral agreement between the Australian and Northern Territory governments, and again at the level of an environmental impact statement.
The environmental assessment process is a statutory process which is facilitated by the Office of Environment and Heritage. The process involves a rigorous examination of the potential environmental impacts, and develops appropriate safeguards to avoid problems which may arise down the track. It is also important to note the assessment process does not stop once a project receives approval. Rather, the Office of Environment and Heritage monitors the ongoing compliance of development once approval has been granted.
There are also several other proposals at various stages along the assessment process, and I think this clearly demonstrates two things. One is the high level of economic activity and industry confidence in the Northern Territory. The other is this government’s commitment to achieving environmentally sustainable development to benefit all Territorians. We are determined to protect our unique environment and great Territory lifestyle for future generations.
The Chief Minister raised a very interesting point in relation to the future growth of Darwin, Palmerston and the greater Darwin region. The current research shows, within 10 years, Palmerston will form the centre of the population of Darwin and the greater Darwin region. It is therefore important government locates first class sporting facilities and recreational facilities in the city of Palmerston. The Henderson government has committed $33m to build an international standard sporting facility for the people of Palmerston. This project includes training lights and facility upgrades of Palmerston Magpies AFL oval, a rugby and soccer field with training lights, and upgrades to the tennis courts. The Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport and the Department of Planning and Infrastructure are working closely with relevant bodies, together with the Palmerston City Council and Charles Darwin University, on the final design stages of this project to ensure the people of Palmerston receive the fantastic facilities they truly deserve.
We are also committed to ensuring the people of Alice Springs, my home town, also enjoy first class sporting facilities. It is this Labor government which has invested well over $5m to make Traeger Park the jewel in the Alice Springs sporting crown.
Mr Giles interjecting.
Mr HAMPTON: We have also committed more than $8m, member for Braitling, to the Alice Springs Aquatic Centre, something the CLP never did, which includes a pool, a beachfront, leisure pool …
A member: We built the pool.
Mr HAMPTON: Back in the 1970s.
This includes a beachfront leisure pool and upgraded amenities. It is an $8m commitment by this Labor government to the people of Alice Springs.
As a born and bred Central Australian, I am very proud to advocate the future growth and development of Alice Springs. I am co-chairing, with our Mayor, Damien Ryan, the Alice Springs Planning for the Future Steering Committee which is overseeing actions from the Planning for the Future Forum. Other members of the committee include Julie Ross, Glenda Meaney, Daryl Pearce, David Forrest and Fran Kilgariff.
Together with other issues identified at the forum we are looking at land releases around Alice Springs, including the Arid Zone Research Institute site, which was identified for future growth at the forum and by Central Australians. A headworks study on the AZRI site is expected to be completed by next year. The Mt John development is moving ahead with the developers, the Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation, advising they expect lots to be turned off there from the start of next year. There are a number of other private organisations working with the Development Consent Authority to turn off land in and around Alice Springs.
The steering committee has also endorsed a plan to revitalise the Alice Springs CBD and $5m has been committed to that project. The revitalisation will dramatically enhance the town centre and will ensure it continues to be a vibrant hub with improved facilities and amenities for locals and visitors alike.
Before I close, I turn to my portfolio of ICT. A key part of this government’s role in Growing the Territory is providing infrastructure, in some cases, to communities which have never had it before under any previous government. One such example is the high-speed broadband. In partnership with the Northern Land Council, Telstra, and Rio Tinto, the government took part in a $34m project to lay some 800 km of fibre-optic cable between Jabiru and Nhulunbuy. This connected 8000 people living in Arnhem Land to Australia’s fibre-optic backbone, delivering world-class, high-speed broadband. This project has received a great deal of favourable attention, and last month there was some more.
At the Australian Institute of Project Management Awards Gala Dinner held in Darwin, the project was judged the winner in the category of construction engineering projects with a total budget of less than $100m. It was also judged the overall Project of the Year for the Northern Territory. My congratulations to all involved. I am sure the members for Arafura, Nhulunbuy and Arnhem would agree it has been a successful project.
I would like to inform the House, as a quick update, there are now more than 330 private and business broadband connections across Arnhem Land, and most importantly, children at Oenpelli, Maningrida, Ramingining, Gapuwiyak and Yirrkala can now access the online world from computers at their government schools in their home community.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I am very pleased to support the Chief Minister’s statement.
Mr STYLES (Sanderson): Madam Deputy Speaker, it is interesting to speak having read some of this document. I would like to refer to a couple of things. I listened to the Chief Minister yesterday expound on the contents of this document. In previous speeches I have heard the Chief Minister say: ‘Come to the Territory, great place, great lifestyle, fantastic environment, come up here and get a job’.
Ms Anderson: Stop talking it down.
Mr STYLES: I would like to pick up on that interjection. Talking it down?
Ms Anderson: Yes, you are.
Mr STYLES: Well, it is very interesting those interjections come along, because I have not even started yet.
Members interjecting.
Mr STYLES: Well, it is very interesting. Perhaps you people do not like hearing the truth from time to time. The government calls on people to come to the Territory, however three weeks ago I was at Wagaman shops and a young man was there with a petition regarding the sad lack of emergency housing, and the need for transitional housing. One person could not sign it quickly enough, saying to me: ‘Mate, I have to share a house. I am a refrigeration mechanic, so I earn a reasonable salary, but I cannot afford to rent, I cannot afford to buy. I am sharing with a whole bunch of my mates. In fact there are five of my mates. We are all refrigeration mechanics and we are all leaving’.
It is with great interest I hear the government say: ‘Come to the Territory, great lifestyle, jobs, everything’. That may be so in some areas, but the problem is people cannot afford to buy a house and they cannot afford to live here. They then start to look at all the other reasons to shift back south; and I will come to some of those reasons.
On page three it says, and I quote:
- There is a strong trend of population gain from interstate migration.
Fantastic, the trouble is when they get here they cannot afford to live here. This is not people with low incomes. This is people with middle incomes in our community, middle Australia, middle class working people, taxpayers, who cannot afford to buy a house, cannot find anywhere to rent a house, and cannot afford to live here, period. The extra wages they make here are consumed in extra costs, if you can afford to buy a house.
People are coming into my office with complaints saying: ‘I am living in a car at the moment, and I have two kids’. I had a lady in my office last week; she has been living in a tent with her child. She cannot even find a granny flat or a room in a house. Up until several years ago you could always find a room underneath an elevated home in Darwin. Well, I have to say you cannot even get one of those. This woman was forced to look at a camper van which normally goes in the back of a utility, sitting on stilts, behind an industrial premises. That was going to be better for her and her five-year-old daughter than living in a tent.
Fortunately, some kind person has given her a room until she can find somewhere. When she goes to the Housing Commission to talk about emergency accommodation, she is told it will be nine months. That is emergency accommodation!
It is similar to emergency housing for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory; it takes a minimum two years, and we still have no design. We are still discussing a design two years after we received $672m and not a house. I find that quite disgraceful. What do I tell people who come into my office when they are absolutely desperate? You have to tell them these problems exist because there has not been enough land released.
Madam Deputy Speaker, we have people in cars, in tents, in camper vans.
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STYLES: So it is just a disgrace, an absolute disgrace.
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, you are on a warning!
Ms Scrymgour: I do not think so. You should read your facts and read history.
Mr Conlan: You need to do exactly the same thing.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Arafura! Member for Greatorex! Member for Sanderson, you have the call, assuming your members cease to interrupt you.
Mr STYLES: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The following week, at Northlakes, I had a social worker visit me in a rather depressed state. She said her sister was moving south because she could find affordable housing. This social worker is a married woman with a reasonably good combined income. However, her sister, a midwife, and her husband, a doctor, are just starting out in life and cannot afford to buy a house. This is another example of people leaving the Territory because they cannot afford housing, and there is a huge land shortage which is not going to be fixed in the immediate future. We are losing midwives and doctors.
I hear the Minister for Health say: ‘We have all these doctors coming, and all these extra nurses’. That is great, but we have to be able to house them. I will get to one of the fundamental problems of that shortly.
The same social worker, her dearest and best friend is a nurse and her husband an engineer. Guess what? They are moving south as well. Over the last six months in this House I have related horrific stories about people having their families ripped apart because their children cannot afford to live in the Northern Territory. This is the very fabric which makes up our vibrant community in the Northern Territory. You start pulling families apart because the government will not release sufficient land, or whatever the problem is. You cannot find out the problem because every time you ask they give you some spin about their intentions. The government is very good on plans, but we are not seeing it translate to blocks of land available at a reasonable price.
I have heard it said the government does not want to release too much land because they do not want to deflate the price of houses. Hundreds of people turned up at a ballot recently where 40 blocks were released! There are people out there screaming for blocks of land.
I went to the netball championships on Friday night, and spoke to many people I know. One family, members of which were born and bred in Darwin, have a son who is a project manager. He told me in several weeks he will finish on the project he is working on, which means he is out of a job because he cannot get any land. He explained he cannot buy land to put houses on. There are no blocks available for purchase to put a land and house package together, especially for first homeowners and young people trying to get into the marketplace. It is a disgrace.
The son of a good friend of mine is a chef, and his daughter-in-law a teacher. There is another son whose wife is a psychologist. They have gone to Adelaide already.
I went to the caravan park in my electorate to do some doorknocking and ran into a specialised pipe fitter. We need these highly skilled people here, who can work anywhere in Australia. He told me he moved from Melbourne two years ago to start a new life and purchase a house. At 47 years, he finds he cannot afford to buy here and will have to move elsewhere. His family love the Darwin lifestyle, but he cannot find a house at a reasonable price.
There are refrigeration mechanic, midwives, doctors, nurses, engineers, specialised pipe fitters, chefs, psychologists - these are the very people the government is trying to attract to the Northern Territory. They are the very people we need in the Territory to develop it and keep it moving forward; to ensure we have good health systems, good education systems, and good services to provide for people. These are the things we need to attract top quality people. Multinational companies which want to start industry and business here will not send their CEOs, or top people, if we cannot provide world-class, ongoing health services.
I am not saying the people working here at the moment cannot do that. We have fine people working in education, health, policing, and all sorts of services. You need to have sufficient people here to make the system work as efficiently and effectively as possible.
The cost of replacing and retaining people, and getting them familiar with the Territory and some of the different things which occur here - we just lose money hand over fist, and we wonder why the health budget is getting chewed up with recruitment. Every time you start recruiting midwives and doctors it is at an enormous cost to taxpayers. These people come, they do not like it, they go, and then we have to pay out more money for recruitment.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I draw your attention to the state of the House. This is the government’s statement; I would think the government would be interested in being here.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ring the bells. A quorum is present. You have the call, member for Sanderson.
Mr STYLES: Madam Deputy Speaker, I quote from page 4, third paragraph:
- The Territory economy went into decline and then recession from around about December 1997 to 1998, recording a nett loss of 688 people interstate …
and it goes on to quote some other figures. Fascinating, when you look at why the Territory economy may have gone into decline at that particular time.
You may recall until 1996, the Australian Labor Party were in government. They brought on the recession we had to have and, of course, ran the Australian economy into debt to some $96bn. The Coalition took over with a debt of $96bn which, of course, they had to pay off. There was, unfortunately, some belt-tightening required because of the largesse of the prior government. Australians had to pay for the wild spending of the Labor government in Canberra.
The Chief Minister says: ‘I am pleased to report that, in 2008, nett population gain from interstate was 691’. I wonder where they are living given they have sold off 2000 homes. I notice the Minister for Housing is quite happy to throw at us the fact the CLP sold 1300 homes, and how terrible it is, how disastrous it is for the Northern Territory. Well, how is 2000 looking? If he thinks that is bad, how is 2000 looking?
In 2008, after this government received the rivers of gold which flowed from the GST, they were able to spend about $1.3bn over and above what they thought they were going to get. I think anyone could spend more if you have an extra $1.3bn. You can say: ‘We have spent more than the CLP ever did’. Of course, because you have had all this extra money to do whatever it was you wished.
When all these people come from interstate, and the government says that is fantastic, what do I say to the people who come into my office? In the last three weeks, 70% of people coming into my office are in crisis regarding housing. There are some really sad cases. I have a single father with three little boys living in a home. He put his name down with the Housing Commission in 2005 and was advised he would have to wait until November 2008. He goes into private rental. He has a job, he does not earn a large salary, but he is out there trying to raise these three boys. He goes back to the Housing Commission in November 2008 and is advised he cannot get a house until June 2009. In June he is advised it will be another nine to 12 months. The person who owns the house he is renting unfortunately has contracted cancer and has sold the house. He has requested emergency accommodation. His advice was if he became unemployed he could get emergency housing within four or five months. He was stunned to receive that advice.
A young lady with one small child, pregnant again, came to my office. She is living with her mother and has been on the list for some years. Things are deteriorating at home, it is crowded, and she is trying to get a house. The Housing Commission advised her to get her mother to throw her out, and stay at the Salvation Army, and then she will get into emergency accommodation much faster. This young lady was stunned.
Here are two people amazed at the advice they were getting from government employees regarding the emergency housing list. The emergency housing list is anything from six to nine months long. So people are expected to live in the YMCA or the Salvation Army for six months to get emergency housing. The young lady walked out in disgust.
We go back to the man with three young children. I am a fair judge of character and I have found him to be a really nice person. He is sitting in my office crying. He is so embarrassed he is at the stage where he has done all the right things, he has been on the housing list for over four years with three little children, and he still cannot get a hand up. And I wonder why? Is it because this government has sold off a further 2000 homes? They accused us of selling off 1300, how disastrous! The 2000 homes they have sold off has put us into a situation where we find it extremely difficult to provide emergency accommodation.
What happens in the domestic violence situations? In the 2007-08 financial year, at the Dawn House AGM, they stated they turned away 352 families, which encompass about 608 people. There are women and children turned away on a daily basis from places like Dawn House because we do not have sufficient emergency accommodation for people who work up enough gumption and get enough intestinal fortitude to leave a violent situation. They take the children, walk out and say: ‘I have finally made the decision to go and get some help, get away, get out of that domestic violence situation, and here I am with my kids and my bag, I have given everything away, can you give us somewhere and put us up?’ They have to turn them away. I find that appalling, and I certainly hope …
Mr CHANDLER: Madam Deputy Speaker, I move that the member be granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr STYLES: Thank you, member for Brennan.
Here we have a situation where people turn up to these establishments and we do not have enough options to give them some form of emergency accommodation. That does not surprise me. Look at SIHIP - that was brought in for emergency accommodation and in two years we still do not have houses being built; we do not even have a design approved. We are still looking at things. I will tell the other side of the House again: if they want to look at how to build houses which might be suitable for SIHIP, they only have to go to Marrara Christian College and see what they are doing out there.
They run young people through school, and side by side they are teaching them how to be plumbers, electricians, welders, carpenters, all the things the other side of this House says we need training for. That is happening out there. They go into the classroom for half the day then they are building transportable homes designed for their communities. Several of them have gone to Elcho Island, a little island off the coast, if you want to know where it is. Marrara Christian College is on the corner of McMillans Road and Amy Johnston Drive.
Ms Scrymgour: Have you been there?
Mr STYLES: Have I been there? I certainly have. I worked there, and I have seen it, I have seen it work. It might do some people on the other side of the House good to see what these young Aboriginal people are achieving. They are achieving great results. We have quality buildings erected, put on the back of a truck, put on a barge and taken to the communities from where these young people come. When they graduate from school and go back to their communities, they take with them skills as qualified electricians, plumbers, builders, and carpenters. They go back to their communities to build. This is actually happening.
I am surprised the Minister for Housing is not aware of this, and has not been there and embraced what it going on there, for the good of all Aboriginal people on these communities who are suffering from overcrowding and everything which comes from that: the sexual abuse, the drug abuse, the physical violence, the domestic violence, a whole raft of things which caused the Little Children Are Sacred report to be written. The money which came to SIHIP came as a result of that, for emergency accommodation.
I am disgusted with the other side of the House. They still are not getting the message. I heard the Minister for Housing today say there is a social aspect to this, and a work aspect. He suggested it was not only emergency housing; that it is a social thing, it is about training people. It is about all sorts of things.
There are children who are still at risk and exposed. I cannot say, because I have not seen any of the police reports in the last 12 months, it is still going on, but I suspect if the same conditions exist, the same things are occurring. We have young people, one of the most vulnerable groups in our community on Aboriginal communities, who are being abused, or still being abused, or about to be. I do not know whether the government is prepared to take that risk any longer, but they certainly do not appear to be doing very much about getting emergency housing and reducing the overcrowding that is occurring in those communities.
The Chief Minister says more money is going into housing. The Treasurer continually says the government has spent more than the CLP and quotes figures from 2001. The government has the extra $1.3bn coming from the GST. Let us take that away and see what they have spent. Let us look at houses built when we were in government and compare it to this emergency. We are not just talking about a housing program; we are talking about an emergency.
Later tonight we will talk about the general situation, the lack of the accommodation for people, and why people will leave in droves. If you do not have a good job, there are not two people working - we are going to lose the service people, the basics, the pillars of our community, health, education, and law and order. We are losing people. Two weeks ago a lady came into my office; she worked, her husband was a police officer, and they had two children. They had lived in Darwin for several years but were considering leaving because they could not get into the property market. How much does it cost to train a police officer? The last time I got a figure it was about $130 000. However we cannot keep people here. The global financial crisis has meant there are fewer jobs interstate, and the attrition rate of the Northern Territory Police Force has slowed down because there are not alternative jobs. However, as an ex-police officer who talks to these people, one finds out they are a little tired of a whole raft of things. I have only got to page 5; if I had three or four hours more I suppose we would get through the rest of it.
There is a whole range of problems caused because the government will not release the land we need to give reasonable cost of housing to a wide range of people – not just low-income people, but middle class people. It is the middle class people who will keep the Territory going. They are the ones with the trade skills and the small business expertise. They are the engine room of our economy and, if we do not look after them, then I do not know what we are going to do in the future.
I have three children who live in this town. I hope they have a future here. If the government does not start releasing land and fixing some of the associated problems, then I fear my children will leave. We have made Darwin our home; I do not want to leave. I do not want my friends’ children to leave because that means my children are losing their friends. Their friends are moving south, or overseas, because there are far better opportunities elsewhere. What will happen when INPEX arrives, or any other industry wants to come to the Territory? We will not have the bases here. Where do we get the service people from? Will they have to fly in and fly out? What health services exist; how good is the education system, what about law and order? People will want to know
There was a situation recently near my office. A young man went to the ATM at 7 pm Friday evening, took out rent money, and was jumped by eight people. He was beaten and had his money stolen. On Monday, his father asked me what he could do. He had not reported the matter to the police because he had no faith in the judicial system. This is the perception we have in our community.
If we cannot keep people here, if we cannot keep trained police officers here, or trained people who understand the complexities of the Northern Territory population and its issues, we are in trouble. I suspect we are already in trouble, and there is more to come.
