2007-10-09
Madam Speaker Aagaard took the Chair at 10 am.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have received from His Honour the Administrator message No 23 notifying assent to bills passed in the August sittings of the Assembly.
The CLERK: Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 100A, I inform honourable members that a response to petition No 64 has been received and circulated to honourable members.
Response
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, this morning I inform the House on the outcomes of my recent trade mission to Vietnam and Japan. Earlier this year, in March, my department led a joint industry and government exploratory trade delegation to Vietnam. Such was its success, particularly in progressing opportunities in live cattle trade and education, that I decided to personally lead a follow-up trade mission last month.
Vietnam is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, and the opportunities are there for the Territory to grow its international trade base. Our trade mission included three key players: Professor Helen Garnett, Vice Chancellor of Charles Darwin University; Stuart Kenny, Deputy Director of the Cattlemen’s Association; and Julie Beaumont, Operations Manager of the Chamber of Commerce. I take this opportunity to thank each of them for their hard work and professionalism.
I am pleased to report there were many good outcomes from the visit. In strengthening political relationships, which cannot be underestimated in a country like Vietnam, I held meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem; the Vice Minister for Education and Training,Professor Tran Van Nhung, Vice Minister for Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Hon Mr Le Bach Hung; and the Vice Minister for Industry and Trade, Nguyen Thanh Bien.
The purpose of these meetings was to promote, at the highest levels, the Territory’s geographical proximity to Asia, our long-standing relationships in the region, and our emerging trade capabilities, particularly in relation to live cattle, tourism, skilled migration and education, with the emphasis here on Charles Darwin University. I also met with Professor Le Huu Nghia, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Political and Public Administration Academy, whose key role is the training and upskilling of Vietnamese civil servants. During the meeting, I was able to talk about the Territory and the benefits and capabilities of the Charles Darwin University. I look forward to hearing more from CDU about their collaboration with the academy in the future.
Importantly, I signed a memorandum of understanding on trade and economic cooperation with Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province. Ba Ria – Vung Tau has many similarities to the Territory, with oil and gas prominent, as well as having strong tourism, agriculture and fisheries sectors. I firmly believe the MOU, together with our strong physical relationship with the province, will ensure that live cattle trade will begin in the next 12 to 18 months. My department is now working with its counterpart in Ba Ria – Vung Tau to develop an action plan to promote and support trade activities, with cattle trade being high on the agenda.
My department has also continued to follow up promising trade opportunities at the business level with the following companies: the Pas Foods Company, where talks have progressed on developing cattle trade including the inspection of sites to construct an abattoir and feed lots; the Khanh Hoa Trading and Investment Company, which is keen to receive the first shipment of around 1000 head of cattle by June next year; and, on the education front, the Phoung Nam Group of Companies is looking to develop a vocational holiday program with CDU which combines two of our great strengths, tourism and education.
From Vietnam, I flew to Tokyo to meet with Japanese industry and government leaders to promote further energy trade between Japan and the Territory. Energy security is most important to Japan and is a key destination for Australia energy exports. Our aim is to establish Darwin as a leading centre for gas development, which would deliver huge economic flow-on benefits to our economy. While in Tokyo, I met with the Japanese Vice-Minister for Energy, Mr Nakano; the Director General of Natural Resources and Energy Policy with the Ministry for Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr Hiraku; and, importantly, with the Chairman and President of INPEX, Mr Matsuo and Mr Kuroda.
At these meetings I presented the case for the Territory to accommodate expansion in energy industries and to build awareness of our capability and potential. A good example is the case for Darwin to play a role in developing INPEX’ $6bn Ichthys gas project in the Browse Basin.
The trip was a great success. I am very confident our links with Vietnam and Japan can only strengthen in the years ahead.
Madam Speaker, I commend the report to the Assembly.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, the opposition welcomes the report. Activities such as this are vitally important. The Territory, as a jurisdiction, is small in number but strategically located. Unless we work in a very intelligent way, we will be unable to capitalise on these strategic benefits that we have by virtue of our geographic location. It is reports like this that would not be criticised in any way by the Territory opposition. In fact, they should and must have full support because of the very important nature of the business conducted in these exchanges.
I urge the Chief Minister to continue to provide detailed updates on the progress of such meetings. The role of the senior political office of Chief Minister is critical in opening those doors, whereby the central objectives of Asian relations and trade and utilising our own advantages can only be realised with the sustained effort that goes on behind the initial encounter.
For the sake of the record, I recall, when the Chief Minister was in opposition, there were often calls for a detailed itinerary to be provided by the minister. There were also calls for detailed costings and so on to be revealed. Those are positions that were held quite dear by the Chief Minister in opposition. However, I notice that there is no detailed itinerary provided, nor detailed costings. I notice that the media accompanies to ensure the message goes out. I also noticed in times past – not that I am touting for a trip, I have too much on anyway – that the opposition were, in fact, included on such trips to reinforce …
Ms Martin: Once.
Mr MILLS: … the bipartisan nature of these activities.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Blain, your time has expired.
Mr NATT (Primary Industry and Fisheries): Madam Speaker, today I report on the government’s response to the latest threat to our biosecurity – the detection of the Asian green mussel in Darwin harbour. Members will recall that Darwin’s marinas were quarantined following the detection of the highly invasive black striped mussel on 1 April 1999. The lockdown at the marinas lasted for almost four weeks and stranded pleasure vessels, fishing charters and tourist boats alike. An extensive chemical treatment was necessary to eradicate the black striped mussel at a cost of more than $2.2m.
We take these marine pests very seriously, as they have the capacity to populate areas in large numbers, clogging water inlet pipes and valves, fouling the workings of marine equipment such as lock gates and pontoons and, generally, infesting large areas extremely quickly. It threatens our South Seas pearling and other aquaculture industries. That is why such a discovery is treated seriously and decisions made to deal with it urgently, be it through treatment, quarantine, or an order to leave these waters.
The most recent incident again shows the benefits of remaining vigilant. It involved the rig tender, Ostertor, which arrived in Darwin Harbour on Wednesday morning, 3 October 2007. During a maintenance survey of the vessel’s hull and sea water intakes by commercial divers on Thursday afternoon, 4 October 2007, Asian green mussels were discovered.
Asian green mussels are a recognised marine pest species with invasive characteristics similar to those of the black striped mussels. Allowing the Ostertor to remain berthed would put Darwin Harbour at great risk so, with the cooperation of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, the vessel left the Port of Darwin on Thursday evening and anchored in the vicinity of the No 5 buoy.
As no marine pest species appear on the Commonwealth’s Quarantine Act list of proclaimable species, AQIS did not have the legislative powers to order the vessel to leave Australian waters. However, on 5 October, my Director of Fisheries, under the relevant sections of the Fisheries Act, served the vessel’s Master with an order to leave Australian waters.
Ensuing discussions with the ship’s agents and owners highlighted that a lack of fuel on board the vessel and an appropriately qualified Master prevented the ship from complying with the order. Following consequent negotiations between my department and the vessel’s owners, the vessel moved to a location further out to sea, approximately 60 nautical miles from Darwin Harbour and 30 nautical miles from the nearest land. There, in water of at least 60 m depth, the risk of infection was minimised and the vessel was permitted to remain until arrangements could be made to refuel at sea.
On Saturday, 6 October, the vessel’s owners advised that arrangements had been made to refuel the Ostertor at sea outside Australian territorial waters, and the Ostertor would be under way to Singapore on Monday, 8 October.
The Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, in liaison with the relevant departments, will continue to explore ways to ensure that international vessels operating in Territory waters address biofouling and marine pest issues to minimise the risk of introducing invasive species. In addition to current marine pest monitoring activities, Fisheries will be implementing more intensive monitoring in the East Arm Wharf area over the coming months.
The vessel Ostertor had been contracted by ConocoPhillips to operate in Bayu-Undan area. I should point out that the Ostertor was not associated with the heavy-lift vessel Blue Marlin or the drilling rig West Atlas, which were both in Darwin Harbour at the same time as the Ostertor.
Madam Speaker, I ask that the Assembly take note of this report.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, I am sure the Assembly does take note of the report. These matters must be responded to with vigilance, and it was good to hear that report. I hope that we also hear reports on how the primary industry sector, generally, is going to maintain its research capacity. I would like an assurance. The question has been asked in the Chamber before. If I may digress - and I will probably be howled down because I am saying things that are not directly related to Asian green mussels - but it is the issue of maintaining our research capacity. I have asked this question before. We have had no commitment from this government that our research capacity in agriculture and primary industry is going to be maintained.