All I hear from the other side of this House in relation to land and housing is: ‘We have these great plans. We are reviewing this. We are going to do this. We are going to do that’. There is a lot of ‘gunna’ over there, but there is not much happening.
A member: Gunna people.
Mr STYLES: No disrespect to the member for Fannie Bay.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to quickly go to page 8. It says, ‘the need to continue to invest heavily in infrastructure’. This suggests $1.4bn of Territory taxpayer’s money is going to be spent this year. I understand not all of that is going to be spent immediately, it is over a long period of time, and a large portion of that is federal money. I do not know the exact figures, but I am very interested to look at them.
I only have time to refer to something briefly from page 10, and it says in bold print, ‘Land to grow and new places to buy’. Well, hallelujah! If that is the great statement they want to make, I am afraid we are all in a little trouble. ‘Land to grow and new places to buy’. That is why we have ballots. We have people walking away because they cannot get a house at the right price. I ask the government to take note of much of what I have said.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arafura): Madam Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to speak in support of the Chief Minister’s statement, Growing the Territory, opportunities and challenges of growth. Certainly, there are plenty of challenges which confront government, and we all know that. Those challenges have not arisen overnight; they have been there for a long time. I know, particularly in my electorate of Arafura, many of those challenges are issues people have been trying to deal with for a long time.
The issue of housing in remote Aboriginal communities has been around for a long time. It was an issue that confronted the Aboriginal and Torres Islander Commission when ATSIC had responsibility for housing. The Commonwealth did put large amounts of money into housing in remote Aboriginal communities, but it is a bit rich for the CLP to pretend they did the same. The majority of houses in remote Aboriginal communities were something ATSIC had pushed for and had made sure was provided. It was not only main communities; it was also homelands. That was something ATSIC did well, and they should be congratulated for it.
As I said yesterday, it is not about individuals. It is imperative on us all to look at those challenges. We all have electorates which we represent. We all carry the voice of our constituents, both in the parliament, and outside. We represent our constituents and take the view of those constituents to government and work in addressing their issues, such as housing and the issues that confront families on a day- to-day level.
Families are doing it tough. We see that, not only in our remote communities, but also in the northern suburbs where families are struggling. We see it on the eastern seaboard. It is everywhere. Australia has been fortunate in the global financial crisis where we have been buffeted by all the big nations of the world. They probably fared worse than what we did, particularly the United States of America. Australia has been fortunate, and the Northern Territory, compared to other states, has certainly fared better. The stimulus package brought forward by the Rudd government has certainly helped buoy state and territory economies to ensure programs and infrastructure can continue so jobs can be saved. Those challenges, particularly in our remote communities with housing, with SIHIP - I think all members, particularly members from bush electorates, know how hard it has been and we need to ensure we do see the results of better houses for our communities.
Various speakers on the other side spoke of problems at Wadeye. There are issues there, but compared to years ago, the community has certainly turned around tenfold. In 1996, petrol sniffing was endemic in the Top End, and the TRG was at Maningrida nearly every second day. It is the second largest Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory, and I can see how the community has gone forward through leadership and government investment. We still have a long way to go. I am not saying what is out there is good enough. We still have to do more and, as the local member, I will be making sure the commitment of 109 new houses promised to that community will be delivered.
The involvement of traditional owners in terms of leasing has been really pleasing. Now that traditional owners have that control, they are looking at working with the land council to develop other industries to come to the community such as a bakery. With the growth of Maningrida, a normalisation process is happening. There are challenges which have to be worked through with the community to ensure there is protection, not just for traditional owners, but other Aboriginal groups who live in Maningrida and call Maningrida their home.
Whilst there are challenges in some of our communities, there are also opportunities and we need to look at those opportunities and take advantage of them. I have been on record constantly regarding leasing on Aboriginal land, and we have seen the strategic block leasing in Maningrida and Gunbalanya come to fruition. This will bring economic opportunities and jobs to the communities.
I agree with the member for Katherine regarding the challenges facing the Northern Territory in relation to alcohol. I, like other members in this parliament, have consistently advocated what he said. In 2001, when I was elected to parliament, I spoke about mandatory treatment. At that time members on both sides found it hard to accept someone advocating mandatory treatment for habitual drunks causing problems. I do not shy away from my views in relation to grog or ganga, and the problems the facing communities. As Aboriginal people, unless we are brave enough, unless we are honest enough to see grog and ganga are probably our biggest challenge, we are never going to forward. Substance abuse impacts on the ability of our children getting an education. It is grog which impacts on the ability of our parents and families to provide a safe haven for our children; it impacts on our children’s ability to get a good education. In my opinion, the greatest challenge is being honest and facing the issues of substance abuse.
I have outlined previously the process we brought in under the Volatile Substance Abuse Act, where we are able to compulsorily require a person to have treatment, where we have authorised people - if you take the mechanism out of the Volatile Substance Abuse Act and make it happen in terms of the alcohol courts, you will get a better process with people going through that system.
For me it is about the challenge of what we need to do with grog, and what we face as a community with drugs, so we can capitalise fully on those opportunities that are there. For anyone to say there are no opportunities, as I said yesterday, if you have both governments committed, the Aboriginal community on side, land councils, everyone working together, we should be able to capitalise on those opportunities. Those opportunities include better education; every single one of our kids should have access to the same level of education. I know this government has invested in transforming Indigenous education, many of the schools have been fixed up and extra classrooms built, which has enabled many of those Aboriginal kids to finally sit in a classroom.
One of the biggest health problems in many of our remote communities is otitis media; many of our kids have hearing problems. We are now seeing classrooms, for the first time, rolling out in our communities where the acoustics is one where kids can finally hear and understand. That has come about by a Labor government committed to transforming Indigenous education so kids can actually hear what they are learning.
One thing I want to clear up quickly relates to SIHIP emergency housing. I remember with the intervention, the Little Children Are Sacred report, the one biggest issue we said needed to be fixed was housing. I applauded Mal Brough, who was the minister for Indigenous Affairs at the time, on his stance with alcohol. He, with the Prime Minister said: ‘We are going to do a ban of grog’. However, housing was left wanting. That came after. It was not called emergency housing, but it was a program, negotiated with the Chief Minister post-intervention after much pressure was exerted because, when you talk about protection of children, if you do not have the houses or the police on the ground, children are not going to be protected.
Policing was a major issue. It is great to go around my electorate and see how many police there are. For the first time, Maningrida, a community of nearly 3000 people, has nearly 10 police on the ground. Previously, that community only had two police. They have substantial resources now in policing. Much of the drug activity in that community is starting to decrease. The police are grabbing one person too many relating to both grog and drugs going into that community, and it is decreasing. Hopefully, with more police on the ground, that will become a thing of the past rather than a normal part of the activity happening around that community.
Gunbalanya, and other communities, have faced housing challenges. I recently spent about three days at Gunbalanya. There was excitement and activity happening in that community; with the talk amongst the 26 young men who are going to go into the training program so they can be employed full-time in the housing program. Knowing they are going to go from CDEP with 50% of their salary being quarantined, to a full-time job, was giving some pride to some of these young men. Whilst many of the communities are not perfect, there are a number of things happening.
It is imperative all of us, as local members, remain vigilant and ensure the systems that are there, the programs that are happening on the ground in the communities are working; they are going to get the outcomes we all want and which community people themselves want.
I fully support the statement. As the Chief Minister said, growing this Territory has many challenges but there are also many opportunities. Our population, whether it is in our urban, regional or remote centres, will always provide a challenge. I have certainly seen the many opportunities that can happen in places like Katherine.
Member for Katherine, in all the years I have worked in Katherine, and with the networks I have there, people talk about you with much respect, and that is fantastic. That is the measure of someone who does his work well. Having worked in Katherine for about eight years, where I was constantly threatened by the former member for Katherine for opening my mouth or doing my job, to hear many of my former colleagues speak so highly of you and with respect, is fantastic. That community, and the Aboriginal people in that town, deserve people who rise above politics and represent them without fear or favour. During the years I worked in Katherine there were suspicions about CLP members. When I talk to my colleagues, they do not have that suspicion any more, member for Katherine. You should feel proud of your work, and the relationship you have with those people.
We would march down the streets of Katherine with placards and I would be at the front of the protest at Mike Reed’s office, who was the former member for Katherine. You have done a lot in turning race relations around. That needs to be recorded, because Katherine has been volatile in the past. It had a reputation for being a racist town, and to hear my former colleagues talk about you highly is to be commended.
It is imperative …
Mr GUNNER: Madam Speaker, I move an extension of time for the member for Arafura, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I will not praise the member for Katherine too long, Madam Speaker. He might think something is happening here. I was going to send you an e-mail and let you know, because it is refreshing.
When we stand in parliament we often forget we all have different ideologies, and where we come from, and what we represent. Some time ago the member for Arnhem said we have to, as individuals, and as members, unite this Territory. That is the greatest challenge of this parliament. Each one of us as members, attempting to get the Territory united so those challenges out there, the affordable housing, the housing in remote communities, the issues we see with infrastructure, the delivery of that, are all addressed. We are all committed to this great place we call the Territory. I do not think I, nor anyone else, has the high moral ground on this. We all have to work together to get those outcomes, to meet the challenges, to take advantage of the many opportunities which are there, not just for our kids, but for every kid in the Northern Territory who wants to stay here, and live and work and raise a family, because it is a great place to be. I would not want to go to any other place.
I probably embarrassed the member for Katherine, but I believe one member can make a difference in a town, in a community, and I believe all of us can do that. It shows, whilst the challenges are there, the opportunities are too.
Madam Speaker, I fully support the Chief Minister’s statement. There is much work and there has certainly been a lot of investment by our government across health, education, housing and land. I commend the statement.
Mr CONLAN (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I know the member for Arafura is a dyed in the wool Labor supporter and it probably pained her to be so complimentary to someone on the opposite side of the Chamber. I have to say to her, it is terrific to see. It is a shame your federal colleague, the member for Lingiari, cannot bring himself to do the same thing after his appalling outburst the other day, which the member for Katherine is well aware of. In fact, he probably contributed to race relations rather than trying to break down those barriers. So hats off to the member for Arafura, and shame on the member for Lingiari.
In the first couple of paragraphs, the Chief Minister says: ‘I see opportunities, and the government is grasping those opportunities to make our Territory a dynamic place for our children and our future’. That is an extraordinary statement considering you cannot buy a house in the Northern Territory if you are on a low to middle income. It is impossible to rent a house or a unit in the Northern Territory if you are on a low to middle income. It is $350 a week to rent a two bedroom unit in Alice Springs; a house is somewhere in the vicinity of $450-plus a week. In fact it is quite a bit higher - I think it is about $480 for a bare bones home to rent per week in Alice Springs.
Mr Chandler: Does it have a roof?
Mr CONLAN: Does it have a roof? That is a very good question. I am sure it probably does, member for Brennan. I see the point. It does not auger well, and it certainly does not play into this line in the Chief Minister’s statement: ‘I see opportunities and the government is grasping those opportunities to make our Territory a dynamic place for our children and future generations’. We have assaults at record highs across the Northern Territory; law and order is out of control and it has been for a long time. Eight long years under Labor and assaults are at records highs. Crime against the person is at record highs; break-ins are at record highs; hospital waiting lists are the worst in the country.
This is not a really a government that is grasping the opportunities to make our Territory a dynamic place for our children and future generations. Literacy and numeracy numbers are also the worst in the country. It is hardly encouraging stuff to bring people to the Northern Territory so we can grow the Northern Territory into the future, particularly if you cannot buy a house, or rent a house if you are someone on a low to middle income. It is extraordinarily hard, and I have many examples of people in my constituency of Greatorex, and in fact right across Alice Springs, and right across other parts of the Northern Territory. Young professional people coming here to get a start - that is the one thing about the Territory you can say, it is easy to get a start here. There are plenty of opportunities here. There are not many people competing for jobs so it is easier to get into positions you might not find yourself getting into in other parts of the country. The problem is it is very hard to find a house, or rent a house, or buy a house when you actually get here.
Of course, those people trying to make a start in life are usually on those low to middle incomes. It is very rare they come into a high paying job, so if you are looking for a property, a house, or a unit to rent or even buy, it is almost impossible to do so. It is hardly encouraging people to move to the Territory, indeed grow the Territory, and grasp the opportunities to make the Territory a dynamic place for our children and future generations.
I believe it is worth pointing out, in 1978 when the Territory achieved self-government, the Territory’s budget was $50m - $50m in 1978. The CLP has done more with $50m than you have done with the billions of dollars you received in eight years of government. I believe it is worth highlighting some of the achievements of the CLP government and, in fact, stack it up against where things are with the ALP.
We could start at the establishment of national parks in the Northern Territory. The CLP established national parks - Litchfield, Keep River, Charles Darwin and Gregory National Parks. And what has the ALP done? Handed back nine national parks to traditional owners in Central Australia without even testing the validity of the land claim - just handed straight back. And now what do we see? As everyone knew, and everyone said back in 2003-04, when Clare Martin had this harebrained scheme, will tourists be able to continue to enjoy a glass of wine; responsible drinking, in these national parks that never had problems before. Will they be able to continue this? ‘Of course they will’, was the answer from the then Chief Minister, ‘Of course nothing will change’. Well, now what do we see? What everyone knew would happen, and feared would happen, has in fact occurred. Nevertheless, the establishment of national parks was an achievement by the Country Liberal Party
Windows on the Wetlands and the creation of Palmerston were others. I say to my Palmerston colleagues, the member for Brennan, and the member for Blain, the creation of Palmerston. I know the member for Blain has been a resident of Palmerston for 20 years, and he has seen it grow over the last 20 years. Of course the former member for Palmerston, the Honourable Barry Coulter, had a lot to do with the growth of Palmerston throughout those years; he was a Country Liberal too, by the way. The creation of Palmerston - which is now vying for second city status in the Northern Territory. As a resident of Alice Springs it pains me to think maybe you are the second city, I am not sure. In terms of population I believe it is very close.
That is another thing, here we have one of the greatest iconic king of the outback towns in all of Australia, in fact it is staggering we have a town at all in the middle of the desert, and yet here we have this magnificent place in Central Australia which I certainly love living in. My son was born there, and I hope he will grow up there and spend his life there making contributions to the town, and the Territory. It gives me great pride to think of someone who was not born in Alice Springs, that I now have a part of me which is actually a ridgy-didge part of Central Australia. I love the place, and I hope the town will continue to grow, but it is not doing a lot of growing, it is not moving forward at any rapid rate. In fact, if anything, it is probably going backwards under this government, certainly in terms of population at last count. When I first came to Central Australia about 30 000 people lived there but, in fact, it is way down now. It is around 25 000 or 26 000 people. That is hardly growth, and hardly grasping the opportunities to make our Territory a dynamic place for our children and future generations.
We can look at land release around Central Australia; that has been talked about ad nauseum in this House tonight, particularly in terms of this statement. We have seen very little land release in Central Australia, almost stagnated. How can we encourage professionals and people who want to move to the Territory to start a life, to enjoy the lifestyle and perhaps contribute to our economy through employment? How can we possibly encourage them and look them in the eye and say: ‘Yes, come here, but it is going to cost you $450 a week to rent a home’? It is not good enough.
The creation of Palmerston was a vision of the Country Liberal Party as was Kings Canyon, Yulara and, of course, the Katherine Gorge Visitors Centre. The Country Liberals built Yulara as a tourist destination. That was part of the grand plan, the vision. It is worth remembering that in 1978 we started with zero. We had to build everything. In 2001 when you took over, you were just left to manage what was built. The whole Territory had to be built, basically. Look around, and anything over eight years old was built by the Country Liberal Party. That is vision; that is what the Country Liberal Party did. I know you like to look back on the past and drag up things which happened prior to 2001 to justify your own failures, but the truth is there.
The Country Liberal Party started at zero in 1978, and built the Territory from there. Our graph starts here and goes right up here. The Gold Battery and Tourist Information Centre in Tennant Creek and Northern Territory museums were also a major part of the Country Liberal Party platform. Channel Island Power Station supplied power to the Northern Territory. The Country Liberals supplied power to the Northern Territory and built Channel Island Power Station.
A member: It used to run on gas.
Mr CONLAN: Well, there is another one, gas. We brought gas to the Northern Territory. Under our watch were the Mereenie gas fields and, of course, the gas fields in the Timor Sea supplying gas and power to the Northern Territory - all under a Country Liberal Party watch.
Like it or lump it member for Stuart, it is the truth and you know it. You grew up under a Country Liberal Party watch. You were given a good education; you had a house under a Country Liberal Party watch. Many young Territorians will not have the same opportunities you did under Labor because they cannot buy a house or rent a house, they are getting assaulted in the streets, and they cannot get hospital treatments due to the biggest waiting lists in the country.
Mr Hampton: How many secondary schools in the bush?
Mr CONLAN: How many secondary schools have you built? How many schools did you build? How many? Come on! How many secondary schools did the Australian Labor Party build? How many hospitals have you built? How many police stations has the Australian Labor Party built? I would like to know how many hospitals have you built? The answer is zero. How many airports? How many airstrips has the Australian Labor Party built in the Northern Territory? The answer is zero after eight long years.
We brought major sporting events to the Northern Territory - the Masters Games and the Arafura Games. The Territory Wildlife Park, and the Alice Springs Desert Park is world renown and one of the jewels in the crown; both were built under the watch of the Country Liberal Party. Pretty clear! State Square, this building we are working in right now, created hundreds and hundreds of jobs when it was built. Not only this building, the Supreme Court and State Square, all under the Country Liberals.
Dr Burns: What was economic growth in 2001? Zero.
Mr CONLAN: What was that?
Dr Burns: Economic growth in 2001 was zero - all under the watch of the CLP.
Mr CONLAN: Is that right? Is that right?
Dr Burns: That is exactly right.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr CONLAN: So what has happened, if that is the case, with the GST coming in? With all the GST money you have been given, what have you done with it? Nothing! Nothing! This is the point. What have you done with it? You have not built a hospital, you have not built a school, you have not built an airstrip; you have done nothing. You are sitting on $772m, and you cannot even build a house. You cannot put a roof on some of those houses out in the communities.
Economic growth might be one thing, member for Johnston, but you are a completely unmitigated disaster in providing visionary opportunities for the Northern Territory. It is a pretty appalling situation when you say: ‘I see opportunities and the government is grasping those opportunities to make our Territory a dynamic place for our children and future generations’. You have done absolutely jack when it comes to providing a dynamic place for our children and future opportunities. It is a point which cannot be too finely made for the member for Johnston, who lives in denial. We have record assaults in the Northern Territory, crime is out of control, the longest hospital waiting list across the whole country, and literacy and numeracy rates are the worst in Australia.
That is hardly providing opportunities to make the Territory a dynamic place for our children and future generations.
Members interjecting.