It was asked during estimates and it was shunted from one to the other. ‘Bad luck, opposition; you have asked the wrong minister and so on, and we do not have the answer’. We need the answer. I would like to have some response to something really important about Ord River Stage 2. Where is this government at with Ord River Stage 2? Let us talk about those sorts of things.
I am glad we are on to the Asian green mussels and they have been sent to another place. I am sure that the department - or I hope it is - is adequately resourced to ensure that we do not have an outbreak of Asian green mussels.
There are, however, other significant issues related to the future of primary industry and fisheries in the Northern Territory that need to be spoken about in this Chamber. Some leadership needs to be taken by this government on those matters.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I suppose next time I see an advertisement in the paper publicising an AGM, I will ensure it is not the Asian green mussel we are talking about.
Minister, the issue you reported today is important. The question that needs to be asked is: how come AQIS does not have the power to send a ship back out to sea? If there is the possibility of a pest being introduced into our waters, you would surely think that AQIS have some power, in that case, to send that ship back to sea to ensure the risk is not something that will cause problems in Northern Territory waters.
In relation to the issue of pests on ships, I would like to know what checks are done in our marinas. You mentioned the black striped mussel. Is there, for instance, a requirement to empty the water in those marinas at some time? I believe that one of the reasons the black striped mussel was able to propagate so quickly is because there were ideal conditions for growth in those marinas. What regulations do we have regarding those marinas to ensure that the chances of other pests, like the Asian green mussel and the black striped mussel, will not develop in those areas? Are there regular checks? Are the areas flushed out? What conditions are imposed on people who regulate those marinas?
I welcome the report. It is very important we remain vigilant in the area of pests coming in from overseas. We cannot let up on this, and I hope that the government is putting in the resources that are needed to ensure we are not affected by these potentially disastrous pests which could cause us millions of dollars in trying to control if we do not get on top of them straightaway.
Mr NATT (Primary Industry and Fisheries): Madam Speaker, I thank both members for their comments. In relation to the marina situation, I understand that the department’s Aquatic Pest Management Unit works very closely with the Darwin Port Corporation to run tests within those marinas to ensure that there is not a recurrence of the black striped mussel or any other invasive pest. Those checks and balances remain in place.
I acknowledge the work of all the government officers, in particular the Museum and the Aquatic Pest Management Unit, for the work they have undertaken in this particular situation, and Tidewater Marine Australia, the owners of the vessel, who took prompt action in removing the vessel from the harbour once they realised that there was an invasive pest under the hull of the ship. They have been very proactive in ensuring that this does not occur again and it has been a costly exercise for them. Once again, if the public remains vigilant we would be pleased to know if there is anything like this in the future.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Ms LAWRIE (Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage): Madam Speaker, as we know, Darwin was Australia’s frontline in World War II and our capital city has a rich wartime history. As part of Creating Darwin’s Future, last month the Chief Minister outlined the government’s plans for a heritage trail highlighting the city’s military history.
Today, I have announced that an additional four significant World War II heritage sites in the Top End will be heritage-listed by this government. The 17 Mile camp; the RAAF C-47 Dakota wreck in Darwin Harbour; the Strauss antiaircraft gun emplacement; and the Pell Airfield RAAF engineering workshop will be added to the Northern Territory Heritage List. These sites have significant historical significance to the Northern Territory and Australia.
Heritage listing will help raise awareness of the considerable contribution and sacrifice made by many Territorians and allied forces based in Darwin during the war. While the rest of Australia was assured the country was safe, at the 17 Mile camp, fortifications were built to fight off waves of Japanese soldiers that, in those days, were expected to attack in a land assault. The physical landscape and remains of the site show from which direction an attack was expected, and shows evidence of just how real the threat to Darwin was. Few people in Australia know that these fortifications exist, yet it is an important part of our nation’s history. This site will become a heritage-listed recreation park in the hope that people will visit and appreciate just how vulnerable Darwin became during World War II.
In Darwin Harbour, the RAAF C-47 Dakota discovered last year will be heritage-listed in recognition of the contribution the aircraft and its crew made during World War II and in the immediate post-war years. The C-47 was part of the RAAF 36 Squadron. It participated in the defence of Australia during World War II. After the war, it was carrying supplies to allied troops stationed in Japan and on the many islands in between when it experienced mechanical failure and was deliberately downed in Darwin Harbour near Fannie Bay. All five aboard were injured but managed to escape. This wreck has been used by the public for recreational fishing and diving. To ensure that this use can continue without damage from anchors, we have worked with the Harbourmaster to install a mooring buoy at the site.
The Strauss antiaircraft gun emplacement was developed in 1942 to provide heavy antiaircraft defences for Strauss and Livingstone airstrips. The emplacement is located on the side of the Stuart Highway south of Noonamah and is essentially intact. It is a significant example of a site that provided important defences in the area during World War II.
North of Adelaide River is the fourth site to be heritage-listed, the Pell Airfield RAAF engineering workshop. Pell was established as an RAAF aircraft Repair and Salvage Unit facility. The airstrip was named in honour of Major Floyd J Pell, who was killed during the first Japanese attack on Darwin on 19 February 1942. Today, the remaining camp, workshop areas and taxiways are relatively intact, and combine to present a significant representation of the activities of the unit that saw none of the glamour of the operational flying unit but was instrumental in the salvage, repair and return to operational service of a range of allied aircraft involved in the defence of Australia.
Darwin is unique. No other part of Australia played such a significant role in World War II. No other part of Australia suffered the deaths and destruction that Darwin did. Heritage listing these sites will ensure our history and our appreciation of those who served is both recognised and preserved.
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): Madam Speaker, I thank the minister for her report this morning. It is extremely important to ensure World War II sites throughout the Northern Territory are maintained. They attract much attention from tourists. There are many people who have come back to check on those World War II sites and to be reminded or reflect on their family members who served here.
There may be something that the minister might like to take on board. There were huge posters done of World War II military sites. They were massive posters with a lot of description on both sides. I have a couple of very faded ones which I have laminated and placed in the window of my electorate office. I can assure you they attract much attention. I cannot believe the number of tourists who have come in and asked me where they can buy them. It is really important that we make those available for our tourists and for those people who want to keep a record of the World War II heritage sites. I am reminded of many of those sites on my drive from Katherine to Darwin.
I am also disappointed that the new military museum is not going to be located at East Point. I believe that was the perfect opportunity to have it strategically placed in an area that is so clearly identified as very important to the Top End. It is also the first place struck by bombs during the war. I am disappointed that that has not been taken on board.
The Bombing of Darwin commemoration ceremony each year certainly brings back to us just how close Darwin was to World War II activities. I welcome the minister’s report and hope that you get some of those posters done, because they would be really welcomed and very much appreciated.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I welcome the minister’s report on the World War II sites. It is also important to emphasise that it is not just Darwin; it is really the Northern Territory because there are World War II sites from one end to the other. There needs to be an emphasis that it is not just about Darwin, it is about further down the track.
I welcome the inclusion of the 17 Mile camp site. I presume that is the camp near the bow hunters’ area. There is quite substantial development in that area and most people would not know it is there. It is overgrown, but it is a significant site. I also am pleased about the antiaircraft establishment at the Strauss Airstrip. It is not actually close to the airstrip; it is on private land. The minister may, in her reply, say what problems that may create for people accessing that site since it is on private land.
I have spoken here many times before about the importance that these World War II sites have, from an economic, tourism, and historic point of view, and also educational for all Australians, especially young Australians learning about their history.
I also want to comment on the World War II museum. Chief Minister, you said the other day on Top-FM radio that you had decided that the World War II museum would be placed adjacent to this building. I believed there would be public discussion in relation to that. I do not believe it is the appropriate site; not because I am against the World War II museum, but because it will destroy the balance and symmetry of this building along with the Supreme Court. There are other options. I hope that the government would be good enough to not make this site a definite site. There are options for East Point and also at the end of Mitchell Street on the old hospital site where you could look down Mitchell Street and look at the museum, which would be close to Larrakeyah Barracks. It would still be part of the World War II trail. However, to put it near Parliament House would destroy the beauty of this building ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, your time has expired.
Mr VATSKALIS (Business and Economic Development): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to report on the implementation in the Northern Territory of a new initiative inspiring primary and secondary school students to pursue careers in science and engineering. The initiative is sponsored by the Australian government’s Department of Education, Science and Training and the Canberra-based CSIRO Education Group, which is managing the national roll-out of the program. The aim is to get scientists to form partnerships with schools and to inspire students through fun and information activities.
The Northern Territory was informed at the end of July 2007 of the new initiative in a letter from Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Jim Peacock, to my Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development and the Department of Employment, Education and Training, plus the Chair of the Northern Territory Research and Innovation Board, Charles Darwin University, and a range of other organisations.
The letter requested the recipients in each jurisdiction circulate the website address for Scientists in Schools and make a personal approach to particularly dynamic and passionate scientists, engineers and teachers to encourage registrations on the National Scientists in Schools website. This way, hopefully, at least 100 scientists nationwide will be partnered with 100 schools in the three weeks leading up to the 2007 National Science Week from 18 to 26 August.
To meet this goal, the Department of Education, Science and Training had hoped that the Northern Territory could establish at least three partnerships between scientists and schools. However, one week out from National Science Week, only one partnership had been established in the Northern Territory. This prompted Dr Peacock to contact my department and ask for assistance and, within one week, my department was able to get three more scientists and one engineer to come on board.
Ecologists from the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts and CSIRO gave presentations to a Year 8 science class at Taminmin High School, Humpty Doo, about their research and how they got into science as a career. Marine Ecologists from DBERD, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and Northern Australia Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance gave presentations to two Year 11 marine biology classes at Taminmin High School. An ex-Marine Ecologist from DBERD ran a marine biology activity in a Year 6/7 class at Parap Primary School involving a short lecture on squid, octopuses, mussels and molluscs followed by a series of student dissections of mollusc seafood specimens acquired from a local fish shop. CDU provided dissection equipment, models, museum specimens and microscopes.
In short, this very successful activity has been sponsored by the Department of Education, Science and Training to participate in a symposium at the end of October in Newcastle. At the end of September, six scientists and 13 teachers from 11 Territory schools were registered with the program. All 11 schools are Northern Territory government schools with one in Alice Springs, one at Alyangula, four in the Darwin or outer Darwin region, one in Jabiru, two in Katherine, one at Maningrida, and one in Tennant Creek.
I would like to mention the Maningrida Community Education Centre in particular because the science teacher at that school, Mr Mason Scholes, recently took out one of the most prestigious national awards offered to science teachers, the 2007 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Science Teaching. Mr Scholes received a $10 000 prize in recognition of his very successful Year 11 and 12 Contemporary Issues in Science program which combines traditional knowledge with more traditional Western science to tackle critical issues. Congratulations to Mr Scholes on his Eureka Prize.
From all the registrations, four teachers and scientists have been partnered with teachers at school. However, we still have seven schools registered which have not been matched with scientists and two registered scientists who have not been matched with a school, because schools decided they have to have common interests. DBERD, DEET and CDU are working hard to establish more partnerships and matches. DBERD has an active interest in this initiative, because growing our own Northern Territory-based scientists will help grow the Northern Territory knowledge economy. Other Northern Territory government agencies, such as CDU and DEET, also stand to benefit from having homegrown scientists to take up employment with them. DBERD will continue to liaise with the Northern Territory government agencies to continue and expand this program in the Northern Territory.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, we welcome the report.
Reports noted pursuant to standing orders.
Continued from 23 August 2007.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, this legislation is supported for obvious reasons. The opposition has spoken about the need for this, not just in this term, but in the last term, if my memory serves me correctly. There are, however, a couple of issues that I would like the Attorney-General to address in his reply. I asked the Clerk to provide me with a copy of the Criminal Code because my computer was down and I could not access it. I came back into the Chamber to see that it is unplugged, so I am not sure what is happening with it.
In any event, I preface my comments by saying that I have a hard copy of the Criminal Code but, on the basis of a phone call I have just made, I am not sure that it is entirely up to date. I refer you, Attorney-General, to section 132 of the Code. In the copy I have, it provides for imprisonment for five years. It may be - and I am unable to check - that this has been amended so that the five-year term of imprisonment no longer exists. If that is the case, can you confirm that? If it is not the case, then it appears that there will be offences of a sexual nature which do not satisfy the seven-year threshold contained in the bill. If that is the case, then I am really compelled to ask: why is section 132 of the Code not contemplated or provided for in the Bail Amendment Act? I am sure you will appreciate where I am coming from. Both in the bill and in the second reading speech, there are references to ‘a serious sexual offence’. On the basis of this hard copy I have of the Criminal Code, for indecent dealing with child under 16 years - which people would be hard pressed to argue is anything other than serious - it does not appear to be covered by the bill.
Having dealt with that, I refer you to section 188, the common assault provision. Section 188(2)(k), again in my hard copy, refers to an indecent assault. Some would say that an indecent assault should fall within a definition of a serious sexual offence. The Attorney-General may well take the view that this amounts to a small ‘p’ political discussion, or perhaps a philosophical discussion about what is a serious sexual offence. In any event, I make the point that in relation to this copy of section 188 of the Criminal Code, the term of imprisonment is five years. That, again, does not satisfy the seven-year threshold that is provided for in the bill. If that is the case, can the Attorney-General say on the Parliamentary Record whether he regards indecent assaults as serious sexual offences? I am very interested to hear the Attorney-General’s response to that question.
Third, I would be grateful if he would advise whether matters that can be dealt with summarily are provided for in this bill. It follows that, where the bill prescribes that in relation to various offences where there is a seven years or more penalty, it speaks for itself so that if, as is the case in various sections of the Criminal Code, it provides a penalty - let us say seven years - then there will be a comma and it will say: ‘or two years if dealt with summarily’.
Can the Attorney-General say, for the sake of the Parliamentary Record, whether matters that can be dealt with summarily can still fall within the provisions of this bill? I am sure that he would not like to see a situation where, for instance, a sexual offence has a prescribed period of imprisonment of seven years, but it can be dealt with summarily, thereby having a period of imprisonment of two years and, therefore, it does not fall within the act, therefore, the intention of the act will not apply if a defendant, through his lawyer, will say: ‘I am happy for the matter to be dealt with in the Magistrates Court’.
There is one other additional point. I was not able to find a reference- and if there is one and I have missed it then I would be happy for him to refer to it. The bill, as I understand it, is silent on subsequent offences. Clearly, there are a number of matters prescribed in the assessment of risk that magistrates will take into account. For instance, it refers to: risk of violence or intimidation, the risk of harassment, the court will take into account the child’s age, the age of the accused, and so on. I wondered why a specific reference to an offender who has come back to the court - in other words, is there on a subsequent offence – should be something that is deserving of a specific reference in the bill. Put simply, we would all hate to see a situation where a persistent offender commits offences for which the period of imprisonment is less than seven years, and goes to court again and again. In that situation, this bill will not apply to him. I would grateful for his response to that issue.
Finally, in relation to clause 7(6) of the bill, it states:
Can the Attorney-General advise whether it is contemplated that one of two things might occur as a result of that subsection? First, a written statement from a victim based on, let us say, a victim impact statement, dealing specifically with the victim’s views to be taken into account. Second, whether it is foreseeable that, whereas it seems to be the intention that a victim says to the prosecutor, ‘Here are my views’, and the prosecutor from the Bar Table puts them forward, might it be the case that the defence might say: ‘We are not happy about accepting that submission from the Bar Table. We want the victim to be put in the witness box and to be examined and cross-examined as to what that victim alleges regarding his or her safety or welfare’. If that is an effect of this clause, then I do not believe it is a very good one. I would like to think that it was not contemplated by those drafting the bill.
Having said that, the bill is supportable and is worthy of support, notwithstanding those matters I have raised. With those comments I will conclude and I look forward to your response.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Madam Speaker, the Attorney-General knows that I support this bill, particularly because reflects very much the amendment I introduced in November last year, which the government said they supported in principle but, in fact, preferred to go it alone and draft their own amendment and make it broader than what I had actually introduced.
In saying that, I am pleased that the Attorney-General has introduced this amendment because I believe it does make sense, even though there are a couple of queries I have with it. I certainly recall the Attorney-General saying in response to my bill:
It was interesting, in February this year, when the Attorney-General wrote to me and provided me with a response on statistics. His letter stated 70% of persons accused with selected sexual offences were granted bail in 2004 compared to 58% in 2006. Although there was an indication that there was a drop in the particular bail allowed, it is still not good enough, in my opinion. The provisions that are set out in this act are much stronger than we have at the moment, and I am pleased to see that.
Attorney-General, there are some queries that I would like to raise with you. Clause 4 states that a definition of ‘child’ means a person under the age of 18 years and, yet, in clause 5, which inserts proposed new section 3A(2)(a) and (b), it refers to a child under the age of 16. It says:
Attorney-General, why do we have that inconsistency in age? If you, in your definitions, say a child is someone under the age 18 why, then, in proposed section 3A are you talking about a child under the age of 16? Surely, a child who is 16 or 17 should be given just as much protection as defined. Perhaps you can clarify for me why there is that inconsistency in age and why it should not apply in section 3A as well.