Mr CONLAN: Again, the member for Stuart is happy to sit there and mouth off, while he enjoyed the prosperity given to him under a Country Liberal government as someone who grew up in the Northern Territory. I would just be careful how smart you try to get, member for Stuart. You are not known as a great contributor.
Stokes Hill Wharf was also another great vision delivered by the Country Liberal Party. The Alice Springs Convention Centre, where we will all be in a couple of months, as parliament again travels down to Central Australia. We will all be there in that wonderful, beautiful building overlooking the MacDonnell Ranges …
A member interjecting.
Mr CONLAN: What?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr CONLAN: I am not talking about taking the parliament to Alice Springs. I am talking about building the Alice Springs Convention Centre.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Mr CONLAN: Sorry, Madam Speaker, I did not see you.
Madam SPEAKER: You need to resume your seat, member for Greatorex. Thank you. Honourable members, it pains me to once again have to remind you of Standing Order 51:
- No Member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance, which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
Honourable members, it is very difficult to follow this debate. Member for Greatorex, you have the call but if you could direct your comments through the Chair rather than across the Chamber please, and if interjections from the government side could be kept to a minimum.
Mr CONLAN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. For the member for Johnston’s benefit, we did need a convention centre before we could actually bring parliament to Central Australia. We were not necessarily going to have parliament at ANZAC Hill High School, or ASHS were we, Madam Speaker? So we had to build that in the first place. He knows it, he does not like it. It is okay, we know he does not particularly like it; that is fair enough.
There is a very long list of achievements by the Country Liberals, Madam Speaker. The list by the Australian Labor Party in the Northern Territory is very small.
The Alice Springs Convention Centre is a marvellous facility and I am looking forward to being down there in a couple of months for the final sittings of the year.
The Marrara Sporting Complex, another magnificent achievement by the Country Liberals while in government. We built Charles Darwin University. We brought V8 Supercars to the NT. We developed East Arm Port. Now, where would we be? Where would the future of the Northern Territory be without such a magnificent port? Of course, we are really the hub of Asia, whether or not the eastern states like to acknowledge that. Darwin is, indeed, the shipping hub for Asia, and that is no small thanks to the Country Liberals for overseeing the development of East Arm Port.
Gas development: the County Liberals brought gas to the NT. The change of government happened just as the railway was handed over. It was not even 12 months from the changeover of government to when they cut the red tape. They did not even have the decency to invite the man who drove the railway, and that was the former member for Palmerston, the Honourable Barry Coulter. That is the type of people they are. Nevertheless, everyone knows it was the result of the Country Liberals.
Madam Speaker, the Country Liberals have delivered. We started with $50m in 1978. We have delivered - I was going to say suite or a plethora – I am trying to find another word, but something to indicate …
A member: An abundance.
Mr CONLAN: An abundance, that is it. We have abundance of infrastructure projects across the Northern Territory, starting from 1978 through to 2001. As I say, we started with a budget of $50m. Now you have billions …
Mr BOHLIN: A point of order, Madam Speaker. I move an extension of time for my colleague, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr CONLAN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thanks to the member for Drysdale. So you have had billions and billions of dollars to deliver infrastructure across the Northern Territory in eight years and you have done very little, if anything. How many hospitals have been built under the ALP? None. How many schools have been built under the ALP of the Northern Territory? How many police stations have been built under the Australian Labor Party? Is it one? In eight years.
Mr Bohlin: But who planned it? Who planned it?
Mr CONLAN: And who planned that? That is a very good point.
Mr Bohlin: The original idea started when I was working there.
Mr CONLAN: That is right. How many airports? How many tourist attractions? The Yulara development! The Beaufort Hotel! The Northern Territory did not have a five star hotel until the Country Liberals said: ‘We really need to have a five star hotel here. If we are going to tap into the Top End tourist market, we need to have a five star hotel’. So, lo and behold! The Beaufort became …
Members interjecting.
Mr CONLAN: The defence relocation of the north - all part of the Country Liberal legacy which stands up pretty well. I would say very well, but nevertheless, a great legacy, something I am very proud out, very proud to be part of the Country Liberals.
I do not buy into this argument that the Country Liberals contributed nothing to the Northern Territory. I know the Labor Party like to reel out that line all the time. It is because they have delivered very little. They have presided under a watch which has some of the highest housing prices in the Northern Territory, the highest rents in the Northern Territory, in the nation. It costs $350 to rent a two-bedroom home; $480-plus to rent a two-bedroom house as opposed to a unit. That is the bottom end of it. It is hardly attractive to those wanting to come to the Northern Territory, particularly in my constituency of Alice Springs.
It is hardly conducive to growth and certainly flies in the face of the Chief Minister’s line today which says: ‘I see opportunities and the government is grasping those opportunities to make our Territory a dynamic place for our children and future generations’. Assaults are at records highs, hospital waiting lists are the longest in the country and, of course, literacy and numeracy numbers are also the worst in the country.
The Country Liberals built the Northern Territory. You people were handed it to manage it. Okay? You have not managed it very well indeed. In fact, you have been a completely unmitigated disaster for the Northern Territory, certainly when it comes to growth. The name of this statement is Growing the Territory: Opportunities and Challenges of Growth. Well, as I say, an unmitigated disaster when it comes to this statement. You are a half-baked government. You mentioned something about half glass empty, but a half-baked government, not only an embarrassment to the federal Labor executive. Kevin Rudd is trying to distance himself from you as much as possible because he knows you are a complete disaster. You are an embarrassment to the heartland of the Australian Labor Party. He knows it. Everyone knows it. Not only that, you are also an embarrassment to the Territory, and indeed the rest of the nation.
Building the Territory indeed! What a load of rubbish.
Debate adjourned.
MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
Lack of Housing Infrastructure and
Residential Land
Lack of Housing Infrastructure and
Residential Land
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have received the following letter from the member for Goyder:
- Madam Speaker,
I propose for discussion this day the following definite matter of public importance:
The failure of the Northern Territory government to provide sufficient housing infrastructure and residential land to meet forecasted population growth.
It is signed by the member for Goyder.
Is the proposed discussion supported; it is supported.
Ms PURICK (Goyder): Madam Speaker, this government has failed to plan or develop a public infrastructure investment program for the continued growth of the Territory. This failure has resulted in pain and suffering for many Territorians and made us an unfavourable place to stay, invest and bring up a family. This government has failed to provide a secure and confident environment for home builders and purchasers through their complete lack of application of the building registration, investigation and lack of home warranty insurance despite the government saying it would introduce such an insurance scheme years ago.
The lack of planning in future infrastructure, and implementing proper and quality repair and maintenance programs, has seen a deterioration of our valuable assets - roads, bridges, power stations, water supply and public housing stocks. There has been an undermining of our Territory economy and social wellbeing, and under this Labor government, we have experienced poor sustainable growth rather than solid economic and social development.
Under this Labor government we now have the lowest level of home ownership; people cannot afford to buy a home of any shape or size. Recently we saw figures released from the Australian Bureau of Statistics which had the Territory experiencing a dramatic drop in the take up of home finance to buy or build. People cannot afford to obtain finance given the high level of finance they will need to buy a house; the repayments would cripple them, if they can get finance in the first place.
Under this Labor government we have the highest rental levels in the country, with an average price of renting a three-bedroom house at around $540 per week, when in 2004 it was $260 per week, and that is at the cheaper end of the market. People are desperate, and when they cannot afford to rent, they shack up with family or friends, live in their car, live in a tent, or leave the Territory. Usually renting a property is a stepping stone to buying your first home. However, here in the Territory when you rent a home that is where you will stay, as buying a home has become just a pipe dream.
Let me give some real examples of the frustration, if not anger, people are feeling. I will read a letter which was sent to you, Madam Speaker, as the member for Nightcliff; it was also sent to the Chief Minister and to the Opposition Leader, and I quote:
- Just a quick message to let you know that at the next election, for the first time ever, I am going to put Labor last.
With the property prices now as they are, it is absolutely obvious to everyone that nowhere near enough land has been released. The fact that the least populated state/territory in Australia, and one of the least populated parts of the world, is unable to release suburban blocks at less than $250 000 each, is pathetic.
At work we have just lost a team leader – a young, qualified, good worker - just cannot afford to continue paying $500 plus a week to rent, to continue living in Darwin. He works in a skills shortage trade. A second colleague will almost certainly be gone with his family at the end of this year, once again due to rent prices. He also works in a skills shortage trade.
- The retired lady next door was expected to pay $460 per fortnight for a one-bedroom apartment built in the 1960s. Her pension was around $650 per fortnight. Prior to moving next door she had been sleeping in her car, a sedan.
- The young couple downstairs are desperately trying to save money to buy a house, but their rent is $240 per week. Their one-bedroom apartment, built in the 1960s, is certainly not flash. He is a tertiary qualified person in IT. Will they be in Darwin still in 12 months time? Personally, I doubt it.
The letter goes on:
- The list goes on and on. As Labor is unable to release land at an affordable price in one of the least populated parts of the world, both you and Paul Henderson deserve to lose at the next election.
In last Saturday’s paper another very unhappy rental person stated his position:
- I have been here in Darwin 18 years, and in the past three years my rent has risen 55% from $180 to $300. Now my rent is rising to $360, another rise of 20%. I know demand and supply can cause the rent to rise, or the landlord can raise the rent when our lease expires. Is this greed on the landlord’s behalf? I live in a two-bedroom, post-Housing Commission unit which the owner calls an air-conditioned apartment (ha ha). I would like to know why rent can be raised so much. I believe rent rises should be equal with the interest rise or similar. I am now looking at leaving and moving south. There is nowhere affordable here.
- On living costs. On high rents Saturday’s paper, I agree with the mob looking at moving down south. Too bloody expensive here. Going back to Queensland, cheaper. I could live on the coast for under $500 a week. Rent here is bulls***, and where is here to justify it?
Ben O at Howard Springs.
From another person:
- I love Darwin but, sadly, I cannot afford to live here anymore. I work hard but when you are single, how the hell can you get ahead in this town?
Sally at Parap
A third one:
- Bye, Darwin. You are a beautiful place but too expensive to live unless you want to work two jobs just to pay rent and put food on table. Going to where you get paid properly and not so expensive to live and be able to take family to places.
That was from a Bakewell family.
Madam Speaker, it is not just this side of the House that is critical of government’s housing and land release policies; it is ordinary hard-working people who have been pushed to the limit and, subsequently, leaving the Territory. When they leave, they will take with them their skills, experience, and ability to contribute to the Territory’s development, prosperity and wellbeing. The government’s failure to plan has become a plan to fail. Part of the reason for the exorbitant rise in house prices is directly a result of the difficulty experienced by homebuyers attempting to compete with each other in an under-supplied marketplace.
Poor planning has led to poor releases, to poor outcomes. The government is now desperately announcing all manner of new housing releases, but none have a time line attached. The most advanced subdivision is Bellamack. Although first announced in September 2007, construction on blocks will not start until next Dry Season, given that the titles have not been issued at this point in time. We have seen the backflip on the micro-dot shoe boxes called Bellamack Gardens. It is good the blocks are a little bigger. However, given this government’s track record, titles and construction most likely will not happen until two years down the track.
Land release - or should I say poor, if not, no land release, in the government’s own Budget 2009-10 Northern Territory Economy Overview it states:
- Treasury forecasts that a 1700 additional dwellings are required each year to meet forecast population growth in the Darwin region compared to an average completion rate of about 990 a year currently.
We know this figure of required dwellings is probably closer to 2000 needed each year. We are falling well short of that as land is not being released in an orderly and systematic manner. Each time the matter of lack of land is raised; someone in the Labor government wakes up and says: ‘I wonder what piece of land we can claim to be released today?’ No plans, just knee-jerk reaction such as the proposal to develop Berrimah Farm land. Interestingly, that development proposal has dropped off the government’s propaganda - not surprising, given the inappropriateness of the land for residential development. Or will they release a weeny parcel of land on Boulter Road – again, I believe, an inappropriate site for residential dwellings.
The planned suburbs in Palmerston are way behind schedule, which is not surprising given Bellamack is over two years behind schedule, and there are approximately eight to 10 media releases by the minister for Planning in regard to Bellamack. This poor land release process is contributing to the escalating house prices, to people leaving the Territory, and people suffering across the board as they are desperately trying to find accommodation of any kind they can afford.
If all that is not bad enough, we have the lowest take-up of the federal government’s First Home Owners Boost. Out of the 153 449 recipients of the First Home Owners Boost since October 2008, just 1147 were in the Northern Territory. To put that figure into perspective, the Australian Capital Territory had 2400 first homeowners accessing the federal grant in the same period. Despite the ACT having a population just 50% higher than the NT, it had 100% more homeowners taking up the grant. With 1% of the national population, the Territory should be receiving 1% of the grants, which would have seen around 1530 successful applicants.
There is so much more that could be added to the private market discussion; however, I turn my comments now to public housing. I believe this is one of the most important areas where government has failed. We have the highest rate of public housing and, yet, we have an ever-decreasing public housing stock due to sales by the Department of Housing, without making provision for replacement. Public housing has been sold at unprecedented rates nationally to make up for profits lost through renting to the socially disadvantaged. Only recently, we have seen the destruction of the Wirrina block of flats in Parap, which were 100% public housing. They are to be replaced with only 30% public housing, with 70% going to the private market. Where are those 70% going to live in the future? The government stated all the tenants were housed in the northern suburbs. I ask you, if those people were housed in the northern suburbs, was it at the expense of pre-existing people on the housing waiting list who were priority one? What about the Emery Avenue units taken out of the public housing stock and sold for higher prices than the minister tried to tell us they would sell for? Still not all of them have been sold.
A four year waiting list for public housing is appalling and just outrageous. We are almost at the bottom of the country when it comes to population adjusted waiting lists. Let me provide some details to highlight this problem.
A member: Where is the ABS report?
Mr Knight: On the website, go and have a look at it.
Ms PURICK: I will get to that, minister. Current waiting times in Palmerston are: one-bed pensioner unit – 47 months; a one-bed for other people – 46 months; a two-bedroom unit – 38 months; a three-bedroom – 46 months. In Darwin and Casuarina: a one-bed pensioner – 45 months; a one-bed for other – 45 months; two-bedroom unit – 40 months; a three-bedroom place in Darwin and Casuarina for public housing has a 55 month waiting list.
Priority housing in the public housing system is said to take six to 12 months to obtain. However, I know from my experience trying to relocate elderly people from the rural area, they have been told 12 months minimum, and they are a priority one.
This morning, I asked the minister why he had given incorrect information about waiting lists. He claimed we have the shortest list in the country. However, we have almost the worst time for people getting into public housing. The figures I tabled came specifically from the minister’s office in response to a Question on Notice from the member for Nelson in late 2008. The figures were then extrapolated into the graphs, and supported by housing indicators from Australian Bureau of Statistics, and if your research people cannot find them, then you had better go back to school.
There is a complete lack of supported social housing for residents who suffer from a range of physical or mental disabilities. There is no increase, from my research, in trying to place people into industry housing. Industry housing is for people with disabilities, including the need for wheelchair access. There are people in the community in respite housing because they cannot get into industry housing. As they are in respite housing, the people who need respite housing cannot have respite, placing more pressure on families and the community.
Public housing tenants are generally good tenants who are grateful for the assistance they are offered. Sadly, a minority treat their dwellings and their neighbours with contempt. These dwellings are often so badly damaged it takes weeks to repair the mess they leave behind, and the distress they cause their neighbours is unacceptable. The only public housing opening up in the new Darwin suburbs is reserved for seniors, as they are, and I quote, ‘nicer public housing tenants and more acceptable to the community that they will be living in’.
We have even seen the member for Fannie Bay saying in his local newsletter that he wants a better social mix in Fannie Bay. That is code for ‘let us get rid of public housing, as low income people and socially disadvantaged people are not welcome in Fannie Bay’.
Ms Lawrie: Not true.
Ms PURICK: It was in his newsletter.
Ms Lawrie: No, no, the bit you said ….
Ms PURICK: Better check with the member for Fannie Bay. That is a shameful situation, and a position which tells me government is not serious about helping people get a start in life, or the people who need the start and help most.
And why are houses and flats left vacant for long periods of time? Why has a four-bedroom house in Nightcliff been vacant for over two years? I have written to the minister about this house, and I trust I will get a prompt and good explanation as to why. Why are there two public houses on Essington Avenue that have been unoccupied for over three months? What is the issue? Why are they not being allocated? Why is government not repairing them or cleaning them? What is going on?
With these issues confronting us, it is no wonder we now have the highest homelessness rate in the country, and yet we have the smallest population base. Of the majority of homeless in the Territory, 52% are people under the age of 34 years of age. The Counting the Homeless report released recently by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows the Territory has a homelessness rate 500 times higher than the national average. That is shameful, particularly as this Labor government has allowed it to happen, and they continue to stand by and let people live rough, live on the streets, live in cars, and also not to forget they threw a 14-year-old girl onto the streets just after her father died.
Madam Speaker, these are just some of the problems in regard to housing and, lack of housing infrastructure in urban areas and sadly it is no better in the bush. The government website for SIHIP claims:
- Better housing helps to make families healthier; better housing strengthens communities and better housing enables economic growth through job and training opportunities.
With not one house being completed under SIHIP in nearly two years, and over $45m having been spent already, there is no help to make families healthier, no strengthening of communities and definitely no economic growth through job training and opportunities. The NT government, under this Minister for Housing, is meant to be managing the program. Quite honestly, they could not manage a chook raffle in a local pub, let alone a multimillion dollar housing program.
This is a serious definite matter of public importance. We cannot stress enough the problems out there in the public housing system, in the rental market and the affordability housing system. Land is not unavailable. It is there. We have plenty of land in the Top End, plenty of land in the Territory. There is just no planning by this government into an orderly and systematic release of land. This is therefore putting huge pressure on families, on individuals, creating the strain that we are seeing and experiencing, contributing to the problems I highlighted last night in my adjournment debate in regard to dodgy builders.
Madam Speaker, I urge both the Housing minister and the Planning minister to get their acts together and to start to fix this problem so the Territory can grow, and people get into safe and affordable housing, which is every person’s right.
Members: Hear, hear!
____________________
Visitor
Visitor
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery to the Mayor of Alice Springs, Mr Damien Ryan. On behalf on honourable members I extend you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
____________________
Mr GUNNER (Fannie Bay): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for the opportunity to speak to this matter of public importance. I agree that we have a significant challenge in the Territory to meet housing needs. I do believe there is stress out there in finding a roof to put over your head, to be able to afford accommodation for yourself and your family, of mortgage stress where you struggle to balance the bills and the income. There are huge worries for Territorians out there trying to find a place to live; there is no doubt about that.
That is one reason the Chief Minister delivered his statement yesterday addressing this issue because, as a government, we believe this is a challenge we need to meet, and that we have a plan to meet it.
Why do we have this challenge? In the matter of public importance the member for Goyder says we have failed to plan to meet forecast growth. Part of the problem is we did plan to meet forecast growth, and in fact our population growth has far exceeded that. Partly because of a strong economy, and thank you, Treasurer, we have had a population growth around double what was forecast. It was forecast a bit over 1%, and it has been over 2%, which is double. It might not sound like much - 1% to 2% - but that is thousands of people. Part of the problem is growth has exceeded the forecast.
Ms Lawrie: ABS forecasts.
Mr GUNNER: ABS forecasts show growth to be around the 1% mark, and growth in the Territory was around the 2% mark. That is a very significant achievement; to have that many people choose to move to the Territory and stay. It was not only a strong economy which saw our population grow. We made a deliberate attempt, as a government, to make this a better place to live and work. That is something the Labor government has deliberately set out to achieve.
We want to keep our people. There is no doubt people are our biggest resource, and I am sure all members know we have a very young population and we want to keep people here. Often people come to the Territory for two or three years for the challenge and are off again. We want to ensure those people stay for a longer period, even permanently. That is one thing which has led to the challenge we are facing in the Territory with housing. Often people get to their early 30s, have a child and decide to move south to their grandparents. We also have a number of students. I know friends, after leaving high school, decided to move south to university.
Our challenge was to find out why people leave the Territory and what we can do to ensure they stay. We have done several things in relation to that. We made sure our pensioner concession scheme is the best in the country. This will ensure more senior Territorians stay here and, as members opposite might appreciate, our seniors’ population is expected to double by 2030. In the recent budget we introduced free pensioner driving licences. We continue to look for ways to make our pensioner concession scheme better; we will continue to find ways to ensure our senior Territorians stay here and to make sure young families want to stay here. We have made deliberate attempts to retain our population, which is one reason we have the current challenges in finding homes for everyone.
I am looking at Darwin and Palmerston now, and the minister for Planning, the Treasurer, will take a broader look at the Territory later in the debate. We have looked at addressing why young people move from the Territory. I have already touched on young families moving closer to family and how we are keeping senior Territorians here. We also looked at improving the options for young families in Darwin. We invested heavily in the Leanyer Recreation Park. It is a fantastic, free facility and I know many families who go to the Leanyer Recreation Park. They love the playground equipment. With all the water problems in the southern states, they think the facility we have here is fantastic, and the new water slides are free.
These are some of the thing we have done to make sure our population …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr GUNNER: … to keep our people and, in fact, we are growing our population, which is why we have the challenge. Members opposite do not want to recognise the reason we have this challenge in the Territory is because people want to live here. Not only do people want to stay here, more people are choosing to come here.
I like the quote from the Chief Minister at the opening of Leanyer Recreation Park: ‘You won’t be seeing me there in my budgie smugglers, but I will be there with the kids during the Easter holiday’. Many people go there; it is a popular place for a birthday party. It has some competition now with the wave pool and the water park. We have even more facilities to encourage people to stay in the Territory. Our challenge is to keep people here.
After being elected to government in 2001, we said: ‘BassintheGrass; let’s have a Big Day Out-style concert here in the Territory.’ It has been a huge success; it has sold out every year with an extraordinary calibre of artists coming to the Territory. This year there was Sneaky Sound System, The Cat Empire, our own Jess, Gabriella Cilmi. In previous years we have had Powderfinger, Wolfmother, Hilltop Hoods, Jet, Eskimo Joe …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! A point of order on relevance. The Hilltop Hoods is a very good band, I know, I listen to them, but I do not think it really beats housing.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat, and cease interjecting. That is a very frivolous interjection and point of order. Member for Fannie Bay, please continue.
Mr GUNNER: This is clearly why population has exceeded the forecast, because we made a deliberate attempt to make the Territory a better place to live and work, and the opposition does not want to acknowledge that. They do not acknowledge the population growth in the Territory has exceeded forecast.
The claim made in the matter of public importance is we failed to meet forecast population growth figures, and we have in fact exceeded that; we have doubled forecasted population growth figures. Members opposite do not want to recognise we have made a deliberate attempt as a government, across eight years, to make this a better place to live and work.
It does not stop there though; we have brought quality sport to the Territory for the first time; regular season AFL matches, test and one-day international cricket, basketball. Recently, we had the best basketball teams in Australia playing in Darwin. That is the first time in Australia, and it happened here in Darwin. These are decisions we made which contributed significantly to population growth in the Territory doubling on forecast figures, making this a better place to live and work. Taking into account our strong economy, this has led to significant housing challenges.
As the Chief Minister outlined in the statement yesterday, it is a challenge which will not be satisfied by a one-size-fits-all strategy. We have looked very carefully at where growth has occurred, in what age brackets, and what family units, and our Housing the Territory strategy recognises those various needs. For example, seniors’ housing and affordable housing areas jump out to me, and I know there are key initiatives occurring in my electorate where we are delivering on those areas. I will touch on them in a moment.
It is not just about turning off big blocks; it is about providing a variety of block sizes, about providing extra services to existing suburbs where the population is going up. The CBD is an example of where the population is going up, literally. We have seen high-rises going up. We have added the new wave pool and the waterfront facility, city beach lagoon, and we are looking at increasing green space at the old hospital site and Myilly Park. That is what we are doing to support the increasing population numbers in those areas. The rebuild of the city could see a whole suburb of people moving to the CBD. Since 2003, 2300 units have been constructed in the CBD. That is a significant number of people.
The Education department is looking at future schooling needs for the inner city. We can support our current cohorts at Larrakeyah, Stuart Park, Ludmilla and Parap Primary Schools, but we are planning for future needs. Our planning for future education needs has already seen the Darwin Middle School built.
Work will start soon on the Southern Cross Care Retirement Village at the old Waratah Oval. The first stage is 85 aged-care beds, and further stages, when approved, will see flexi-care apartments and independent living townhouses built. Between those two, there will be 85 apartments and townhouses. This is incredibly popular with seniors across the Territory, not only my electorate. I get people coming into my office all the time asking to see the plans, asking for information, asking how to get on the wait list. The need is critical in the Territory. People want these options.
I have 850-plus people living in my electorate aged 60 and over. This is the estate they look for. They want to have a retirement village option they like, and in the community they currently live in. This is what the development of the old Waratah Oval will deliver. Southern Cross Care is going to build a fantastic facility, and I commend them. Seniors are very important. That is happening in my electorate. I know there are other things happening across the Territory for our seniors’ needs.
We are also addressing the need for affordable housing options in my electorate. We have announced the creation of an affordable housing rental company, and the first project involving that company is the redevelopment of public housing along Parap Road. Wirrina is the first set of public housing units we are redeveloping, and they have just been knocked down. They are located at the corner of Parap Road and Gregory Street, for those people who do not know where they are.
There is no doubt the current housing model does not work; 100% public housing in that density does not work. We know it does not work; it is not the right model. The opposition insists on saying we need to build on a site we know does not work. They want to go back to a failed model. I do not know why they want to do that. It makes no sense. It is not only the buildings that have passed their use-by date; that housing model no longer works. It is widely recognised by many people and, yet, the opposition insists on saying we should go back to a failed model. I have no doubt the people in my electorate do not want to see it recreated on the site at Wirrina. They know it does not work ...
Mr Chandler: How does Evolution work? How does any high-rise work? They are managed, and you do not manage them.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Brennan, cease interjecting
Mr GUNNER: We need a better model. That is what we need to do. We have a responsibility for Territory Housing tenants, neighbours, and businesses to come with a better housing model; a better environment to live in. With a new model, we are hoping to achieve that. A mixed tenure model which combines social housing, affordable housing, and private housing. We are looking at different solutions to our problems. Instead of repeating the mistakes of the past, which is what the CLP is wanting us to do, we are looking for a better model. We are looking for a better place to live. That is really important. They want to go back to the past. They seem to be stuck in the glory days of the past. They cannot recognise some of the things they did, did not work, and they want us to go back. It makes no sense.
The member for Greatorex said, effectively, in 1978 nothing existed in the Territory. They went from zero and they built everything. I was born in Alice Springs in 1976 in a hospital. I do not remember it; I am sure my mum does. According to the member for Greatorex, that could not have happened because there was no hospital there - nothing existed in the Territory before 1978. That is not the case; he was a bit carried away with his rhetoric. There were things here prior to the CLP, and prior to 1978. Sometimes, some of those things did not work. There is no fault in saying the housing model at Wirrina does not work and we are looking for a different housing model. What the opposition says makes no sense to me. I really do shake my head. Many people in my electorate, and I am sure many others, cannot understand why the CLP support a failed housing model.
We are ahead of schedule on that site. Moving the tenants to their new homes was quicker than expected. It is now knocked down. You can drive past and see the trees still there. The black cloth is up around the fence, but Wirrina itself has come down. The next stage is to call for expressions of interest.
On the site we are going to build a mixed tenure development - a combination of public housing, private housing, and affordable housing. We will also have detailed plans for those who want to submit expressions of interest. It is a large site and I expect, when you consider we are including in the redevelopment a lot that used to have six townhouses, and a single house, the number of people living there will be greater than what was there previously.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The order you called was to the point of order; the interjections, I could not hear.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! It is quite difficult to hear the member for Fannie Bay.
Member for Araluen, I remind you of Standing Order 51. I will not read it again, because I am sure you know it off by heart now but just to remind you. Member for Braitling, cease interjecting. Member for Fannie Bay, you have the call.
Mr GUNNER: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Wirrina is on Parap Road. It is opposite a shopping village and a public transport route also. It is the right location for high density building, and that is what we are looking at doing on that site. Within that complex, the affordable housing rental company will have a number of units.
I am not sure if members appreciate this: there are several affordable housing rental company models around the country and they rent out properties at 75% of the market rate. They are targeted at low income earners, and they have a low income cap. It is through the Australian Tax Office, and there are Commonwealth Rent Assistance and GST exemptions. Effectively, the affordable housing rental company gets a bigger bang for its housing buck than Territory Housing. Not only that, you get more money into the housing system because you are paying at 75% of the market rate. You are subsidising the rent but you are getting more money into the system for repairs and maintenance. You are targeting an area the market is failing at the moment. We have private housing and social housing, and we are trying to ensure the affordable housing rental company targets people on low incomes in areas where they need to live.
We are starting at Wirrina, a fantastic place; it is a great place to live. We are making sure low income earners are located in an area I think they need to be. It is a very positive development. It is going to be a new model that is going to work, and that we can roll out to other public housing sites in the Territory. It takes a little time to roll it out because we have to vacate the premises first. However, I believe this model will work. I am very happy that, in my electorate, we will be able to lead the way and show how the model can work.
There is a point I want to pick up in terms of public housing. An incorrect figure has been used in this House a number of times. I understand during the Estimates Committee process this information was actually provided for the public record, and again last sittings the Minister for Housing provided the correct information. There is every chance the member for Sanderson did not realise this, however, the opposition have said repeatedly since taking government we have sold 2000 public housing homes. You might not appreciate this, but the Minister for Housing explained this during the last sittings …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fannie Bay, you have the call.
Mr GUNNER: Thank you, Madam Speaker. They may not appreciate this, but the ABS statistics they have based the figure of 2000 on go back to 2001, but it is actually reporting on statistics from 1999. Of that 2000, 1400 of those homes were actually sold by the CLP in the last years of their government. He made the information available to the Estimates Committee process, and 70% of the 2000 homes they claim we sold, they sold. I think it is a very important clarification. The Minister for Housing …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GUNNER: I am looking at the Parliamentary Record from the last sittings. The Minister for Housing said, quite clearly - because the ABS statistics are actually based on the year 1999 - so 1400 of the homes they claim we sold, they sold. Seventy percent of those homes were, in fact, sold by the CLP. The information was provided in the Estimates Committee process, it was provided last sittings, and I am repeating it now. It is on the Parliamentary Record, 19 August 2009. The Minister for Housing made it clear but the CLP continues to insist on using a figure which includes the houses they sold. They say it is a disgrace and yet they did it. They said …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr GUNNER: … that is five years of our government. The Minister for Housing has done the maths, they sold 450 houses a year in their last …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GUNNER: … and we sold 90 houses. The majority of houses we sold were to Territory Housing tenants. Addressing that generational inequity people often talk about, that effort to make sure you have something to pass on to the future generation, which is where a mortgage and buying a house is important, and is the reason we are talking about this challenge today.
We want people to be able to buy their own homes. That is one reason we fixed HomeNorth in the first term, under the former member for Fannie Bay, and the Minister for Housing, the then member for Arnhem. We made a deliberate attempt to fix the HomeNorth loan project to ensure people could get into homes, and that is why we are talking about this challenge to house people; we want people to be able to buy their own homes, to love living here and to stay here. Owning your own home is a great way to do that. Often, public housing properties sold have been in an effort to ensure Territory Housing tenants who were renting actually own a home, stay and pass on the asset to future generations.
Mr ELFERINK (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, there are fatal car accidents and there are monumental catastrophes such as tsunamis, and then there are speeches from the member for Fannie Bay. I listened with extraordinary disbelief to some of the utterances from the member for Fannie Bay. His cynicism towards the voting population of this country is breathtaking.
I was set in mind, whilst I was listening to the member for Fannie Bay, of a work called Satire X which was written by a Roman poet, Juvenal, some 200 years into the modern era. In that poem, in the most cynical expression of how people are bought and sold, he said:
- … Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man,
the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who
once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office,
legions — everything,
now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things:
bread and circuses
If we were to believe the member for Fannie Bay’s world view, not only do the people sit around hoping bread and circuses will be made available to them so they will continue living here, they actually come to Darwin for it. They move. He is so cynical of our people he thinks people make a decision to travel all the way across this great continent of ours to come to Darwin so they can use a free water slide.
That is the measure of the examination, by this member, of the reason people come here - a free water slide. In fact, the first 10 minutes of his speech was dedicated to talking about things like free water slides, BassintheGrass, BassintheDust, all of these wonderful things. People are saying: ‘Goodness, I am going to Darwin. I am going to pull out all stops and I am going to Darwin. I cannot wait to use the free water slide at Leanyer. Goodness gracious me, why doesn’t that happen in Sydney? Yes, that really works for me!’ The logic is undeniable.
Madam Speaker, it is also clear the member for Fannie Bay seems to think if you continue to keep the bread and circuses coming all will be sweetness and the great frosted glass people volunteer to hide behind when they are using a free water slide, will somehow make those people ignorant of the fact they are paying the highest rents in the country. No one noticed that, Madam Speaker. Why? They can go a BassintheGrass concert; they can listen to the Hoodoo Gurus, or whoever comes. They can listen to that and they would be utterly ignorant of the fact they are paying, at the moment, over $500 a week for a rental house.
They are not going to notice that because they have their bread and circuses. ‘We will dazzle them with that; we will put flyers into their impoverished letterboxes saying: “Do not worry, slip down to the water slide if you are feeling a bit hot; you cannot run the air-conditioner because you are paying an extraordinary amount for your power, but that is all right, slip down the water slide, you will be right. Go down to BassintheGrass, you will be right”’.
The cynicism of the member for Fannie Bay is absolutely breathtaking if he genuinely believes that is a defence for the unfolding and unmitigated disaster which is the failure of this government to deal with these very real issues of the provision of housing for the people of the Northern Territory.
We are paying more than Sydney. We are a town of 120 000, if you include Palmerston, and we are paying more than Sydney for the privilege of living here, and it is going to get worse. Things like INPEX will come to Darwin, and the government quite rightly should stand up, and does stand up and say: ‘We are bringing INPEX’. Good! I am sure it also has something to do with the fact Japanese people want to stay warm during winter, but that is by the by. I believe the government did a good job to get INPEX to the Northern Territory, but when that happens, what provision is there in current planning to prevent what occurred in places like Port Hedland when they had a similar gas boom? When three-bedroom houses were being rented for $1300, $1400 and up to $1500 a week; and they were being rented by people in the offshore industry who could afford to stay there in groups. Local residents in places like Port Hedland were being pushed out.
That is where we are going if we are not ready for what may occur. Yes, I do understand growth has exceeded projections, but not so dramatically as to prevent this government from being ready.
In 2007 we were promised Bellamack was going to happen. The Treasurer said:
- I have brought forward the Bellamack release. Bellamack was not scheduled for release until 2008, but I brought it forward by a year. When I was made the Minister for Planning and Lands, I asked the agency when Bellamack was scheduled for release. It was 2008. I asked the earliest time we could release it and the answer was if they work like the clappers, mid-2007.
We have just started releasing land in Bellamack in the last few months. People are now joining a lottery for the privilege of going into debt to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars so they can buy a small patch of land at Palmerston. That is what this particular debate is about, and has been for the last week. To claim that somehow a water slide is going to fix this or a concert is going to fix this, is an impoverished defence. However, nowhere near as impoverished as the defence which has not been mounted by the minister who should be on his feet defending this government’s record with the small scraps that he might turn to, to build such a structure.
In fact, I suspect his silence betrays the fact they are now beyond defence in relation to this, and mere silence is going to be the way they now manage this. They will trot out the member for Fannie Bay, and maybe one other backbencher to deal with this MPI, because they no longer have the capacity to answer any of the criticisms which are being levelled at them.
I have, in my electorate, public housing tenancies and, in the not so distance past, I took the time to meet with some of the residents. As a consequence of meeting the residents, I wrote a letter to the minister, which remained unanswered. Travelling past the particular location one day, I saw a Channel 9 cameraman, so I stopped and said: ‘My goodness, why are you filming Tomaris Court?’ ‘Oh, some fellow has been stabbed in the throat, and he is fighting for his life in hospital’. I have not heard if that person survived. I thought: ‘Goodness, I just wrote to the minister about this the other day’. It was in that letter I accused the minister - after a litany of complaints about how the minister was failing in his duties as a landlord to look after those people - of being on the verge of being confused with a ‘slum lord’, or words to that effect. It was not until this fellow was stabbed in the throat I got a letter, on that very same day, from the minister’s office excusing all of the things which had not been done in that set of units. It just goes to show there is an utter and complete disconnect between the minister and his responsibilities in how he manages housing stock he is in possession of.
The member for Fannie Bay must also understand one important fact: when I say the Territory government has sold off some 2000 Territory Housing dwellings, I am not talking about ABS statistics. All you have to do is go to Budget Paper No 3 and track, year in, year out, the dwindling number of dwellings in those Budget Papers. There is no reference at all to the Australian Bureau of Statistics to line up those sets of numbers.
The original program agreed to and supported - believe it or not, when the Labor Party was in opposition and Tim Baldwin was the Minister for Lands and Housing - was Territory Housing properties had become inappropriately weighted regarding the people they had in them. Because of the change in the social demographic between the 1980s and 1990s, we started getting to a point where we had three-bedroom houses with single mothers and one child living in them. Or there were people who were long-term tenants who were then being offered a very good arrangement to buy their own houses. This is what the new government continued to do.