Proposed section 3A(1) also states that a serious sexual offence is a Territory sexual offence or a Commonwealth sexual offence for which a maximum penalty of imprisonment for seven years or more is prescribed. Yet, proposed section 3A(2) refers to a lesser maximum penalty being prescribed. Again, why the inconsistency? Surely, the maximum penalties should apply on all occasions. As far as I am concerned, a serious sexual offence as defined in this act is a serious sexual offence. Perhaps you could explain to me why there is that variation in penalty. I would like you to clarify those two points.
Also, my bill inserted a new section on transitional matters, if you recall. I refer you to what I said:
Could you explain to me exactly why you have not put in that transitional section? Would it not make sense that someone whose bail is to be reviewed after this act commences should come under this act? There is no reference at all to offences committed prior to the commencement of this act. Is there any reason you have not made this transitional provision? Please feel free to adopt or incorporate my provision into your act. I am more than happy for you to take it on.
The Attorney-General acknowledged that not everyone in the legal profession supported this change and, likewise, I had similar feedback. The Attorney-General said in the second reading speech:
That probably sums it up very well, but I also have received objections from sections of the legal profession. The dilemma for me is to understand why people in the legal profession would not see that victims have priority over alleged offenders. However, I guess that is part of their job.
There is also support in the broader community for what I had introduced, and I will be getting back to those people who wrote to me. Just to give you an example of some of the letters that came to me, I cannot forget this one because it is very relevant:
That was a handwritten letter from a victim. Most of all, we feel as though we should be protecting victims as much as we can. I notice that you do have many conditions for the bail to be given, and it is important that we understand that.
It is interesting to note that, with the intervention from the federal government - and I do not know whether it is true but there seems to be rumours out there that, so far, there have been no new cases of child abuse reported since the intervention. I would like to know whether that is true, Attorney-General. I know it has nothing to do with your bill but it is something that we need to know: what is actually coming out of this intervention and are there fewer cases of child abuse? It would be gratifying to know if that is so. I believe we would all be very pleased to know but I am unsure of that.
Attorney-General, I thank you for introducing this bill. Politically, from my point of view, it is an indication that Independents can influence government, and that is good. It is something that we need to ensure that people in the community understand. I take heart in that this is not a political stunt. It is not even a party stunt; it is, in fact, a people-driven amendment. I say that not lightly. It is not political, not party, but people-driven, and that is what is most important for the people, the victims, and young children in the Territory.
Madam Speaker, there is much more I could say. However, I have great satisfaction in knowing that you have introduced this amendment, knowing that it was something that may have been inspired by the fact that I introduced it to this House. Sometimes, Independents get a little frustrated that they have the good ideas and they are not always accepted by government. In this case, although you knocked back what I did, you have given us a better amendment in the long run. That is what is important for the victims within our community.
Attorney-General, I ask you to clarify those questions I asked about the age, inconsistency in maximum penalties, and whether you have considered the transitional matters that I put into my bill.
Madam Speaker, I support the bill.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Family and Community Services): Madam Speaker, I strongly support passage of the Bail Amendment Bill. In supporting this bill, I am well aware that some legal commentators would have misgivings as it is believed the removal of the presumption of bail might lead to the erosion of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. This is an important concern, one which we take seriously and one which I will discuss shortly.
However, I take as a basic precept that the most vulnerable members of society deserve the full protection of the law. The introduction of the conditions reversing the current presumption of bail in relation to a person charged with a serious sexual offence will provide a clear message that society will not accept violence against the vulnerable in our communities.
The Little Children Are Sacred report of the Northern Territory’s Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse recommended that the Bail Act be amended to include a new subsection which provides that, where the alleged offence is a sexual offence against a child, the court take into consideration the protection and welfare of the child when considering bail.
Sexual abuse against women and children in remote communities is often left unreported or is grossly under-reported. This may be for many reasons. However, once an alleged offender has been charged and bail is set, if the person returns to the community, there is potential for the women and children to be at risk of further harm and violence. Not granting the alleged offender bail will reinforce the abhorrence felt by society in relation to sexual offending, and provide safety to the abused persons from the actions of their alleged abuser. If women and children are aware that a person charged with committing violent sexual crimes against them has not been released on bail, it may encourage more people to make reports. In addition, if an alleged offender knows that they might not be released on bail, this may inhibit any further offending behaviour.
It is important to note that removing the presumption of bail does not mean that bail cannot be granted where a judge feels it is appropriate. To put it simply, the amendments proposed remove the presumption of bail, but they do not remove discretion from the judiciary. The amendments do not threaten the presumption of innocence. Presumptions against bail already exist under section 7A. Today’s amendments to the bill extend that section to include serious sexual offences. There is no evidence that the existing elements in section 7A have eroded the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, nor will it be the case under these amendments.
Amendments to section 24 of the act specifically require the court to consider the risk to the safety or welfare of the alleged victim, his or her close relative, and any other person who could be at risk given the circumstances of the case. Where the victim is a child, the court is also required to consider the risk posed to any care giver where that person is not the child’s close relative. This extends power under current legislation which does not specifically define serious sexual offences to mean those committed on children. Recommendation 35 of the Little Children Are Sacred report was drawn from submissions made to amend the Bail Act to be explicit in the mention of serious sexual offences against children. The report notes that the presumption against bail for certain offences is contained in section 7A of the Bail Act. Specified offences include murder and some other serious offences. They do not necessarily include serious sexual offences against children, although they may do if other criteria are satisfied. The report went on to mention that while incarceration may not be a preferred option for some, the message to offenders in the community needs to reflect the seriousness of the offence and the community’s view of this type of offending.
Amendments to section 24 require the court or authorised member to take into account, amongst other things, the age of the child and the accused person, the proposed living arrangements for the child and the accused person, and the desirability of preserving the child’s living arrangements and family and community relationships.
In many instances, the court is unable to convict an accused sexual offender owing to lack of evidence. Often the victim’s and witness testimony is not forthcoming once a court appearance date arrives. It is believed to be in many instances as a result of the accused and the accused family’s influence on the victim and the witnesses in the period leading up to court hearings.
Although this is not a complete solution to this issue, amendment to section 24 will require the court to consider the risk of the accused person interfering with evidence, witnesses or jurors. Where it is evident that this has occurred in the past, a judge will be able to remand the accused in custody to reduce the risk of tampering occurring.
However, I point out that the potential removal of bail is not the only intention required to protect and support the victims of sexual assault. The impact of sexual violence on survivors is the most traumatic and life-altering experience. It is, therefore, essential that interventions and programs be implemented to assist survivors and their families. Some of those interventions and changes will have short-term impact. Others must be generational changes, as outlined in this government’s Closing the Gap initiative.
Over the next five years, this will include the establishment of a Children’s Commissioner from January 2008 at a cost of $1.6m. The Children’s Commissioner will be able to monitor the operations and administration of the Care and Protection of Children Act; review and monitor the child protection and out-of-home care systems in the Northern Territory; advocate for and advise about services to children in the child protection system; investigate complaints regarding protected children; promote a child-safe environment; monitor the implementation of the child protection actions in Closing the Gap; and response to the inquiry.
Other initiatives which will flow from this year’s passing of the new Care and Protection of Children Act will include: recruitment of 10 additional child protection and family support workers at a cost of $6.8m; provision of a residential care unit for young people at risk, and establishment of a specialist therapeutic service team at a cost of $10.2m, provision of additional care and case management for children in care at a cost of $8.8m, and the establishment of a network of Aboriginal child protection and care services at a cost of $10.15m. This network will operate in partnership with FACS in responding to child abuse and neglect, and will provide advice on investigating child abuse and neglect, and on caring for children in ways that respect cultural authority.
We also intend extending the sexual assault referral centres to provide crisis support to victims of sexual abuse at a cost of $6.3m. The focus is on providing an integrated medical and counselling response to child and adult victims of sexual assault, with an emphasis on requirements of remote indigenous communities. This will include expanding the Darwin, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek Sexual Assault Referral Centres; establishing, for the first time, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Katherine; providing 12 additional counsellors, including some Aboriginal sexual assault workers; coordinating integrated responses to counselling, medical intervention and immediate therapy; providing ongoing advice and support to Family and Children’s Services health centres and police; and providing community education and professional consultation services.
Crucially, we will expand the child abuse task force, including an additional 23 FACS staff, 24 police and specialist child interviewers, to investigate the most serious and complex cases of child sexual abuse at a cost of $29.04m. The Building Healthier Communities framework 2004 to 2009 identified the need to strengthen families in communities. It is recognised that strong families in communities are better able to face and overcome many of the challenges facing them, including substance abuse, sexual abuse, domestic and family violence, and a lack of education. For families in communities to be strong, they must be able to grow and develop in an environment that is safe, strong and free from violence and crime.
Madam Speaker, giving kids a good start in life identifies the need to assist families facing serious problems such as violence, substance abuse, homelessness and crime. To meet this goal, FACS, in partnership with other government and non-government partners, has initiated programs and strategies aimed at preventing and protecting families and children from violence and abuse. It is critical that we ensure that the community is protected against serious sexual violence. The proposed amendments to the Bail Act will go part way to assist government in achieving this goal by providing a clear message that serious sexual violence will not be tolerated and the law will protect the victim. I support the amendment.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I also support the bill. I do so for two reasons. One is that it is a very important bill that protects people who, possibly, could be the victims of more serious crime, especially in relation to sexual offences. I also support it because the member for Braitling brought this forward some time ago after doing a lot of hard work and investigation into what solutions we could find for this issue. She should be mentioned during the debate in this bill. I noticed in the second reading of this bill that the member for Braitling’s name was not mentioned. However, there is no doubt that, when the member for Braitling presented this bill originally, it prompted the government to do something about this issue. She should be thanked for the hard work that she has done in bringing this matter to the parliament.
My words on this bill will, basically, be the same as I said when the member for Braitling presented her bill. This bill does not presume someone is guilty or innocent, but it does allow a court to take into account the wishes of this parliament. It gives the court the opportunity, in the context of the act, to weigh up the possible effects of the accused being allowed back into his or her community or the wider community. It will allow the court to weigh this against the fear and violence that some in the community may have to endure if the accused is allowed out on bail. It will allow time for the community to have some breathing space and, of course, it gives the court the right to grant bail.
As the member for Braitling said, and the minister in the second reading, they acknowledge that policy decisions reflected in this bill are contentious and do not have the support of everyone within the legal profession. My comment on that is I ask those who oppose the bill: is the crime of murder not much different from these serious sexual offences? Presently, the offences of murder, treason, and an offence against the Misuse of Drugs Act are punishable by a term of imprisonment for 10 years and, in some other offences, there is a presumption against bail in relation to those matters. Is the crime of murder not much different from these serious sexual offences? At least in the crime of murder the victim has no more pain to bear although, of course, there are other victims. The victims of sexual offences bear these scars for the rest of their lives. For that reason, is that not at least on a par with murder?
Once again, I thank the minister for presenting this legislation. I thank the member for Braitling for presenting it earlier. I know that she said that people may sometimes wonder about the influence of Independents; we may not get what we want immediately. However, I believe that we persevere and will nibble away at the government for as long as it takes, sometimes, to achieve outcomes, even if it is not under our name ...
Mr Stirling: Loraine still makes more sense than you do.
Mr WOOD: However, I still think it is important that Independents put forward these proposals to government, and I thank the member for Braitling for doing so. If the minister is a bit worried about the influence of Independents, then you only have to look at this bill of his because, basically, it is nearly a replica of what the member for Braitling presented some months ago.
Mr STIRLING (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I thank Leader of the Opposition, the member for Nelson, the member for Braitling particularly, and the member for Arafura for their contributions to debate and, most importantly, their support of the intention of this legislation.
The member for Nelson rightly pointed out that the member for Braitling is due acknowledgment, and I am not shy of making that acknowledgment clear. I have done publicly and I do so on the public record today. She was quick to put a version of legislation in and around the objectives of this legislation from which the government, I think, took the essence of the idea but, in turn, strengthened it and had a stronger outcome than, in fact, the federal government was seeking to achieve with similar legislation in their emergency package of legislation some time ago.
There are a number of points I want to raise before I get to the issues raised by members in debate. The reforms demonstrate again our ongoing commitment to protecting those most vulnerable members of our society from violence, particularly sexual crimes.
The bill amends the Bail Act to reverse the current presumption in favour of bail for a person charged with a serious sexual offence; requires the court to consider additional criteria, such as the protection of an alleged victim in deciding whether to grant bail and, in that sense, gives direct effect to Recommendation 35 of the Little Children are Sacred report. It is a practical measure in itself that will limit potential intimidation, harassment or further offences being committed against victims once they have found the courage to report a serious sexual crime. It complements government action to address domestic violence and alcohol-related crime in order to create safer communities for all Territorians no matter where they live.
The Little Children are Sacred report examined this issue of bail for serious sexual offences in detail, and it found widespread concern in the communities about the effect on a child victim of an alleged perpetrator being released back into the community. I agree with the report’s recommendation that courts require increased guidance in exercising their discretion under section 24, as to whether to grant or refuse bail.
We believed the government needed to go further to reverse the usual presumption in favour of bail where an accused is charged with a serious sexual offence. Put simply, under these amendments, the onus will be on the accused to demonstrate why he or she should be entitled to bail, and that the alleged victim will not be at risk of any harm.
There was extensive consultation with the legal profession, the judiciary, wider community groups, and I thank those who provided comment on the proposed amendments, including members of the judiciary, NAAJA, Legal Aid Commission, Law Society, Criminal Lawyers Association and Victims of Crime Northern Territory. I do not pretend that there was universal consensus agreement among all of those groups. In fact, some of those groups strongly opposed these proposed reforms. Others remain opposed; they have expressed concern that the reforms will lead to more accused people on remand, unfairly restrict an accused’s liberty and, in fact, that the amendments tip the balance too much in favour of the alleged victim.
Government has had to consider all of those views carefully but, ultimately, decided that when dealing with serious sexual offences the rights of victims have to be protected. I believe the legal system always has to balance the rights of the accused against the rights of the complainant. However, it is essential that a victim has the right to report a serious offence without being subject to potential harassment, intimidation or further offences.
We are conscious that reversing presumption of bail potentially increases the number of accused held on remand until trial. It is necessary for both victim and accused that these matters be finalised as quickly as possible. In 2005, government introduced time frames for the prosecution of sexual offences to fast-track these matters through the courts. An evaluation of this process shows in some areas they are working well, but there is still room for improvement. Our time frames are broadly in line with other jurisdictions: 45% to 50% of the matters are resolved in less than six months; 75% to 80% in under a year; 20% to 25% take longer than one year to finalise. However, adherence to these time frames is a priority for the Crime Victims Advisory Committee. I understand the committee has requested its DPP representative to raise the matter and, in turn, report to the next meeting on how to further streamline these trial processes. I commend the committee’s efforts in this area and will work to implement any recommendations coming forward.
I acknowledge, and do so again, the member for Braitling’s strong advocacy for reform in this area. Her private member’s bill demonstrated quite a similar goal to government’s priorities: to provide the best possible legal protection for victims of sexual and violent crimes. I thank her for her contribution to this process. I recognise her work in the bill before us today, and I believe she will be pleased with the outcome in legislation. She nods, which suggests that she welcomes this legislation in the form it is before us today.
Government considered that, because of the difficult considerations involved in reforming the bail law, it was first necessary to undertake extensive consultation with key legal stakeholders. It was also necessary to research interstate bail systems and take into account as well particularly Recommendation 35 of the Little Children are Sacred report. Because of that wider scope, I am confident the bill will prove to be comprehensive and effective. As well as simply reversing the presumption for bail, the bill alters section 24 to provide quite strong guidance to the bail authority. It applies to a broader range of serious sexual offences, and also even when the alleged offender has no previous convictions.
In relation to the Little Children are Sacred report, we have welcomed the findings of that report. We have used it as a basis to launch a much broader package of reforms to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Territorians. Of course, the Closing the Gap package itself provides a great deal of planning for new programs, support and protection - $286m over five years. The introduction of this bill was delayed to allow time to consider the report and recommendations. As a result, we amended the bill to give effect to Recommendation 35. We are committed to improving the way the justice system supports and protects the most vulnerable members of our community, and we will keep that foremost in our legislative responses in these areas.
Madam Speaker, I want to pick up each of the issues raised by members opposite, which were coming thick and fast. I believe, between us, we managed to get them all. The Leader of the Opposition was asking about section 132 of the Criminal Code and the five-year clause. I am advised, member for Araluen, the penalty of five years that you were reading in the Criminal Code is 10 to 14 years, depending on the age of the child. Therefore, it is clearly picked up in the bill with that penalty.
In relation to section 188, indecent assault not being covered, it is, in fact, covered. The indecent assault of a child under the age of 16 is picked up by the definition of serious sexual offence at proposed new section 3A(2)(b).