Syd Stirling agreed with the proposal brought into this House by Tim Baldwin, to sell those houses which were no longer appropriate and, using that money generated, create other homes which were more appropriate. If a single mother had one child, they could move into a two-bedroom unit and that two-bedroom unit would be new. The capital would be raised from the sale of Territory Housing. The difference though, is this government stopped rebuilding new Territory Housing dwellings. They stopped rebuilding Territory Housing dwellings and they started to send that money straight back into the coffers.
Do I have the evidence to demonstrate this? Absolutely, because if you were taking the money from one set of sales and then rolling it into the construction of new dwellings, you would have an equivalent number, or even more dwellings, under your control. However, as I turn to Budget Paper No 3, over the last five or six years it clearly shows each year the number of Territory Housing dwellings has fallen. That is because the money from those sales is no longer being turned into the reconstruction of those dwellings. No, it is going to the construction of water slides, BassintheGrass concerts, and all of those other pieces of bread and circuses which will excite more people to come to the Northern Territory.
This government stands condemned for its failures - its manifest failures - in the delivery of housing services and land! It has failed public housing tenants because of the way it has conducted itself. It is nothing more than a slum lord nowadays. They have failed those people who want to get into private housing, simply because they offer land which, believe it or not, is as small as 150 m2 - to put that into some context it is two-thirds the size of a tennis court. This is how people are going to build their futures in the glorious people’s republic of the Northern Territory under this government.
If you are an Aboriginal person living in the bush, you could have been forgiven for expecting the emergency response and some $700m would build you a house out there, but no. No, it has to be a job creation scheme. At no level has this been good for Territorians other than the people who already own the property.
Madam Speaker, I live at 17 Narrows Road, and the house is a real fixer-uperer. It is the worst house/best street type arrangement. My wife rang me earlier today. She told me the house two houses up from us sold for $699 000. It was purchased not even a year ago for about $620 000. Now, that is fine for us, and I am delighted from a purely financial point of view that it works for us. My goodness gracious me, how are people going to get into this market? How are young families going to do it? How do they have a chance? They do not. They do not have a chance. It is because of the failures of this government to plan. The most consistent hallmark of this government is it could not see what was coming down the pipeline towards them, and now, Madam Speaker, they have given us bread and circuses, panem et circenses.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I have just about talked myself blue in the face on this topic over a number of years. I know the MPI subject is the failure of the Northern Territory government to provide sufficient housing infrastructure and residential land to meet forecast population growth, and I would agree with that. I believe we need to go back into history to look at some of the changes in the way residential land was sold in the Territory. It is unfortunate we moved from a system where the government developed land to a process where the land was sold off to the highest bidder, and that person then sold the land to the public.
That change, in itself, made it very hard for many people to afford their own home. Companies like Delfin bought land on the premise they could develop it to the maximum. The Delfin subdivision of Gunn was one of the first subdivisions with 300 m2 blocks. That was not done under this government; that was done under previous governments. That was a crying shame. Those blocks of land were sold at maximum prices for minimum size. That was the beginning of a process which was, to some extent, anti-Territorian, because we started to develop housing estates which were more suited to the Gold Coast, South Australia or Victoria than they were for a tropical Northern Territory.
The process of selling land, the concept of small blocks has continued on. I do not think any government would be willing to change that, because they would see hectares and hectares of land being sold at a cheaper price than if the land had been sold to a developer, who then sold and subdivided the land.
There is no doubt the government either did not read the forecast properly, or their advisers did not come up with the right statistics. As I said last night, I was told constantly Weddell was not going to be needed for 10 to 15 years and now it seems it will be needed in five. In relation to rural land, I was told there were sufficient blocks and there was no need for the government to look at subdividing its own land.
People then held onto land, the market got tighter and prices in the rural area have skyrocketed. In fact, in one year, land between Howard Springs and Humpty Doo increased by $100 000. It took an enormous jump. The reason for that was because developers released land in small amounts. Had the government released some if its land, it would have encouraged competition and kept the price lower. In the rural area we have a market the government has not been involved in, and we have very high prices. As I stated earlier, $400 000 is what you would expect to pay for a 2 ha block in Howard Springs. Land is certainly not available for the average person. They would have to go further down the track, find a unit, or whatever they can find at a reasonable price.
Although this discussion today is about the failure of government to provide sufficient housing, infrastructure and residential land, we have to say we are in trouble, we have a shortage of land, and how can we fix it. If we are going to be negative we will not achieve anything. It is beholden on members in this House to look at ways to solve the problem.
In Palmerston, we need to bring on more houses quickly. We know Zuccoli and Mitchell are available; the government is doing Johnston, can we bring on those other suburbs quicker. I know it is a financial burden on a government; headworks are not cheap. We can build four suburbs at a time, not two. That is not easy, it is much money for a government, but if the issue before us is we are short of land then it requires big decisions, with big vision and big money, which may mean we have to go into further debt. We may need to ask the Commonwealth for more money. We have to help people get away from the terrible debt they have to incur if they want to rent or buy a house.
The advantage of getting people into their own houses is it will take pressure off the public housing. People go into public housing because they think it is cheaper than trying to buy a house. You can make a house cheaper if you can make land cheaper, which is the key to cheaper public housing. If a block of land goes for $100 000 you can spend more money on a house, but if a block goes for $400 000, you can only buy a tent. That really is the key. If we want to hit the public housing waiting lists hard, we have to work at the other end of the spectrum and make private housing more attractive.
I mention once again the pine forest. I have spoken to the minister today. I know there are developers out there ready to go. There is a possibility of 500 blocks of land of 1 ha at a price of $100 000, which gets people onto those blocks of land. They have a covenant to build a house; they cannot sell it for a period of time and when they do sell it, they pay $100 000 back to the government. The government basically offers the land free because the first $100 000 goes to the developer, but it keeps the price realistic, and allows time for people to pay for their block of land, and it encourages them to get into the market.
We could have 100 blocks of land available in Humpty Doo very quickly; there is sewage, water and electricity available. The Humpty Doo District Centre was designed for a small town. A seniors village down there would be absolutely ideal at the moment. Whether the parcel of land is sold to a private developer or whether it is a government retirement village, someone else can decide that. I believe it could be done very quickly. We are not building a new town. The sewage pond is there, electricity, water; it is all there. We just need to get a tick along.
Another concept which I believe we should be looking at is professional housing, and I have raised this with government. Teachers have told me they cannot afford to stay in Darwin because rent is too high. The government should talk to the teachers union and other stakeholders, and look at investing in blocks of units, a four storey block of one and two-bedroom units available for teachers at a cheap rent. It is not free, but it is much cheaper than the existing market price. That money would go back into the system to maintain the units and perhaps be invested in more units. We aim at the professionals to keep them in Darwin because if they cannot afford to stay here, we are not going to keep them. Why not look at that as a possibility?
We could do the same for nurses. I know they are building more flats at RDH. Again, the government negotiates with the nurses union and other stakeholders, and see if we can build something to encourage people to stay here. We did it years ago. We had QANTAS, and we had nurses quarters at Myilly Point. Someone knocked that building down; it was going to have something on it one day. I wish it had never been knocked down.
A member: We could have used it now.
Mr WOOD: Yes, I know! Concrete cancer was a favourite excuse for knocking down buildings like the old powerhouse. We could have kept the powerhouse as a tourist attraction or even a shopping centre. They have done that in other parts of Australia, but we knocked ours down, which is unfortunate.
I believe we should look at permanent caravan parks. I have heard some people say they are concerned about caravan parks. If you build a permanent caravan park correctly it is quite a legitimate form of housing. In America, they have trailer parks, which are not a bad thing except they tend to get blown away in tornadoes. You could build a good caravan park in the Territory for people to have as an alternative lifestyle. If you have a look at the caravan park near the Katherine Hospital you will see it is a well-run, permanent caravan park where they use industrial sheds. Caravans go in either end; they share the shower and toilet, with a laundry in the middle. They are set out with neat lawns and gardens. They are an attractive proposition to people who would like to stay in that type of accommodation. You have to remember some people actually like living in caravans. I found that out when the Sundowner Caravan Park was being closed down.
I have just had word, and am very upset, at the possible closure of the Bloodwood Caravan Park in Wallaby Holtze Road. People have received phone calls tonight saying they have two weeks to get out. I will not take that lying down just before the Wet Season, and I believe it is wrong. It is not the greatest caravan park in the world, but it is there for people on low incomes. It is their home. I have asked the owner of the caravan park not to do it, however I received a message tonight it will close in two weeks. That is very disappointing.
It is important we do not denigrate caravan parks for the sake of being caravan parks. If people want a house and are forced to go to a caravan park that is a different matter. Let us try to develop some more land for caravan parks; it is a legitimate form of accommodation.
Weddell has to start coming online soon. I do not want to rush into getting this development started until we get the right design. I have just bought the book, Great Obsessions - it only came out about a week and half ago. It is the life and times of Walter Burley Griffin and his wife, Marion Griffin, who designed Canberra. It did not work out that way: the bureaucrats and the politicians changed it, and other people put their ideas in, but most of what he wanted was achieved. I am not saying we are building a Canberra; we have a much smaller city between 45 000 and 65 000. We have an opportunity to do something really special for the Northern Territory, building a tropical, well-designed, visionary city at Weddell. I have not had the time, but I want to talk to the planners and people with information. I would expect there to be some form of cash prize or encouragement to be part of the development. That may encourage people to design something.
I see an opportunity there to really do something, and then develop Weddell with a whole range of opportunities for people who would like to build, the more well-to-do, but also those people who would like to live in Weddell at an affordable price. That is certainly something that we have to look at.
While the good Mayor of Alice Springs is here, I said last night I believe we should be looking at and supporting the concept of rural land at the Alice Springs Airport. It has come out in the master plan for the Alice Springs Airport. The Mayor said as long as they pay rates he would be happy. We might be able to work that too. However, the point is, here is an opportunity for freehold land in Alice Springs. I am writing to Honourable Anthony Albanese, the minister with responsibility for airports, to encourage him to support it. He has concerns regarding residential land developed around airports. This is not in the flight path, it is to side. It backs onto the AZRI land which is to be developed, so it makes common sense. It is an alternative because Alice Springs has the same issues as Darwin. It is very hard to get affordable housing and affordable rental in Alice Springs.
We should be trying to do everything - even Cox Peninsula. It is private development which will be part of the Larrakia development. If we could get that developed in a small way, then good for us. If we can get housing in Cox Peninsula and the Larrakia Association can be involved, I encourage that as well.
We need to bring the Darwin Regional Land Use Strategy Plan out quickly, because without that we do not have a vision. We have to have that also. We do not want to wait too long. People cannot afford housing, cannot afford land, and we have to do something about it. I hope I am putting forward some positive ideas. I believe the government has let the ball drop. We can criticise them all we like, but the reality is while we stand here and criticise for too long, we will not get anything done. Let us move forward and try to get something done for the people of the Territory.
Ms LAWRIE (Planning and Lands): Madam Speaker, I do not think there is anyone in this Chamber who is going to argue there is not a housing shortage in the Territory. This debate is around the options, the opportunities and the challenges, and how they should be met. It is a significant issue in the Territory. As I have said, it is not just an issue for Darwin and Palmerston. We have seen tremendous growth across all of our regional centres. We have needed to release land in Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. We have housing shortages right across our communities, and we have had months and months of robust debate around SIHIP and providing additional housing. Again, as Planning minister, I am very aware of the work occurring within the Planning department around providing proper area plans, for the first time, for those major remote communities.
We have had significant success in negotiating area plans with the CLC across Central Australian communities, and we are negotiating with the NLC across Top End communities to support the roll-out of SIHIP to ensure it is well planned and we know where the residential growth is occurring in these major communities. We also need to know where the future commercial centres are and where the community purpose land is. We should not only have this debate in and around the urban environment. Equally, the challenges exist in the bush and regional environment as well, and we are doing both at the same time.
That is exactly why the Chief Minister presented his statement in the parliament yesterday on planning for growth. We have seen a boom in population - record population because we have record employment growth. The record employment growth is because we have had record economic growth which has created the pressure on our housing market in the Top End and in Central Australia. There is no doubt about it.
The important thing missing from the MPI and not understood by the CLP is to meet forecasted population growth. Therein lies where we are in relation to housing stress: forecasted population growth. That is the genesis of the issue. If we were to look at the market relating to forecast population growth, we would have met it. The reality is actual population growth has dramatically outstripped the forecast. Over the last five years, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has done population forecasts. This is not what I am saying or making up. The Australian Bureau of Statistics, forecasting population growth, had the Territory’s population forecast at a little over 1%, while actually over the five-year period there has been over 2% growth.
Take 2004-05 as an example, it is very much a turning point when you look at the population growth figures. The Australian Bureau of Statistics forecast population growth was 1.2%. Actual growth turned out to be 2.1%. Now, that might not sound like a huge difference, but if you take that over a few years it results in thousands of people. We have around 26 000 more people in the Territory than we did seven years ago.
Yes, as a government, we have been unashamedly trying to increase our population, but we have been far more successful in doing that then what the forecast provided for, and there is a significant reason for this. If you had watched the news tonight, if you are engaged in economic debate around our nation, you will understand climate change has dropped down the list of priorities, and what is at the top? Jobs. Population will follow jobs.
If you want a job, the Territory is the place to be. We have created jobs growth dramatically in the Territory. Manpower, the employment agency based in Queensland, has been consistently saying, if you want a job, move to the Territory. We have seen a doubling of our population growth over the forecast rate, 26 000 extra people here. They have come into a relatively small population with a small marketplace but it has placed an enormous demand on housing. That is why we have such a demand on rental. I can also talk about what was happening with interest rates in the investment marketplace during that time. We had increasing interest rates through those years. Investors were pulling out of the housing investment marketplace because of the crippling interest rate rises. The impact of that was it did not create or extend extra rental stock.
As a government, we have been providing local stimulus to get more investors back into the marketplace while interest rates dropped, albeit to emergency levels. They are now starting to rise and we need rental properties. You need to address the rental property market. Equally, you need to address the private property market; you need to address the affordable market, and the public housing market. There is no one thing; you need to address them all.
In terms of how we are addressing them, we have created the Housing in the Territory strategy. It includes the release of around 6000 blocks of land over the next five years. The release is already under way to cater for this strong population and economic growth. I will take people through it. It is not a figment of the imagination; it is actually occurring here and now. The member for Nelson quite rightly pointed out to release land at this rate is costly to government, and sometimes is hard to find in tighter budget cycles. 2009-10 is a very tight budget cycle. We went into it knowing we would have to announce a deficit because of the dramatic reduction in the GST as a result of the global financial crisis, and the economic downturn. Despite that, we put $108.6m in Budget 2009-10 to deliver land release and the associated community infrastructure required to support it. It is a key priority.
We are not just talking about it, we are resourcing it and funding it so we can deliver it on the ground; $108.6m for land release, for community infrastructure. What is that providing? It is turning off the suburbs of Bellamack and Johnston, significant headworks. For example, the Johnston headworks alone are $10.6m. Johnston will be followed by Zuccoli; the headworks we are doing in Johnston support Zuccoli. Mitchell will follow Zuccoli. Bellamack, we were spending in the 2008-09 financial year, equally rolling through into the 2009-10 financial year in terms of that headworks program. I am talking, in this instance, of those Palmerston East suburbs, because the growth is significant in the Greater Darwin area. That is critical, but it is not coming off a space where we have been doing nothing.
Since 2007, over 900 new blocks of land were approved in the Darwin, Palmerston and rural area. As you heard the member for Fannie Bay say, we put the equivalent of an entire new suburb here in the CBD. That is smart planning because if you can create intensification, which is the new planning key word describing densification, you are building on your existing infrastructure, and every government and every city needs to do that.
This is a debate that is not only happening here in Darwin, it is happening in all our major capital cities around Australia; indeed around all major cities in the world. You build on what you have while you also look at where you expand. We have put the equivalent of an entire new suburb into our new CBD in the last years. Seventeen hundred new units have been approved since January 2006 in our Darwin CBD.
Meanwhile, we have worked with Defence Housing Association to ensure the turn off at Lyons; 700 blocks out there, half of those available to the public. Development is expected to be completed by the end of this year in terms of lots sold, and final housing construction will flow through to the 2010 year.
If you look at other land releases under way, we have Frances Park, we have Heritage Park in Parap, I have mentioned Lyons, and critical to that picture is Muirhead, 1000 blocks, DHA land. Again, we have been in there negotiating with them about the extent of private buy into that land. My view is to get the Defence take down below the 50% it was in Lyons because it is prime land for the northern suburbs of Darwin. In this process we have mandated, for the first time in a policy setting, 15% to be set aside for affordable and social housing. We are not just creating housing stock in a marketplace where we know the prices are high and competitive; we are creating stock set aside for the battler who cannot afford to buy into the existing market rates. We are giving them a leg into the own-your-own housing marketplace, and also providing additional social housing stock.
Having a stream of planned social housing through your urban areas is critical. No other government has mandated and enshrined that. It took this government to do it. What makes those other tools work are things like revamping the HomeNorth scheme, which the member for Fannie Bay talked about, into the Homestart scheme to help people to get that leg up. They are the low-to-middle-income earners. They are not attractive to the major banks. They are not going to get the major bank mortgage yet it is in their best interest to get a leg up into the home ownership marketplace. That is exactly what HomeNorth did. It was popular. We have upgraded to the Homestart scheme.
To talk briefly on that, we base it on an affordable housing model; it provides access to 40% of the Territory’s housing market without the person investing more than 30% of their income in loan servicing, making housing affordable. Homestart also provides a fee assistance loan which helps with costs associated with purchasing a home like stamp duty, fees, and white goods. Homestart NT loans are available for first homebuyers, non-first homebuyers who do not currently own property, and public housing tenants. Much of the stock the Territory Labor government has sold in public housing in urban centres is to these clients, the low-to-middle income battlers who had been sitting in that stock who could never be attractive enough in the private mortgage marketplace.
Let us look at those price limits. We keep upgrading them as the market moves: Darwin, Northern Suburbs and Palmerston, $420 000; Alice Springs, $300 000; Katherine, $267 000, and Tennant Creek, $120 000. If you look at the gross income per annum limit: one household size, $60 000; two, $80 000; three, $85 500; four, $85 500; five, $90 000, and six or more, $105 000. Why describe them like that? Because a household could be a mix of one person, or there could be two people. That two people could be a single mother with a child, or it could be two adults. So we describe them numerically because we realise households are a mix of different scenarios.
Homestart NT, which is an evolution of HomeNorth we revamped, is used by other governments in Australia now as an affordable loans model to get people into the marketplace. It is discussed; it is looked at; it is welcomed. We have been innovative; we have been getting people into housing in an affordable way.