On the issue of matters dealt with summarily not being covered, it does apply to those offences in that the new clear considerations of section 24 have to be taken into account by the court. However, a summary offence itself is not subject to automatic reversal of presumption for bail. We believe that is the appropriate course; it is not something we do lightly or want to do in all cases. With the member for Araluen’s study of section 24 and the whole range of criteria under different headings that have to be taken into account in considering bail applications, they certainly present, I would have thought, a fairly steep hurdle over which to get in order to secure bail in charges of this nature.
In relation to serial offending not falling within the serious sexual offence, the courts now and in the future will take into account the likelihood or risk of future offending. It is specifically provided for in the current section 24 of the Bail Act. It is provided for in our proposed amendments to that section in this bill.
The member for Araluen was asking, further on from that, about a desire for the victim to be cross-examined in relation to these areas. Of course, the vulnerable witness legislation was passed at the previous sitting. Not exclusively, I would not think but, generally, people in this situation are going to fall into those vulnerable witness provisions. There is a great deal of protection offered for a vulnerable witness when it comes to whether they ought be cross-examined or there is opportunity to cross-examine.
The member for Braitling raised a couple of issues in relation to section 3A with the definition of child as 18 in the first place, and then defining the offence in section 3A as applying to children under 16. In relation to the area of under 16, they are those offences that attract a penalty of less than seven years under the current Criminal Code, therefore, it was necessary to pull them out and have them in this bill. When you look at the nature of those offences, you have to ask yourself, whether the under seven years is appropriate. In fact, ought they not command at least seven years, and perhaps even greater? It is a body of work that we do - ongoing revision of the Criminal Code - and when you make changes in some areas, of course, you have to look back at the effect of the balance of the weight of the sentence against a particular crime across the whole Criminal Code. That is work I believe will continue to be picked up. However, given that they do not rate seven years, it was necessary to list those in that under 16 section 3.
The definition of child under 18 is a standard one. It is contained in most legislation. Where it, in fact, is not there, this government has taken the opportunity to put that in legislation where relevant. Therefore, those offences in section 3A only apply in specific circumstances to children under 16, so we made that clear in defining the offences that they involve a child under 16.
As I said, it is our view that these offences are ones that the community, and certainly I - and I believe the member for Braitling would agree - would consider to be very serious and to occur in circumstances in which an alleged victim might seek the protection offered by this legislation. In relation to those penalties, I make the comment that we will be asking, and have asked, the department to review, in consideration of further reforms to the Criminal Code, those very penalties, and whether, in fact, under seven years is sufficient.
In relation to transitional provisions – again raised by the member for Braitling – it is our intention that any alleged offender who comes before the court on an application for bail will fall within the scope of this legislation. It will be the case, regardless of when that offence was alleged to have been committed. Therefore, in that sense, once this is in, it does not matter when the offence was committed, when it gets to court these provisions will apply - four weeks, five weeks from passage of this legislation.
With those comments, I believe I have rounded up each of the issues. Bear with me one minute. I have a couple of comments to make, which have been prepared for me, as I wait for further advice in relation to a point raised by the member for Araluen.
I also read in the Weekend Australian, member for Braitling, an update – The Australian has been very good in following the federal intervention in the Northern Territory. I assume you read the same article that no charges had yet been laid. It dealt with a pretty comprehensive interview with the Commissioner for Police saying that these things do not necessarily drop out on the first visit or the first round of contact and interaction. Sometimes, there needs to be further work for the visits in order to, I guess, gain the trust, understanding and confidence of the people - particularly children in this case - before some of that evidence might come forward. I do not know whether I am surprised that no charges have been laid yet. I understand that you have to patient.
I believe the strengthening of the Sexual Abuse Task Force will, in time, produce results. I certainly do not take any joy or comfort from the fact that, just because no charges are being laid yet, that does not mean there has not been, or there is not, abuse occurring in some of our communities. It is a body of work ongoing and an area that we need to stay tuned to.
I understand much preliminary work and time and effort went into Western Australia, particularly in the north, and we have seen a range of charges laid in and around Kalumburu and other communities over the last weeks and months. That did not happen just because police went there and started investigating; they were long-running investigations taking a great deal of effort and time. Why would we be any different, particularly when you are dealing with remote indigenous communities? It will be some time before we see the results of that work.
In relation to the cross-examination of the alleged victim, which I think the member for Araluen was seeking information on, and the new obligation on the DPP, the provision was borrowed from interstate. It was not that jurisdictions experienced that victims where placed on the stand. However, we have picked that up from interstate legislation.
Madam Speaker, with those comments, I thank members for their contributions and welcome their support of the bill and move that the bill be now read a second time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
Mr STIRLING (Justice and Attorney-General)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
Continued from 30 August 2007.
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): Madam Speaker, I respond to the minister’s statement on tourism delivered during the August sittings. As you well know, tourism has been one of my great interests for many years, having been involved in the industry in various capacities in Katherine. I certainly recognise the value of tourism to the Territory and to the regional areas where economic benefit is so obvious during our peak tourist time, the Dry Season. It is of such value that, for as long as I have been aware, there have been all sorts of efforts through marketing campaigns and promotions trying to extend the shoulders of the Dry Season to encourage visitors to experience the Wet Season - or the green season, whatever it happens to be called at the time.
It has been a real challenge, and it will continue to be so. I personally love the Wet Season, except the humidity in the build-up, as it is one of the best times of the year. I love the rain, the electrical storms and the spectular display they put on in our skies. Mind you, I prefer being home or in a secure and comfortable place inside a building when the electrical storms are happening, and not out driving on the roads. However, I still enjoy the tropical Wet Season in the Top End.
Another phrase that is still heard amongst industry providers is ‘getting the visitors to stay one more day’. Getting them to stay one more day in regional areas in the Northern Territory makes such a difference. It is an ongoing challenge for everyone involved trying to come up with something that will deliver that magical longer stay. One of the challenges that I had when involved in the tourism industry, which we were with Red Gum Tourist Park in Katherine for 11 years, was getting the recognition for regional areas like Katherine, Tennant Creek and Borroloola. It seems to me that the focus is always on Darwin and, to a much lesser extent, Alice Springs.
There will be the argument from government that they love the regions and that they support them. However, when you look at what is actually being done in the regions throughout the Territory to promote this, it is in stark contrast to what has been promoted for Darwin. It is obvious to all that the magical Berrimah Line is still well and truly alive. It is pretty hard for the minister to deny this when you look at the statement he presented in the August sittings.
There is not one mention in that whole statement, minister, of the magical words Katherine or Tennant Creek - or Borroloola for that matter - or anything that is occurring outside of Darwin. With the exception of a vague mention of the Alice Springs Convention Centre and aviation activity involving, hopefully, Alice Springs as well - absolutely nothing for the other main regional towns. There is a vague mention of The Ghan which travels through the Northern Territory and brings many tourists, and those tourists are always extremely welcome.
This statement spent seven pages talking about the waterfront. As for aviation, the minister talked about regional airports and only discussed Alice Springs. That tells me loud and clear that airports other than Darwin and Alice Springs are not even considered regional now; they must come under the classification of remote. The airports I am referring to are Katherine, Tennant Creek and Borroloola. They are getting a good upgrade at Borroloola thanks to McArthur River Mine. The airports of Katherine and Tennant Creek do not even come into consideration.
Clearly, the minister lives in suburban Darwin and has no comprehension of what it is like to live without any available passenger air services within close proximity. You have a subheading in the statement, minister, under ‘Challenges and Future Outlook’. So what about the future? You talk about the successful Share our Story marketing campaigns. Can you tell me, minister, in your response, how has this benefited the regional towns of the Northern Territory outside of the major regional town which is Alice Springs? Have you marketed that Katherine, for instance, is centrally located to more parks than any other location in the Territory, including the fantastic Nitmiluk National Park, Gregory National Park, Keep River, and the Flora National Park, just to begin with.
In your statement, you said there was a focus on attracting more UK and European visitors to the Territory, who, and I quote: ‘… have a greater propensity to travel to a number of Territory regions and spend up big while they are here’. How will that happen? What marketing campaigns do you have in place to address ‘travel to a number of Territory regions’ and, more importantly, which regions are you referring to, or were you just making a general motherhood statement? I am interested to hear in your reply if there is any reference to regional areas outside of Darwin and Alice Springs being seriously promoted in this campaign.