You cannot overlook that product. We are the only government in our nation to create Buildstart to get investors back into the marketplace; to give them a $14 000 reason to invest, to build an investment property whether it is a unit or a house, to revive the additional rental stock. That was about bringing forward construction on existing land to reduce land banking, which we saw happening, which obviously increases the value of the land and the product. It was to provide more housing stock. In reality, it has been a well-embraced scheme by builders; I have had builders come to the government and say: ‘Thank God you came up with Buildstart. It is a great scheme. It has resulted in construction work’. Two hundred and ninety two approved Buildstart grants, 152 pending information. Additional to that, in the same climate and environment, was the Commonwealth government’s First Home Owners Boost Scheme. Between October of 2008 to 31 August …
Mr VATSKALIS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I move an extension of time for my colleague to complete her statement pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: As I understand it, member for Casuarina, there are no extensions …
Ms Lawrie: Yes, there are extensions in MPIs.
Mr GILES: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. There were no extensions last night for my MPI, so I am presuming the same rules apply tonight for this MPI.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Just allow me to seek advice. I am advised there are no extensions.
Ms LAWRIE: Do I get that minute back, or not?
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will allow you to have that time back while we were sorting that matter out.
Ms LAWRIE: I do briefly want to touch on Alice Springs.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have made a ruling on this, member for Braitling, so I ask you to resume your seat. Because there was discussion about whether there was an extension of time, the minister did lose time on the clock to complete her comments.
Mr GILES: May I speak to the point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker?
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have ruled that I will allow the minister to make her closing comments.
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: In Alice Springs, we have turned off Larapinta Stage 1 and Stage 2, Mt John Valley and we have the headworks study under way for AZRI. Obviously we are very supportive of the Alice Springs airport land development. That was something we led at the planning forum in Alice Springs; we have created the planning committee in Alice Springs, co-chaired by the mayor, and our minister for Central Australia. We are investing the dollars in the headwork studies and we are planning to turn off AZRI. That is a very exciting yield down there.
Mr Giles interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, cease interjecting, please.
Ms LAWRIE: … area the community of Alice Springs started talking about. We are also looking at …
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … within the township of Alice Springs itself. Do you go from a three-storey limit to a five-storey? Melanka has come in as a five-story development. That is out on public exhibition. We are planning for land, turning off land, spending the resources to turn off land and being innovative in our housing product …
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Mr STYLES (Sanderson): Madam Speaker, it is very …
Dr Burns: Team work it is called.
Mr STYLES: Sorry, what was the interjection? I cannot hear you. You will have to speak a bit louder, member for Johnston.
Dr Burns: You are just coordinated very well, are you not?
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Sanderson, you have the call.
Mr STYLES: Madam Speaker, I am thankful the honourable member for Johnston allowed me to have the call; it is very nice of him to do that.
It is very interesting when I listen to the Treasurer and the Chief Minister say: ‘We have created these jobs. Yes, we have created all these jobs’. If the government is as confident as it says and has created all these jobs, why are people living in tents? Why are people living in cars? You claim to be great planners and have created all these jobs!
It is like people with a small house - if you are lucky enough to have a house in Darwin - who decide to start a family. They do all the right things and along comes this little child. Then they decide to increase their family. That is great. They then need an extra room. Most people I know, especially responsible people in responsible positions, actually do some planning and think about whether they need to put an extra room on their house or, in fact, get a house at all. What we see here is a government which is planning to increase the population by 1.2% or 2.1%, or whatever. However, what we have is a government which has actually failed to plan for those increases.
The Treasurer stated that in seven years the population has increased by 26 000 people. I might see if I can get some projections and look at them shortly. However, she stated: ‘We are going to release 6000 blocks of land over the next five years’. Fantastic! I applaud the Treasurer for releasing those 6000 blocks over the next five years. When you go back to the recent Chief Minister’s statement, and the Treasury projections – I think it came from Treasury - they are saying just to keep pace we need 1700 blocks a year.
Other people say we need at least 2000 blocks a year released. You do not have to be a mathematical genius to multiply the government figure of 1700 blocks by five; being five years. Lo and behold, you get 8500 blocks of land required just to keep pace! The Treasurer told this House they are going to release 6000 blocks over the next five years. That is fabulous because, in five years time, we are going to be 2500 blocks of land behind. We are still going to have people going to auctions, living in tents, motor cars and in poky rooms under elevated homes! I amazed the Treasurer, who is supposed to be in charge of the bank, cannot seem to count and get to a point where we have sufficient blocks. They have plans; they are going to do this, going to plan. I hear much spoken about plans. Well, I just wonder.
The Treasurer spoke about investment incentives and quoted 292 investment homes out there. Well, that is fabulous; I think it is great. We should give investment incentives to people. The problem is rent on those places is between $500 and $600 minimum. Some of them are even more. When I have people coming into my office saying, ‘I am a nurse’, ‘I am a police officer’, ‘I am a firie’, ‘I work in one of the essential services of this community and I cannot afford to live here’, what do I say to them? ‘Oh, well, mate, do not worry, go down to Palmerston because you can rent a house there for $500 to $800 a week so you can spend virtually everything you earn on rent’.
I do not want to tell you some of the replies I get; I would get into trouble for using that sort of language in this House. Some of these people are absolutely desperate and the government says: ‘This is great, we have houses being built’. The member for Port Darwin mentioned earlier Port Hedland and Karratha, where some of those rents are sky high. It is just another indication of systemic failures in the planning process to get house blocks for people - even middle class Territorians.
The Treasurer also said Territory Housing stock was sold to people on low incomes. I remember, a number of years ago, taking note of some of the houses being sold. Not all, but a significant number of those Territory Housing properties, were actually sold at auction. You could go to an auction every weekend where the government was selling off Territory Housing stock - some to occupants, but not all.
I will go back to a number of things the member for Fannie Bay said. The first thing I would like to deal with is probably a mistruth, that of the 2000 homes the Country Liberals are saying Labor sold recently, 1400 were homes which we sold when we were in government. Budget Paper No 3, 2003 states it was 6119; in 2008-09 it was 5251. In the time frame I was talking about, on 30 June 2001, which was a couple of weeks before the election, total public housing stock was 7469. I will say that again, on 30 June 2001, public housing stock was 7469.
I have some figures from 2006-07, and figures from the 2008-09 which the member for Port Darwin has in front of him, but I will just quote this figure, in the 2006-07 financial year, 5352. You do not have to be a mathematical genius: 7469 minus 5352 equals 2117 Territory Housing dwellings sold by this government. When the member for Fannie Bay stands up and tells us out of those 2000 we sold 1400, I would like to know how we can sell, in a few weeks prior to a Territory election, 1400 homes. I do not think that occurred.
I say the member for Fannie Bay needs to do the mathematics again and come back to this House and correct the mistruth he perpetrated.
Page 110 of the 2004-05 Northern Territory Economy Budget Paper, the second paragraph under Territory Housing Business Services says:
- The main providers of public housing in the Territory are Territory Housing Business Services (THBS), which manages the Territory government’s public housing stock, the Indigenous Housing Authority of the Northern Territory (IHANT) and the DHA. These organisations typically provide partially or fully-subsidised accommodation to approved low-income earners, Indigenous persons, and public sector and defence employees. In 2003-04, it is estimated that these organisations constructed 170 dwellings. The disposal of public sector dwellings in 2003-04 did not have a significant impact on nett housing stock.
As we see, we have gone down over the period between 2001 and 2007 by over 2000 homes. We go further down and it says:
- Divestment was through direct sales (to existing tenants), the open market and sales of complete blocks of units to developers, with most stock sold in 1998 and 1999. The divestment program, combined with THBS finance assistance through the HomeNorth loan scheme, is estimated to have increased home ownership levels in the Territory by around 2 percentage points.
That is the important part.
- Since then, THBS has invested in one and two bedroom low-density dwellings more appropriate to client needs. Together with the divestment program, it is estimated the construction program, completed in 2001-02, has not significantly altered net THBS housing stock.
- Although THBS is not currently constructing any new dwellings, they have a significantly increased maintenance and upgrade program in place.’
Madam Deputy Speaker, I have people come to my office who have been in a public home. One is a very elderly man in his late 70s; his circumstances are he cannot buy his home. He has been in his home for 20 years and has been trying to get it painted for the last 15 years. I do not know when it is planned to paint these homes, but this is a common problem. This says in 2004: ‘they have a significantly increased maintenance and upgrade program in place’. I keep sending those things into the minister’s office, and we ring Housing and we attempt to get things done. It does not seem these people can get thing fixed in their homes.
Earlier, the Minister for Housing stated their priorities are seniors and singles. Well, that is fantastic. I applaud the minister for looking after seniors and singles. However, I have seniors coming into my office, and I also have single dads and single mums looking for accommodation urgently. They are not people who can go to Palmerston and rent one of the 292 investment properties the Treasurer purports is going to be available. They are not in that market. These people find themselves in circumstances, quite often beyond their control, where they need a hand up. How, as a community, do we give them a hand up? We have housing stock available; we do not sell 2117 of them off.
I would like to reiterate: we did not sell 1400 houses because we were not in government. You were in government; you sold them, not us. Sending someone in there to purport we sold 1300 of your 2117 homes is laughable. Madam Speaker, we move along and we say pensioners, we are talking about …
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Sanderson, you have the floor.
Mr STYLES: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I note the government is going to move seniors’ rental assessments from 12 months back to six months. We are now going to be charging seniors twice a year instead of once a year. Jenny Macklin, the federal minister, said seniors should be given the benefit of the increases in their pension. The government is now going to review rental rebates from once a year to twice a year. So we put the rent up and we take it up. The member for Fannie Bay also talked about doing wonderful things with the pension and carer concession schemes; that is great. We give them increases but then we put up motor vehicle registration, we take it away …
Mr Henderson: We actually reduced it!
Mr STYLES: No, no. I pick up on that interjection. Perhaps the Chief Minister should talk to people in the real world, some of the pensioners who are paying this and coming into offices complaining about how much money they do not have these days. They live in an expensive part of Australia and now the pensioners are saying they have to move south because they cannot afford to stay here. Everything is going up on a daily basis and getting very expensive.
Madam Deputy Speaker, there is a whole plethora of problems this government has with the housing policy. It would be really nice to see the Housing Minister sit down and have a look at the real world out there, and do something about it.
Discussion concluded.
ADJOURNMENT
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Honourable members, it now being 9 pm, pursuant to Standing Order 41A we will complete the item of business before the Chair and I will put the question that the Assembly do now adjourn.
Mr KNIGHT (Daly): Madam Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Opposition Leader claimed in Question Time today, that she was referring to a March 2009 Australian Bureau of Statistics Report in relation to Territory Housing wait lists. I call on the Deputy Opposition Leader to table the report. I noticed she is in the House at the moment, so she has heard the request.
I will move on to my electorate. I place on the record my sincere thanks for the contribution the CEO, Lisa Wain, from the Coomalie Community Government Council, has provided to the Coomalie region and to local government in the Northern Territory. Lisa has made the decision to retire as CEO, after being with the council since 2004. Applications for a new CEO have been advertised, and those applying have some big shoes to fill. It will be a great challenge to replace such a talented CEO.
I first met Lisa in Mataranka. She did a sterling job with Col. As Lisa has said, Coomalie Community Government Council is a very small team, but they have received great outcomes. Many of those great outcomes have occurred through the dedication and hard lobbying Lisa has done over the years with the Northern Territory government, federal, and local organisations. Lisa has left a great legacy for the community through enormous success in attracting funding for the shire; some $4m in grants I am informed. That is individual applications from $1000 up to $100 000, so it is certainly a great effort.
Just to mention a couple of great events Lisa and her team have had tremendous success with, the Adelaide River Anzac Day and Remembrance Day events, and one of the Christmas events on the social calendar is the Seniors’ Christmas Lunch held with the Coomalie seniors in the Adelaide River Show Society Club. It is always very well attended. I believe the Adelaide River Anzac Day dawn service is the best in the Territory. It is the most moving I have been to, it has been growing from year to year, and it goes down to the dedication of Lisa and all of the staff at the Coomalie Council.
As the CEO, Lisa has taken great pride in her job for the betterment of the community. It is not always easy being in local government; Lisa has had many challenges but most residents around the Coomalie region know it is the community Lisa has always had in the forefront of any decision she has made. I have known Lisa and her husband, Colin, for many years and the decision to slow down is completely understood.
Those closest to her need some of her attention, and I wish her and Colin all the best in the future, and she certainly has done a great job. I have never seen a CEO of a local government council out there first thing in the morning cleaning up the rubbish in a park, and in the afternoon chasing stray dogs. It is a regular sight seeing Lisa driving her car around trying to attract the dogs to get in her car.
I thank Lisa for her dedication. I do not believe she is completely lost to the Coomalie region, but she will be relocating interstate, and I thank Col, too. He has done many events as an entertainer, both in Mataranka and other parts of the Territory around Batchelor and Adelaide River, free of charge many times. He is a great entertainer. I do hope Lisa and Colin have a great time in their retirement. I suspect they will not stay in retirement too long, but I understand why they are leaving Coomalie.
I also place on the record the valuable contribution Val Cowan, from the Daly River Community Development Association, has made to that region. Val has been the secretary of the DRDA and has lived in Wooliana for many years. There is always a handful of community-driven people who take on the challenge of being either on the council or association, and I admire their dedication and the voluntary hours these people put in. Val has lobbied, on many occasions, to progress services for the community at Daly River.
I remember last year when nominations were being called for secretary, Val announced then she was not going to stand again, so a new secretary was appointed. I believe it was only about 10 minutes when the new secretary announced they were unavailable to continue, so Val again stepped in and continued for one more year. That year has now come to a close and Val, along with her husband, Brian, has decided to move to the big smoke of Darwin to concentrate on some of their personal matters.
As a community member, I thank Val for her contribution to the Daly River Region, especially the Daly River Community Development Association. She will be missed there, and I wish her and Brian the very best in the future.
In closing, I would like to mention some of the Taminmin Middle School students who have received awards for September. Awards went to Kelsey Considine in Year 7, Megan Craufurd in Year 8, and Nicholas Cook-Eather from Year 9. Congratulations to Berry Springs students, Ellie Collins from Early Learning, and Jack Manning from the upper primary level.
I also mention the great quiz night that will be held this coming Friday at the Berry Springs School. I was a quiz master last year, and I will be there again. The quiz master is a different person, but also a member of this parliament - the member for Nelson, who is very entertaining. I invite everybody to come.
Again, thanks very much to the two people I mentioned - Lisa and Val. They certainly have made a great contribution to the Northern Territory and their local communities.
Mr ELFERINK (Port Darwin): Madam Deputy Speaker, tonight I raise a couple of issues, not least of which in my electorate is the issue of hooning. Whilst this government has made much mileage out of making grand announcements about seizing people’s cars, the expectation has not matched the hype from this government. It is clearly demonstrated in my own electorate of Port Darwin - hardly a far-flung corner of the Northern Territory.
You would expect to find some capacity to effectively police hooning in my electorate. Yet, to my astonishment and dismay, I walked down McLachlan Street next to the Catholic Cathedral and saw a street which resembled a drag strip from the amount of tyre marks there. These hoons congregate in the public car park opposite the church during the evening and at the local BP service station across the street. The police attention paid to them is minimal. That is evidenced simply by the amount of tyre marks left on that particular street. The good citizens of the Marrakai Apartments, Tomaris Court, and other citizens in that area have to put up with this noise.
One would hope the government was able to provide sufficient resources so the police are able to go there and get rid of these little toe-rags and shut down their conduct. It is not a particularly edifying thing to read media releases and grand public statements about what is to be done with hoon vehicles, only to see a handful, if that - a pitiful number of vehicles - actually being seized, and then being returned so quickly to their owners.
The failure of government to effectively resource police at the times they are needed in this area demonstrates, once again, their eyes are clearly off the ball. I urge the government, and the Police minister listening to me at the moment, to turn their attention to this particular matter in this area, but also, more generally, to hooning inside the Darwin CBD.
Mitchell Street continues to be a problem. I walked down there not so long ago at about 5 am with a resident who was particularly peeved with the lack of police presence. I remember thinking to myself: ‘Hang on, isn’t there a dedicated patrol for the closing times of the nightclubs along Mitchell Street?’ When I went for a walk with that particular lady we walked past those nightclubs. I saw people urinating in the street. What I did not see was the police patrol in Mitchell Street at that time in the morning when there were large numbers of drunks. I am not talking about a weekend - this was a Wednesday morning. To see the police were not there - for whatever reason; they may have arrested someone and taken them away, but the police were not there. If they were not there, it means they were not there in sufficient numbers at all. If they do arrest someone, they should find some other way of conveying that person to the watch-house. But they should keep police on the street when these nightclubs close down.
The government made much about spending some money on buying a new Toyota Hilux; how about putting some policemen in them and getting them out on to Mitchell Street. I strongly urge - and I am sure the publicans in Mitchell Street would not complain about this – the Liquor Commission make more visitations than they do to the public houses occupying that street, with a view to trying to contain some of the conduct of the people, especially when they come out onto the street. I would urge the government to look at that particular issue.
I also rise tonight to speak about public drunkenness, and I am talking about the drunks that occupy our parks and gardens at all times of day and night. Nowadays, it is no longer possible to walk down the Esplanade without being confronted by groups of drunks sitting there, quite openly drinking from casks of wine and other sources of liquor. Quite regularly, you will see something like a lemonade bottle with a burgundy type colour in it, which you know is red wine; you do not have to beat around the bush. I would hope there would be some further attention paid to those parks and gardens where this is occurring as well.
For a police force which is supposed to be so substantially bolstered by extra police under the tutelage of this government, they are conspicuously absent so often from our parks and gardens, and this is not their fault; this is an issue of resourcing by this government themselves. If we are going to invest in more police, then I am a firm believer we invest in putting those police on the beat, as promised by this government for such a long time; 200 extra police on the beat. When it was pointed out to this government those extra police were not going on the beat, they were going to different specialty units, they finally had to drop that from their propaganda.
The fact is there still are not many more police on the beat, and that is where they need to be. They need to be in our parks and gardens, and they need to be addressing these sorts of issues, because I know that, if you take command of your streets, if you take command of your parks, you then take command of the crime rates that flow from that sort of thing.
Policing philosophy, in more recent times, is to be engaging in responsive policing, which means you have 1000 little specialty units. That means you do not put police into the roles where they actually stop things from happening in the first place. That is why we are losing control of our streets. It is not for want of resources, it is because of policing philosophy and a policing resourcing system which is not properly putting police on our streets, hence the hoons in our streets not being really effectively dealt with; hence Mitchell Street as a nightclub strip not being effectively dealt with; and, hence our parks and gardens becoming increasingly infested with drunks. We know, just before this government took power, about 11 000 people were apprehended each year; that now has increased to 30 000 people. They are selling swimming pools of liquor more than they used to be selling.
It is not just a case of claiming we have more police therefore they are arresting more drunks. That is not what is happening. What is happening is we have more drunks. I call on this government to start dealing with this seriously, and start placing the responsibility where it belongs, and that is in the conduct of the individuals themselves who choose to get drunk and cause a nuisance for the rest of the community.
Madam Deputy Speaker, that plan has been described in the past; I described how to do it while I was still the member for Macdonnell. This government knows what to do. I have heard the Minister for Health, on radio, articulate the CLP policy exactly in relation to this sort of thing. They made the promise prior to the 2005 election they were going to do this. It has been standing policy for a long time. All it requires is a bit of political will, something which is thunderously absent from this government.
Mr HENDERSON (Wanguri): Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise tonight to pay tribute in this parliament to a unique group of Territorians. I pay tribute to the former residents of the Retta Dixon Home established in Darwin from 1946 to 1980. The original dormitory-style home was located at the Bagot Community, located between Bagot Reserve and Bagot Hospital, and operated from 1946 to 1961. In 1962, the Retta Dixon Home was relocated to the site on the corner of Bagot and Totem Roads, now named Karu Park, as cottage accommodation.
The Retta Dixon Home Association recently held a reunion during the week 31 August to 4 September. What an emotional and fantastic week of celebrations it was. I know people travelled from interstate, and from centres throughout the Territory, to participate in this important reunion. It was the first reunion the people who lived at Retta Dixon had participated in.
For those of you who are not aware of the history, the Retta Dixon Home was established for Aboriginal children, many of whom were taken from their families, and others whose parents may have been working on properties, and others, including white children, who were in respite care.
As Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, I was so pleased to help the reunion committee and thank you to everyone who contributed to this important reunion. I thank the federal government for providing funding, and Danila Dilba for administering the grant. Thank you to NORFORCE for helping with the outside events and to the public servants from government departments who helped with transport, land and heritage issues. And of course, thank you to the reunion committee who worked so hard, especially to Audrey Tilmouth, Mai Katona, Debbie Whelan, Lorna Cubillo, Margaret Shields, Eddie, Dennis and Phyliss Kitching, Irene Pearson, Marjorie Gilmore, Valerie Day, Billy Dempsey, Damien Howard and Sheri Lochner.
Of course it was an emotional experience for many of the Retta Dixon family, but I heard it was a great time of laughter as well. Some experiences at Retta Dixon were definitely sad but some memories and experiences were much happier. The reunion activities included a church service, visits to the site of the original dormitory home at Bagot Community and the cottage homes at Karu Park, Coconut Grove. The group also travelled to some of the Retta Dixon school holiday sites at Casuarina Beach and Coomalie Creek, and commemorative plaques have been placed at Bagot Community, the old banyan tree at Casuarina Beach, and the holiday site at Coomalie Creek. I am sure this has revived some happy memories and great stories have been told to remind each other of those times. I know this was a great opportunity to share experiences with children and grandchildren.
When the Retta Dixon family visited Parliament House, I took the opportunity, as the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, to recognise the enormous value of all former residents of the Retta Dixon Home to our community. The one thing which strikes me and those other Territorians who grew up with the Retta Dixon children was they have maintained an incredible bond with each other and have a strong determination to achieve their goals in life. On behalf of the Northern Territory government and all Territorians, I want to thank the Retta Dixon family for your outstanding contribution to our community.
On behalf of this parliament I say thank you to the Retta Dixon family personally and thank you to the many who have sadly passed on. All of the Retta Dixon family have made an incredible contribution to our community. Their history is linked to the Darwin Buffaloes Football Club, with so many Retta Dixon boys playing with this great team.
Of course the Retta Dixon family has their own legend, the great Bill Dempsey. Bill had a fantastic career playing football in Western Australia and is known throughout Australia. I know Mai Katona has also had an outstanding career, working with governments and working at educational institutions. All of these special Territorians have achieved great things here in the Territory and throughout Australia. Some of them are well-known. Some of them had great working careers and some of them have worked away quietly, growing up their families, supporting their extended families, and making not only the Territory but also Australia a better place.
Many of the Retta Dixon families saw each other for the first time in many years during this reunion, and this must have brought back many emotional memories. During the Retta Dixon Home reunion, there was an outstanding photographic display at the Northern Territory Library and this display, as well as the media reports, provided an opportunity for many Territorians to learn about the story of Retta Dixon Home and to recognise their part in the history of Darwin.
The Territory is proud of the Retta Dixon community, the Retta Dixon family. On behalf of this parliament and all Territorians, I say congratulations and thank you to all of the Retta Dixon community for your contribution to the Territory.
Mr CHANDLER (Brennan): Madam Deputy Speaker, tonight I have a number of letters from people which I was going to speak through, but I am compelled to speak a little more about the MPI that ran tonight. It is quite clear, even under the surface; the government has admitted they have failed. They have failed because, with all the things they do, with all the things they say they have done, we still have people coming into our offices with sad stories. There have been too many of those stories replayed here tonight. Until some real action has taken place, it is going to continue to occur.
I am not going to dwell on that tonight. As the member for Nelson said, if the government is going to continue to look at the world through rose coloured glasses, believe their own spin, believe there is not a problem - we appreciate they are starting to work on the issue. What we say is this should have happened two or three years ago. I will not dwell on it, because as the member for Nelson said, we should be looking for ways forward, so I thought about that, and I have a couple of options you could perhaps try.
Option one: Territory Housing could construct new homes. They can be managed with strict rules and regulations regarding who lives there, and they can be sold off every 10 years. The reality is if you are selling properties off every 10 years you would not have the long-term maintenance we have today. We know there has been no maintenance done, at least in the last eight years, on Territory Housing, and perhaps not even for a few years prior to that under the previous CLP government. But let us put that aside; we are here in 2009. If we were constructing new homes and every 10 years we were selling those homes off, those homes we sell off could become the First Homebuyers Scheme, instead of a $14 000 grant for a new home. We all know that increases the cost of properties. We could be selling off Territory Housing units and houses after 10 years of service to the community, get a decent return on them and construct new homes.
Option two: we could look at DHA more closely. Look at how successful they have been with providing homes for defence personnel all across this country. Perhaps we could use a model similar to DHA. Maybe Territory Housing could construct houses, units and apartments, and they could be sold off to individual investors and leased back, just like DHA do today. Probably the most important thing is Territory Housing would become the managers of these properties and they would have to really lift their game. I believe we have failed miserably in the way we manage the stock. We are not strict enough on the people who live in these properties, and that goes on to create so many antisocial behaviour problems in our community.
If we were to manage them better, if we were to construct new properties, sell them off to investors, and the government were to lease them back, we would be creating real opportunities for local investors. Of course, they would want them looked after. The member for Nelson brought up a very good point tonight. Why not look at ways to house many of our government workers? It could be our nurses or newer, better homes for our police officers. Why could it not be on the DHA model? Why could we not have another level of housing, perhaps some upmarket houses, units and apartments? They could all be constructed by Territory Housing, sold off to investors, so investors are still making money here, and leased back.
As we can see with DHA, there are really good opportunities. They have created a very sound investment for many people around this country with their sale and lease back program. At the same time, they have lifted the quality of homes provided to defence personnel. I can remember arriving here in 1985 and not long after, moving into married quarters on the RAAF Base, and I know defence housing has come a long way since those homes. I can certainly see the difference in what they had, which was more akin to a public housing management style, although we certainly had to clean every crevice and every louver, and anywhere you could find a little dust needed to be cleaned. Today I know the rules are a little easier for defence personnel. They only have to clean the wet areas and so forth, because they have professional cleaners that come into the homes prior to the new defence people moving in.
The reality is that the model is successful. We know DHA was set up through funds from the Commonwealth and, in a very short period of time, paid back the entire amount of money the government invested. It is a model which works. Why could we not look at a model like that for government housing? We could have two levels of government housing; the standard housing and then a model which is the next level up.
That is where our police officers or our nurses could be going, or upmarket apartments which are still run by government, but on a DHA model where investors are actually earning money. They could be sold off to investors where they have a sound investment for perhaps, the next nine or 10 years. At that time, the properties could be on-sold by the owners, allowing Territory Housing to continue to construct new homes and sell them off to investors and lease them back.
The DHA model is a sound model; it has made much money. It certainly has improved housing stock for Defence personnel around this country. Why could we not do the same thing? The problem is we have a government so torn up with their spin, they believe it. I was handed this before; it is a great little thing. This is how the government appears to want to house our people. This lovely little colourful Housing the Territory. I do not know how we are going to live in these, but this is an idea they are going to use to house the Territory. These are just ideas. We have had many issues raised tonight, and heard a lot of heartache regarding what families are going through.
I do not want to dwell on that because we have heard it from so many different members. Even members from the government side have admitted, on Indigenous communities and elsewhere, there are people suffering. They call it a challenge. In fact, the Chief Minister called it housing stress. We have heard about it, we know it exists. If the government can admit what they have done up to now has not worked, it has failed; they need to look at other ideas, they need to start to deliver rather than talk about it. Here are options they could consider.
I know I have mentioned it before, but the government could have negotiated with INPEX to construct the first stage of Weddell. You can just imagine if INPEX came in, constructed new two- and three-bedroom homes, which were sold off to investors and leased back to INPEX for the next three or four years. They also put in a pool, tennis courts, maybe a driving range, a club or two, maybe even a fuel station. Good golly me, we have the start of our new city at little or no cost to government! It would show a great demonstration of community goodwill by INPEX.
It would also take away what could become a horrible intersection on the corner of the Howard Springs and Palmerston lights, where the INPEX village is planned. The number of buses coming through every day will certainly create a challenge there. Had the INPEX worker’s village been constructed in the Weddell area, they would only have to seal Jenkins Road, and they would not be crossing any major roads to the site. They would be away from the community and not causing any undue pressure on our already stretched road system.
However, we will not dwell on it; we know where we are. Here are a couple of options that the government should look at, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Mr HAMPTON (Stuart): Madam Deputy Speaker, I begin my adjournment tonight on a sadder note by acknowledging the passing of a former long-term Central Australian resident, Mr Paul Quinliven who passed away on Saturday. Paul had recently moved to Canberra, I understand. While trying to save the life of a man who was swept off rocks near Batemans Bay, he has tragically not been found and has passed away.
I have known Paul for quite some time. He formerly worked at the Ampilatwatja Health Clinic, where he was the administrator for a number of years. During my time as the local member, during the last term of this government, I would often call in to the Ampilatwatja clinic and Paul always opened up his house to me and had a bed waiting. It is a very sad incident that has happened. We hear too much about it along the New South Wales coast, in particular, where people walking along the coast get swept off the rocks by a freak wave and tragically, fall. Paul, being the man he was, dived in and tried to save this man’s life and tragically, has passed away.
I understand also the New South Wales police will recommend Paul be granted a posthumous bravery award, and that is something his family certainly would cherish.
Reflecting on a tribute from another Central Australian, Angus McIver, just posted on the web, and I think it sums up the person Paul was, and I quote:
- Paul was both brave and an inspiration. Paul successfully recruited health professionals to staff a remote health centre east of Alice Springs. His energy was tireless, and he would think nothing of driving patients 330 km to make an appointment in Alice Springs Hospital.
As I was the local member, Paul would always be knocking on my door in Alice Springs when he was in town, and was always a passionate person. I know the member for Johnston, whilst the Minister for Health, was involved in a couple of meetings with Paul, and Paul spoke very strongly and passionately about the issues, particularly that of patient assistance travel for those people living in the Sandover Highway region. He will be greatly missed. I pass on my sympathy, in particular to his family, his daughters, who I understand while desperately sad, are quite understandably proud of their father, as he was a man of great courage and compassion. Yes, he will be sadly missed.
I now turn to a couple of events in Alice Springs which are worthy of putting on the public record. The first one is the Drovers Volunteer Service in Alice Springs. On 19 September, the Drovers Alice Springs Hospital Volunteer Service won the Health and Community Service Award at the Australian Rural Outback Awards held in Canberra. This award is truly deserved as these wonderful volunteers provide more than the simple basics of toiletries, reading materials, and refreshments for patients and their visitors. The volunteers’ caring, and gift of time to sit and listen to patients who are often so far away from family and home, make people grateful for such a service in their time of need. This is regularly reflected in Letters to the Editor in the Centralian Advocate expressing patients’ gratitude for the service they provide.
I would like to acknowledge Di Deans, the founder of the Drovers Volunteer Service, and fellow volunteer, Lin Danby, who both went to Canberra to receive the award, which was a cash prize of $2000. I understand Di has stated the prize money will go towards items which are not ordinarily funded by the government, and items which have been on their wish list for some time. As Minister for Central Australia, I know Di popped into the shop in the mall quite a few times and I can say she was extremely proud of this award. So, congratulations to all of those volunteers as well.
The second event I attended in Alice Springs was the McGrath Foundation Fundraising evening at the Alice Springs Convention Centre on 22 September, where Glenn McGrath was the guest speaker. I also acknowledge the MC for the night was none other than 8HA Territory Today personality, Adrian Renzi, and he did a fantastic job on the night. Glenn McGrath, who is the roving ambassador for the Elders Company, was in Alice Springs. The local Elders branch was the leading fundraiser across Australia in 2008. They raised, I think, $18 000 from a fashion parade at the Alice Springs Show. Their reward was having Glenn McGrath come to Alice Springs and do a fundraising dinner; that is fantastic.
I acknowledge the catalyst behind this fundraising campaign, Kevin Prior, who is well known throughout Alice Springs, and always seen at footy on Saturday and Sunday with his camera, taking many photos, and at Auskick at Traeger Park on a Saturday morning. Well done to Kevin Prior and his exceptional deputies, Sandra Fry and Alyssa Wingrove, who did a fantastic job in organising the fundraiser and the fashion parade at the show in 2008.
The function on Wednesday evening was attended by 200 people, raising approximately $20 000 on the night. Fantastic! I really would like to acknowledge Glenn McGrath. I had a chat to Glenn. It was a great opportunity to meet a cricket hero of Australia and hear his speech and his sharing of the personal experiences he endured during Jane’s journey through cancer. It was a remarkable tribute to her, and I take my hat off to Glenn. He spoke really well and passionately about that journey.
When the McGrath Foundation was established, there were only seven breast screening nurses across Australia. Today there are 53 across regional and rural Australia due to the great work of the McGrath Foundation. The aim is to have at least 154 breast screening nurses working either part-time or full-time. I know Glenn was really taken by one Indigenous lady who spoke so passionately and privately about her experiences. She has had a recurrence of breast cancer, and she shared that with the 200 people at the dinner. I know Glenn was really touched. Her plea was to see if the McGrath Foundation could do something about providing education to Indigenous women particularly, but to all women in regional and remote areas in the Northern Territory. Also, to get breast screen nurses into some of our remote regional places in Central Australia. So it was a great night. $20 000 raised and, as I said, my hat is off to Glenn McGrath for the work he is doing in continuing his wife’s legacy.
Alice Springs really does pull together in times of need. Corey Cronin, a 19-year-old lad from a well-known Alice Springs family was seriously injured in July during the Natural Terrain Series at the Alice Springs Motorcycle Club track at Ilparpa. He is still in rehab in Adelaide, as I understand it, and there was a fundraiser held at the Alice Springs Memorial Club on 24 September. A staggering amount of $102 000 was raised on the night for Corey. That speaks volumes for the community of Alice Springs, as I said, in times of need. We do get bad publicity in Alice, but to raise $102 000 in one night as a fundraiser for young Corey speaks volumes of the character and the community of Alice Springs. When people need help, they really do pull together.
It was certainly my pleasure to donate a signed Adelaide Crows football guernsey, which was part of the All-Stars game in Darwin in 2009. I take my hat off again to those people who donated items, particularly to Sue Cawood, Rick Hall and others, and to the business community of Alice Springs as well for getting behind this great fundraiser. I wish Corey all the best in his rehab in Adelaide. I know he has a hard journey ahead, but I know he has the support of his family and the rest of Alice Springs.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE (Katherine): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I often have the opportunity to speak about some of the terrific things that have happened in Katherine. I have mentioned before about people pulling together and really putting in for a great cause. The matter I wish to raise tonight is no exception to that.
Over the last weekend Katherine had the Pink Boots Rodeo event. It would be appropriate for me to start with a little story about how that eventuated. In December 2007, a lady by the name of Robyn Lawton was diagnosed with cancer. She is a Katherine local. She had two daughters living on a cattle station. Of course, the diagnosis brought with it the fear from her daughters they may be subject to breast cancer as well, and they should get checked. Unfortunately, there are no facilities for mobile breast screening to travel to remote parts of the Northern Territory.
Certainly, the Mobile Breast Screen travels to the major centres, but not to remote parts. For example, if Mobile Breast Screen were able to go to a place like Timber Creek, many of the women who live on stations in that vicinity, the VRD and all that area would make the journey to come into town. Robyn set her mind to putting together a breast cancer fundraiser and through her associations, and she is the Secretary of the Top End Rodeo Circuit, she decided to put together a fundraising rodeo in Katherine, the Pink Boot Rodeo.
In conjunction with the Top End Rodeo Circuit she set about the task of putting this event together. She was able to secure what I would call fantastic and amazing support from the Katherine community and also from broader parts of the Northern Territory. By way of a commendation for Robyn, I wish to say in the time she had available to her to put this together, she managed to secure around 150 competitors for the event on the weekend.
The highest prize money they were able to offer was a staggering $1500 for the bull ride, along with many prizes for many other events which took place throughout the course of the evening. She was able, through some very clever marketing, to get around 800 people turn up to the event on Saturday. I am advised by her tonight it looks like she has probably raised somewhere in the vicinity of $10 000.
That is an amazing effort. The money will be donated to the Cancer Council with a special request the money be put towards breast cancer research, and hopefully some of that money can be diverted to the Mobile Breast Screen Unit so they can visit more remote parts of the Northern Territory. This will ensure the women who are hard-working, primary industry producers, the people who are willing to commit to tough times on the land, can avail themselves of the same opportunities their town counterparts can.
As an example of how the Katherine community digs deep to support fundraising efforts like this, I just want to tell a little story. Robyn walked into one business in Katherine, car parts I believe it was, and managed to raise a reasonable amount of money from them. They suggested she tell Peter to write a cheque for $500. She went over to meet Peter, and Peter being Peter Trembath, who is a local vet in town. She did not meet Peter there, he was not there at the time, but met with Kylie and Jim Leonhardt. They are a young couple who have just started a fairly new business in town called Impact Mechanical. She turned up there, told the story she was meant to tell Peter, and Kylie and Jim put their hands in their pockets immediately to the tune of $1000. She walked out $1500 richer because Pete Trembath, I believe, came on board at a later time.
Kylie and Jim, from Impact Mechanical, are a young couple with a new business. We all know with new businesses, or those who have started them or been in them before, those early years are tough times. You have to establish strong cash flows, and putting your hands in your pocket to the extent of $1000 is an amazing effort. They are not unique; there are many people in Katherine who do dig deep for fundraising events such as this, and it really does show how the Katherine people will pull together and support such an important fundraising event.