Twice recently, when I have been talking to people interstate - and this happened to be in South Australia with young people in their 20s. When they asked me where I was from and I said Katherine in the Northern Territory, both of these young people asked me if there were any trees there or is there just red dirt? They were shocked to learn that Katherine is nowhere near the desert. That tells me that there is much more work to be done promoting the Northern Territory, and not just through tourism, but through the schools and education. I wonder what has happened to good old geography classes where kids did learn where the locations were throughout Australia and what was there? For these people in their 20s, born in Australia, to ask me if there are any trees, I was absolutely aghast. I had to remind them that we were actually above the level of Port Douglas, so what did they think we might have at Katherine and the Top End? We have millions of trees and it is as green as green. It gave them a bit of incentive to come and have a look. But it is something that is really bothering me; that kids are not learning the make-up of Australia.
Minister, you also included in your statement the well-known fact that tourism is a significant contributor to our economy, and it is important that we ensure it is sustainable over the longer term. The only way it is sustainable in regional areas is through the sheer guts and determination of the operators who have committed their all to their businesses in those areas. They work extremely long hours and go to extraordinary lengths to promote their business because they want to provide a great tourism experience and for their business to be profitable at the end of the day. They certainly do the hard yards and, in most cases, reap the rewards. Your statement has told Territorians, minister, that tourism growth is well and truly supported by government in Darwin, especially through the waterfront that the minister talked about for pages, and that regional Northern Territory can continue to struggle along itself, supported by the loyal operators who have committed financially to their businesses and who will, no doubt, continue to do their best to provide an experience that will leave tourists wanting to come back for more.
A good example of this occurred this last week with Maud Creek Country Lodge, which is located near Nitmiluk Gorge in Katherine. It is a great little place; it is a beautiful place for rest and recreation - quiet, with beautiful bird life; it is a beautiful place to visit. Some time ago, a gentleman made a brief visit to Katherine and liked what he saw and he wanted to bring his partner back to visit. He and his partner went into a travel agent in Ballarat, Victoria, to do the booking, which was for three nights at Maud Creek Country Lodge. The travel agent actively tried to discourage them from staying in Katherine for three nights. She could not see why they would want to do that. What on earth were they going to do for three nights in Katherine? This travel agent has highly likely never been to the Katherine region and was making a recommendation about something she knew nothing about. It was a perception that could have cost not only Maud Creek Country Lodge the additional nights, but the flow-on of tourist dollars to other attractions in and around Katherine.
It is just as well this couple were insistent that they wanted to stay three nights, and that is exactly what they did. They had a great time in a really lovely location with wonderful hosts, Jennie and Willem. They will go back to Ballarat and spread positive comments about their stay in Katherine. However, it bothers me that there are agents who are willingly and knowingly trying to discourage people from coming to the Northern Territory. I will make an effort to find out exactly where and who that agent was. We need to give them a little briefing and send them some information on what the Northern Territory is about, especially Katherine and the regional areas.
This brings me to another very concerning development in the tourism industry across the Northern Territory which, again, affects the regions. The Northern Territory Tourism Industry Strategic Plan 2008 - 2012 was released to the regional tourism associations about one week ago. The report provides recommendations of the AEC Group and is 117 pages long. The minister has said that industry has until 19 October to provide any final feedback on the report.
I read the report in a big hurry because I have only had it a few days myself. My first impression was that this is a typical report written by a consultant group out of the Territory who are unaware of what our conditions and challenges are within the Territory. My first impression of the report was that these people usually do consultancies in an area that is densely populated where there are not the same challenges that we have. Therefore, I believe their recommendations have been made along those lines.
There is no doubt that, for several years, plans have been in place to remove the marketing of the regional tourism associations, especially from Katherine to Darwin and Tennant Creek to Alice Springs. Having only two RTAs has been on this government’s agenda for the years that it has been in government. The handing over of Tourist Information Services in Katherine two years ago to the Katherine Town Council with marketing operating independently was the beginning of the changes that this government wants to implement, especially for Katherine and Tennant Creek. The merging of Tourism NT under the DBERD banner was also a pretty good indicator that the two smaller RTAs were going to have to fight to retain their identity. That is exactly what this report is suggesting – get rid of them. One of the recommendations is that the super RTAs of Darwin and Alice Springs taking on the responsibility for marketing the whole of the regional areas throughout the Northern Territory.
Please excuse my scepticism. I have been involved in the industry for too long and know how little happens for the likes of Katherine unless we are out there pushing the region ourselves. Sceptical I am, with the millions of additional dollars that have been pumped into tourism over the past couple of years – and I welcome that injection and support it - can the minister honestly tell me how much of that was spent on the Katherine region and the Barkly region? The figure will be interesting in context of the additional funding government has injected for marketing. I know that Katherine did not get any additional funding.
In addition to that, you are now considering taking away the only tourism marketing that is based locally in Katherine - another typical example of centralising above that darned Berrimah Line. And you can sit in this House and say that your government truly supports regional development? This report suggests, under the heading of alternative RTA models, and I quote from page 93:
I am again asking the minister: how can you possibly support an even bigger department located in Darwin and Alice Springs, or if you accept Option 3 to transfer all marketing responsibilities to Tourism NT - a super department in Darwin, employing more people to carry out the work, to the detriment of the smaller regional areas. It is another slap in the face for employment and for families located in Katherine.
Also, Option 1 of this report suggested:
It went on to say:
Well, guess where they will be based? You can bet your bottom dollar they will not be in Katherine or Tennant Creek. I have not identified anywhere in this report where either of those two regional areas are considered key to this plan. We will have another layer of bureaucracy, but it will not be located below the Berrimah Line – you can bet your bottom dollar!
As this report says, ‘… to attract appropriately skilled senior personnel …’, you can also bet your bottom dollar they will come at a high cost. I can only be cynical to suggest that this will be cost shifting from RTAs to another newly-formed tourism body. Why would you take that recommendation on board when you already make the necessary changes to the RTAs as they stand now? I know why; because you just want to get rid of them.
Operators in regional areas give up their time to be part of the decision-making on RTA executives, and it is important they continue to have a say in how their businesses should be promoted. You do not think for a minute that any of them would do anything that is detrimental to their investment, do you? Or to the detriment of the region? Hardly. It is not in their best interests, so they would not do it.
Other comments in the report referring to attendance at travel and consumer shows may be reduced, certainly needs a response. How many people sitting in this Assembly today have been to an interstate trade and consumer show and have actually stood there - thank you very much, member for Johnston, you have been there, and I do believe the advisor may have been there, and I certainly have. It is darn hard work. It is really hard work. I have been to these on several occasions when I was in the tourism industry, and when I was Chairman of the KRTA. I love talking to people about the Territory, but it is an exhausting experience. You start early in the morning and you are likely not to have a break, as there may be only one or two of you on the stand.
You start getting wound up and you just cannot talk about your own location; you have to talk about every aspect of arriving in the Territory. Then, you lead the consumer who has come to your stand through the Territory. By the time you get home at night, you are absolutely exhausted with feet and legs aching, and you know that you have done your absolute best to promote the Territory. Only people with passion should go to the trade and consumer shows. People with a sincere passion about the region and about what they are talking about, need to go to those shows because there is nothing worse than a deadpan-faced person at a stand talking to their mate about what happened last night, and where they are going to have dinner tomorrow night. People will be attracted to a person who is smiling and enthusiastic about their product. That has been proven over and over again. Fortunately, over the time I was involved in the Katherine region, we always had passionate staff attending these shows. I am very much against that being reduced - very much. It will be a sad and sorry day if the minister makes a decision to cut back on the support staff attending these shows. I am referring to the shows where tens of thousands of people visit. I daresay there always will need to be a person who has absolute passion for it.
I also note that Visitor Information Services is slowly being handed to local government, which we have already seen in Katherine. It is becoming increasingly evident that local government is shouldering more and more responsibility as time goes by. Page 95 of the report has strategies …
Mr Henderson: You are going really well at the moment. They have doubled the bookings. Doubled - 100% increase in bookings. Doing a great job.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mrs MILLER: You have your turn in a minute. … listed to achieve the partnership outcomes with page 96 of the report heading, ‘What does this mean for the operator on the ground?’ I have more questions than answers to that. How will there be less duplication of services? How will there be better relationships with local groups and councils? Funding for the promotion of the RTAs and Visitor Information Services still have to be administered by someone somewhere. Believe me, it cannot be absorbed, so to speak, by the departments that are there now. It will require additional staff to do that.
As I said before, you can bet your bottom dollar that there is no intent to support the smaller operators in the regional areas. It is all about the big end of the market in the Top End …
Mr Henderson: Rubbish!
Mrs MILLER: … as your statement has clearly identified, minister, and that is Darwin.