I mention also one of our stars in the Katherine. He probably is the most talented rodeo rider to come out of Katherine. He is a young man by the name of Cody Tapp. He won one of the events on the night, being one of the bull rides. Cody is a young man destined for great things in the rodeo circuit. He is a hard-working young fellow who has a passion for rodeo. He enjoys what he does and is very good at it. I wish Cody the very best in his pursuits in future rodeo circuits across the Northern Territory and Australia.
Well done to Katherine people. This was an amazing effort to pull such a wonderful event together. I am very appreciative I was contacted and asked to be a part of it. I was able to get there for a time on Saturday night and watch some of the earlier events. You could see the young children come out on ponies. Their parents had obviously spent a long time preparing for the show. They were done up in pink, with pink tails, pink manes, pink boots, or they had pink stars painted on them. It is amazing what you can do with a bit of red and white food colouring. It was such a nice event to see. Everybody had a terrific time. The sentiment, the way people were feeling, was extremely positive, and it really could not go to a better cause than breast cancer; given that October is Breast Cancer Month.
They are looking at further extending the fundraising efforts through the pink rodeo idea. I believe there might be one planned for Pine Creek, and Alice Springs as well. However, it goes further than that. Robyn is also looking towards fundraising for some of the men’s cancer foundations, particularly the Blue Ribbon Foundation for prostate cancer in men. That is something which cannot be understated either; it is an important thing for men’s health, particularly in light of the fact men, and particularly rural men, are often quite reticent and reluctant to explore some of the other medical issues they have.
It is time awareness of men’s cancer and men’s health issues was raised so people out there can have a much better understanding, remove some of those old taboos, and start working on ways to get men’s health issues out into the open arena.
I will finish off by congratulating the Top End Rodeo Circuit and, in particular, Robyn Lawton. Thanks to all the people who turned up and showed such great support for the event. Thanks to the riders, thanks to the people who were involved with the fundraising. It was a terrific night and I really look forward to events of that nature coming to Katherine, and our region, in the future.
Ms WALKER (Nhulunbuy): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I update the House on a number of events and achievements in Nhulunbuy electorate, and have them recorded on the public record.
I was pleased to be in invited to the annual Cadets and Adults Volunteers Divisional Inspection of St John Ambulance held in Nhulunbuy recently. Attending the inspection was the Commissioner of the Volunteers, Mr Steve Peers and the Director of the Ambulance Service, Territory, Mr Michael McKay, both of whom had travelled from Darwin for this event.
During the evening the following people received due recognition for their contributions including Mark Ferguson, the new Officer-in- Charge at Nhulunbuy who was promoted to Divisional Superintendent of Adult Division; and Mandy Paradise, who was awarded the Warrant of Appointment confirming her national recognition of appointment as Cadet Superintendent. Amongst the junior cadets, Mikaela Hockings received Cadet of the Year for her enthusiasm, attendance and consistent attitude, and Kasey Baker was recognised as the Most Improved. Ashleigh, Ky, and Kasey Baker won the Best Consistently Smart Uniform Award. I believe mum Renee laid claim to being the person behind that award.
Emily McIntyre was promoted to Non-Commissioned Officer, Corporal, enabling her to assist Mandy Paradise with cadets. She was recognised for her enthusiasm and leadership potential. Both Phil Sampson and Kylie Newport were promoted to Sergeants in the adult division. Annie Roles was thanked for her back up and for always supporting her husband, Ray, who is a paramedic with St John, when other volunteers are on other duties.
Special thanks also to Mark Ferguson’s wife, Melanie, who kindly prepared a most delicious supper at the conclusion of the Inspection.
Our local group provides an incredible service, with some 2600 volunteer hours put in from the start of the year, and this includes 800 hours alone from Kylie Newport.
We all know St John Ambulance provides a fantastic service to Territorians, and I was pleased to attend their annual inspection and have their achievements recorded on the public record this evening.
The Gove Peninsula Festival was held in Nhulunbuy in August, an event which was most welcomed by the community after an absence of two years. The event is run entirely by volunteers, and to be honest, it is on such a scale I think there was more than a dose of volunteer fatigue. However, thanks to a group of terrific and civil minded local people, a committee was formed at the beginning of this year to see our local festival back on the calendar, with this year’s theme Festival by the Sea. The curtain raiser to the festival on Friday evening was the annual Ray Ross Memorial Speedway Night. Racing certainly did not disappoint the packed out Nhulunbuy Speedway, and what a fantastic night it was.
The festival day commenced with a wonderful float parade and the children’s bike competition. The day included the Gove Olympics, stalls and displays, art and craft competition, and even a sideshow alley complete with a selection of show bags. For entertainment, we had Gove FM broadcast throughout the day, as well as live music provided by the very talented Tamika Kasper, Amy Fullard, Kerry Lee, Victoria Evans, who happens to be our 2009 Gove Idol, Arafura Dance students, Yirrkala School Band, Bunna Laurie and the Whale Dreamers, the African Drummers, and in the evening, popular local band, Ooojah Cockraigne performed.
I do not have a list of all the committee members who where behind the festival, but hats off to committee president, Sarah Hanks, who was very ably assisted by Kendell Kenway and Peter Cox, plus many other volunteers.
I pay tribute to one of my constituents, Rerrkirrwanga Mununggurr from Wandawuy Homeland, who was the winner of the $4000 Best Bark category at the 26th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award. Her work, Gumatj Gurtha, depicts the Gumatj clan’s design for sacred fire. Notably, Rerrkirrwanga Mununggurr is the daughter of the late Djapu clan elder who was winner of the Telstra Bark Painting Award in the 14th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award in 1997.
There is a proud tradition of talented and innovative Yolngu artists who time after time receive national recognition for their extraordinary efforts. I would also like to acknowledge the long-term and enormous support provided to these artists through Buku Larrngay Mulka Centre at Yirrkala along with centre coordinators, Andrew Blake and Will Stubbs.
I wish to acknowledge another of my constituents, Mr Darryl Stewart, whose business, Gove Pharmacy, was named as the 2009 NT Telstra Business of the Year. Gove Pharmacy also won the MYOB Small Business Award, which is awarded to businesses with more than five, but fewer than or equal to 20 employees. Gove Pharmacy has become the source of essential medicines and professional services for several of the region’s Aboriginal health services. Darryl Stewart has built up a very loyal customer base. He is committed to improving Indigenous health, as well as improving access to PBS medicines and professional services for local Aboriginal health centres.
By virtue of being the NT winner, Darryl also received national recognition for being the first pharmacy in the NT to reach the finals of the Pharmacy Guild/Johnson and Johnson Pacific Pharmacy of the Year. Though Darryl and his business were pipped at the post, he did attend Telstra’s National Business Awards in Sydney on 20 August, with his wife, Nicole. Everyone in Gove was extremely proud to see Darryl as a finalist, and to see a business from remote North East Arnhem Land competing against the best small businesses in Australia. I am sure Darryl, in recognising his achievements, would also want me to recognise the contribution his staff also makes to his business.
I took the opportunity, during Seniors Month in August, to hold a morning tea for the terrific senior citizens in my community. It was a small but vibrant group which gathered at our town hall. Maureen Neil, owner and editor of Arafura Times, popped in to take a couple of photos, but ended up staying for the whole morning, and followed up with a series of articles over the following weeks, providing the stories of Elsie McLaughlin, June Bennett, and former resident, Colleen Thomson, who was back in Gove for a visit with her daughter, Jenny Laverty. Senior citizens in my community are a terrific group of civic-minded people who have contributed much to the community over the years.
I would also like to share with the House the excitement of the Gove Aussie Rules Football League final on 29 August. As sponsor of the 2009 GAFL Cup, I was honoured to present the cup to Djarrak who won a hard-fought game over close rivals, Gopu, and had not won a premiership for many years.
Former member, Syd Stirling, has given me much advice over the past 12 to 18 months. One thing he made me promise was to continue supporting local football, which was always very close to Syd’s heart. In the grand final, Djarrak was victorious with 106 points to Gopu’s 92. Michael Mununggurritj was awarded the Billy Buckle Medal for the best on field. For Djarrak, best players were Michael Mununggurritj, Phillip Bukulatjpi, Riccardo Mununggurr, Djalarika Raymond, Darren Mununggurr and Longy Maymure. For Gopu, best players were Gerard Puruntatamerri, Hamish Simpson, Danny Bromot, Ben Callaghan, Jessiah Yunupingu and Samuel Gurruwiwi.
I acknowledge the other teams in our small competition, including Saints and Nguykal. Nguykal literally found their legs late in the season and will be the ones to watch for next year. Of course, the competition can only happen when a group of people do the organising behind the scenes, so I also acknowledge the efforts of the very small committee of Hamish Simpson, Lyndon Snelling and Stuart Loftus as well as ever-reliable scorer and general organiser, Fiona Djerrkura and her partner, Gerry. And last but not least, umpires Mike Sandford and Stu McGill and dedicated manager of the scoring process, my footy made teenage son, Harry.
Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, once again Nhulunbuy individuals and businesses featured in the NT Training Awards which were held recently at the Darwin Convention Centre. Congratulations must go to: VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year, Marlene Organ, for the second year in a row, who is the coordinator of Nhulunbuy High School’s RTO. Vocational Student of the Year was awarded to Samantha Ziegler, who happens to be Marlene’s daughter and who is currently hosted by YBE(2) Pty Ltd for her Certificate III in Business; VET in Schools Student of the Year runner up was awarded to Bryce McIntyre at Nhulunbuy High School who is in his Certificate I in Engineering and Certificate I in Information Technology; and the Training Initiative Award was awarded to Rio Tinto Alcan for their ALERT program which provides a comprehensive training program for indigenous men and women and a pathway to real jobs.
On a final note, I acknowledge a number of Nhulunbuy Primary School students who were recognised by principal, Cindy McGarry, with a Principal’s Award. There are many reasons why students are nominated for these awards. It could be for someone who is consistently cooperative, respectful, enthusiastic, attentive, helpful, kind and considerate to others. The award can also be for someone who is new to the school and has settled in well.
Whatever the reason, the following students received a Principal’s Award because they have obviously shown some very positive personal qualities which make them a great role model for others. In Transition, awards were given to Kateeja Koops, Ted Griffin, Corey Banks and Tia Robinson; in Year 1, awards went to Trista Sims, Jimmy Waters, Olive Griffin; in Year 2, Paige Muir, Jack Collins and Jayden Wagg; in Year 3, Ipsita Singh, Sophie Brown and Shanti Monteiro; in Year 4, Jacintha Misob, Bradon Moyle and Joel Morris; in Year 5, Fraser Humphreys and Ailey O’Brien; in Year 6, Ashleigh Pryer, Ryan Randle and Gemma Hinchcliffe; and last but not least, in the Learning Centre, Tyrone Hislop-Mc Sherry.
Mr STYLES (Sanderson): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I was pleased to attend the Portrait of a Senior Territorian last Friday, 9 October, at Parliament House. It was a fantastic event, well-attended by many seniors and even more encouraging, many young people who came along for the event and accompanied friends, parents or grandparents. It was a well-attended event, made all the better because most people got into the theme of things and dressed in attire to enter the best dressed person on the day competition. The way it was conducted was quite hilarious, and all had a good time. I must thank Madam Speaker for hosting the event. She did an excellent job in providing a fun morning for all, and also providing hospitality for a great bunch of senior Territorians and their friends and relatives.
This is supported by the Government House Foundation, the Legislative Assembly and the Northern Territory government and members of this House. It was great to see people participating in and attending rehearsals for singing, dancing and playing musical instruments, and then later actually performing for these great people and entertaining them and, I am sure, giving them a great laugh. I would say, though, there were many of us there who will not be giving up our day jobs to take up a singing or dancing career, or playing musical instruments.
I will quote from the book produced by supporter, Image Offset, which shows all the portraits painted by the various artists with a story about each subject; then it gives you the background of each artist.
It is a book I have encouraged many people to get hold of and look at, and also, if people have an opportunity, to go to the great hall to see the portraits on display. The person who won this year’s Portrait of a Senior Territorian, and who was the recipient of a $5000 prize proudly donated by the Government House Organisation represented by Mr David Pearson, was Ian Campbell.
I will quote from the book:
- Ian Campbell studied art in Glasgow and completed further studies in education in Scotland and the Northern Territory. His work has been included in numerous exhibitions in Alice Springs and Darwin, including several solo exhibitions. Ian was the winner of the 2002 Portrait of the Senior Territorian Art Award. Again we see his talent displayed in a fantastic painting of Jose Petrick, who is a wonderful woman who has contributed enormously to the Northern Territory, its people, and its development, especially in its community development.
Jose Petrick, OAM, was born in Bournemouth, England, were she trained as a secretary and a nurse. Josie arrived in Australia in 1950 to work as a governess at MacDonald Downs Station. She soon married Martin Petrick on neighbouring Mount Swan Station, and later moved to Neutral Junction Station, Barrow Creek. Following Martin’s unfortunate death in 1974, Jose became a journalist with the Centralian Advocate, writing features. The features were subsequently published in book form. Jose was awarded an OAM in 2000 for service in recording the history of Alice Springs. She has a daughter, a son, and five grandchildren.
It is a fantastic portrait. It is on display in the great hall. Anyone who is a purveyor of fine art should have a look at all those portraits.
I will move on to another function I was very fortunate to attend on 9 October, the Northern Territory Netball Championships. This event was run over the weekend, commencing on Friday night and finishing Sunday. When the usual sponsor was unable to continue, another Territory company very quickly filled the gap. This demonstrates some of the fine people in the Northern Territory.
I believe the owners of NT Link, Tony Smith and Libby Prell, are both active and passionate members of the local community, and the NT Netball Association was thrilled they stepped in and took on major sponsorship for the Northern Territory Netball Championships.
The new facilities at Marrara are second to none in Australia, and I commend the government for investing in those facilities and providing young women with an excellent facility with offices, canteen, change rooms, showers, toilets; everything is top class. The courts, with a number of concrete and synthetic surfaces, for the use of all Territorians, are second to none.
The championships were well attended by teams from Alice Springs, Gove, Katherine, and Darwin, with approximately 200 competitors. It was fantastic to see the energy, which demonstrates to me there are young people out there willing to participate, train hard, and play sport in a fashion we all like to see. The event was open by the President of NT Netball, Helen Smith who made a great speech and thanked the government for the new facilities and the car park. It is a top-rate facility.
One thing which really impressed me was a young eight-year-old girl, Holly Parker, who attended with her mum, Kelly. I recall watching Jessica Mauboy as a young girl about the same age - in fact younger - when I used to teach at Wulagi Primary School. I used to watch her sing. I have to say Holly, when she performed the Australian National Anthem with absolutely no backing whatsoever, did a superb job. To hear her voice, and the confidence of one so young, was fantastic to see. It filled me with great pride, as a Territorian, to watch this young lady perform in front of 300 or 400 people and captivate them as she sang the Australian National Anthem. She did a fantastic job. I commend young Holly Parker, and I will watch with great interest her career and future development as a singer and entertainer. I am sure she will follow in the footsteps of the other recent Territory hit, Jessica Mauboy.
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the closing ceremony due to other commitments, but I make special note that Stacey Campton, who is an IUA/AA badged umpire, was there from Netball Australia to talk on rules and actions on umpiring. There are a number of umpires and it is important that we mention them: Antony Yoffa, Sue Pannell, Michelle Ride, Tenille Arnold, Mel Swart, Di McGregor, Kira Grant, Sara Farrands, Linda Parnham, Lauren Davies, Andrea Read, Jourdan Pym, Linda Brodie, and Helen Clarke.
Madam Deputy Speaker, without those people and their commitment to this sport, it would be impossible to run the games and provide a service for such a wonderful group of young people.
Ms McCARTHY (Arnhem): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I pay tribute tonight to the memory of Rev Bapa Joe Garawirrtja, a senior statesman of the Yolngu people, who passed away on 18 September, and was laid to rest at Milingimbi on Saturday, 10 October. The funeral was attended by the whole community, and many other people travelled from across north-east Arnhem Land and Darwin to join them. On Wednesday before the funeral, a memorial service was held at the Uniting Church in Nightcliff which was also very well attended.
I am very sad we have lost this great man and sorry I was unable to attend his funeral service to both mourn his passing, and celebrate his full and very distinguished life. He was a highly respected Minister of the Uniting Church, a senior traditional owner, and acknowledged for the strong leadership role he fulfilled, despite battling serious illness over recent years.
Bapa Joe was born on 19 January 1947 in Millingimbi, and went to Papua New Guinea in the 1970s to attend Malumaluwan College, before returning to Darwin to work for the YMCA on communities, in schools, and with youth groups.
In the early 1980s, he returned to Millingimbi to serve as a Lay Pastor and started studying at Nungalinya College, where he graduated with a Diploma in Theology in 1984. Bapa Joe was ordained as a Minister of the Uniting Church in April 1985, and was posted to Galiwinku, where he served for nine years. He was loved by all and worked tirelessly with young people in particular, involving them in sports and agricultural work. He would often do the umpiring of AFL games and, on more serious occasions, would act as a mediator of volatile conflicts within the community. He was the person who reconciled everyone and brought them back together.
After his return to Milingimbi in the 1990s, he was elected as a councillor on the Milingimbi Community Government Council Board, serving as Chair on several occasions. After the council amalgamation, he served as the Community Liaison Officer for the East Arnhem Shire Council. It was in his role as Chair of the council, and acknowledged leader of Milingimbi community, where I first met him, when elected as member for Arnhem in 2005. I remember my first visit to Milingimbi. Bapa Joe was there welcoming me to the country and, on many occasions, taking me around and just teaching me about the importance of Yolngu culture, and the importance of many different areas and clan groups at Milingimbi.
I remember in particular my first Australia Day celebrations at Milingimbi. I was intrigued and impressed with the Milingimbi people and the way they celebrated Australia Day, especially as a Yolngu community, when, in many parts of Australia, for Indigenous Australians, celebration is perhaps not always the word used around Australia Day. Not so in Milingimbi, very proud Australians, very proud Yolngu. Bapa Joe was the organiser of the many events that day. They had picnic day races on Australia Day every year, and they did it the first year I was there. I remember the billycan race, where all the sand is piled up in the billycan, and then you have to put the billycan on your head, and you have to walk as fast as you can with that billycan to the next person, and that was your relay team. Instead of passing the baton, you would be passing the billycan from head to head. I am very sad to say, my billycan kept dropping off, but Bapa Joe kept encouraging me with that billycan.
He made me feel so special and welcome whenever I visited Milingimbi, with his open, honest and humble ways. But then again, he made everyone feel special and welcome.
Bapa Joe leaves behind a powerful message for his people: to stand proud in Yolngu culture as they walk a path in the Balanda world. He leaves behind a powerful dream our children will grow strong in both cultures, living with dignity on their country that holds much promise. That dignity was so evident in Reverend Bapa Joe Garawirrtja’s own life, and he will be sadly missed by all those who knew and worked with him. He had a deep and profound faith in the Lord, and we know, and his families know, he has gone home.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016