Madam Speaker, I found the minister’s statement frustratingly barren for regional Northern Territory, and that is now being compounded by the report by the AEC Group.
Dr BURNS (Racing, Gaming and Licensing): Madam Speaker, I support the minister’s statement and I do so as Minister for Alcohol Policy and Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing. Those are key supporting elements of our tourism industry. As most members know, I was formerly Tourism Minister and fought hard for extra funding to go into tourism, particularly into marketing. There were particularly tough times in the tourism industry following 11 September and the downturn in the number of international tourists. Of course, the Territory, as a proportionate basis at that stage, enjoyed more international tourists visiting than other states and territories. It was pretty tough.
Basically, the extra marketing money, along with other factors was a crucial element in turning it around. I am glad to say that extra money is still being invested into our marketing – some extra $10m per year, which is very good. It has been wisely invested.
We have to acknowledge that we are living in a different era now. The Daryl Somers’ television ads were fantastic when they were on. It was all top of mind – ‘You will never, never know if you never, ever go’. People had that as top of mind. It was a very popular campaign and looked at with a lot of nostalgia by people in the tourism industry.
Now we have to compete against Internet marketing techniques. More and more, not only for international tourists, but also for the self-drive tourist market and all parts of the tourist market, the Internet is a crucial area. I was very interested to hear the member for Katherine talk about the importance of regional marketing. This brochure, Adventure NT, is dedicated to the Katherine region. I believe that quite a considerable number of these have been printed, some 60 000, covering the Katherine region right across to the Daly River, Victoria River, in and around the Katherine area, with some lovely stories about what you can do and see in the Katherine area.
Like the member for Katherine, I am aghast that an advisor would tell someone in country Victoria that there is not enough to do in the Katherine region for three days. I reckon there is plenty to do, and the Katherine region is a fantastic region for tourists. I have spent much time there with my family, not just as the former Tourism Minister or as a minister in other portfolio areas, but quality time with my family enjoying what the Katherine region has to offer. I know many Darwin people do the same. This is something that is put in to the self-drive market through magazines, etcetera, and also on the Internet.
The government is very keen on marketing our regions but it has to be done strategically and in new ways. It is my understanding, just talking to people in the Katherine - probably not as much as the member for Katherine – with the very strong feedback I get, is that the last season was a bumper season and people did very well. In fact, the couple of times I was in Katherine, everything was full and people were even having trouble getting fuel. There were great lines of cars and caravans waiting to get fuel, and all the caravan parks and other accommodation were full. Katherine has been doing well and that is due to a whole range of factors, not least of which is the marketing campaign the government has been investing in.
I know the member for Katherine was critical of some elements of the minister’s statement. She believed it was not focused enough on regional marketing, and she named some specifics. However, his statement was an overall strategic look at our marketing campaign. I am sure the minister will reply to many of the issues raised by the member for Katherine.
Given the Territory’s array of natural attractions, our wonderful warm climate, and the friendly, outgoing nature of Territorians, I believe we can all appreciate why tourism is such a growth industry. This government’s support for not only the national and international marketing of the Territory’s attractions but our major investment in infrastructure continues to play a vital role in the growth of the industry - and recent growth has been spectacular. As the Tourism Minister has already told the House, in the year to March 2007 we enjoyed a substantial increase in the number of nights domestic visitors spent in the Territory. Interstate visitors spent a total of 3.3 million nights in the Territory in the year to March 2007. This was a staggering increase of 25%.
Tourism was worth more that $1.5m to the Territory economy in the last year and was a leading contributor to the Territory’s jobs market. The health of the jobs market in the hospitality industry is directly affected by the health of the tourism market. In short, a healthy tourism market is good for the Territory.
The Carlton Draught Darwin Cup continues to be a major tourist draw card. There was a record crowd this year - about 20 000 in attendance - in August, with thousands of interstate visitors rubbing shoulders with the locals on the lawns of the Darwin Turf Club for the Territory’s biggest day of racing for the year. Obviously, the Darwin Cup has come a long way since it was first run in October 1956, when just four horses battled it out for the ₤260 purse on offer. Nowadays, the month-long carnival injects millions of dollars into our local economy. The carnival is a real winner for restaurateurs, hoteliers, transport companies, airlines and all those involved with the hospitality industry in the Top End in particular.
The government continues its strong support of the thoroughbred racing industry with $7.8m in direct support this financial year. Again, the government backed cup day through the provision of a free bus service. Something like 5500 people were bussed from the track at the end of the day, which is a great effort. Apart from the record crowd, TAB turnover on the day was up 9.3% and 1% on the cup itself. For the first time, total TAB turnover on Darwin races throughout the UNiTAB network exceeded $2m.
Apart from the interstate visitors who came to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Darwin Cup, the event attracts a significant number of visitors involved in the racing industry. This year, Licensing and Regulations issued bookmakers’ permits to 25 interstate bookmakers to stand at this year’s cup. The interstate bookmakers complemented the eight local bookmakers to ensure the large crowd was well catered for. Television coverage of the event, which this year extended to New Zealand, was a great promotion in itself for the event, but also for the Territory as a whole.
Another great attraction associated with the cup is the gala ball, which is held on the lawns of SKYCITY casino on the Saturday night before the big race. The ball continues to lure committed partygoers from interstate, many of whom are regulars at the event. I was there this year as part of the crowd to see Leo Sayer. I was there, along with 2900 other people, and it was a great night. I know why so many people continue returning to Darwin for the cup ball.
Darwin-based Sportingbet Australia brought in something like 260 clients to Darwin for the cup weekend. It is obvious why the Darwin Cup Carnival is such an important contributor to Territory tourism. As I said, the Darwin Cup Carnival provides a wonderful boost for the hospitality industry.
I recently attended the industry’s major awards event, the Restaurant and Catering Harbottle On-Premise Awards for Excellence, which celebrates the people and businesses that are moving the industry ahead across the Territory. The quality of our hospitality industry plays an important role in tourism, helping to raise the Territory’s profile across the nation. The awards night again confirmed to me that the Territory enjoys remarkably high-quality venues in our hospitality industry.
The industry is also a key employer. Of the almost 13 000 Territorians employed in the tourism industry overall, more than 3000 work in the tourism, hotel and hospitality industries. These people play a vital role in ensuring that our visitors’ stay is a memorable one. More than 340 000 Australians and more than 335 000 international visitors have come to the Territory in the year to March 2007, and many of these enjoy the hospitality on offer at establishments right across the Territory. Given the quality of our industry, I am confident that most will have had their stays enhanced by the experience.
To confirm the high standing of the local industry, last year, Cullen Bay’s La Beach restaurant won Best Speciality Cuisine at the national awards. Given the hugely competitive nature of the industry, that is an incredible achievement. Not only did the award ensure national exposure for the restaurant, but it was another reminder of the quality visitors can expect when they come to the Territory.
As the member for a Darwin seat, there are two projects currently evolving that genuinely excite me because I believe they will benefit the city of Darwin and the Territory tourism industry. The first of these projects is the waterfront development. This is a landmark development which will …
A member interjecting.
Mr Wood: Oh, come on.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, here we go. The opposition again! They just do not like the waterfront development.
Mr Henderson: They hate it.
Dr BURNS: They hate it!
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mrs Miller: Really sensitive ears!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Please continue, minister.
Dr BURNS: It is like a cross to a vampire, Madam Speaker.
Despite the criticism of this project we have heard in this House from members opposite, and is continuing today, it is heartening to see the waterfront development taking shape.
I took a trip down there not long ago. It is taking great shape and I have had feedback on it. When I go to the markets, people come up to me and say this is a fantastic development and they are really excited about it. It is a project that means real jobs during its construction phase and real jobs once it becomes operational.
This is a project which will have genuine and lasting benefits for tourism. The convention centre alone should generate nearly $200m in tourism revenue for the Territory in 20 years. It is a development that will do much to reinvigorate Darwin’s CBD. The waterfront precinct will be directly linked by a pedestrian walkway to the heart of downtown Darwin. With 800 new hotel rooms plus apartment-style accommodation, it will mean a real shot in the arm for our CBD. These 800 extra hotel rooms are going to be great news during our peak tourist season when events like the Darwin Cup Carnival and the V8s mean, at times, it is virtually impossible to get a room in the city.
It is not just businesses in the city that stand to benefit from the waterfront, as the hotels, restaurants and cafs will all need to be supplied. They will certainly benefit from this particular development. The prospect of more dining options on Darwin Harbour can only boost the city and the Territory’s tourism industry. As a local, I am certainly looking forward to spending time at the new restaurants and cafs and in the area in general.
The new cruise ship terminal associated with the development will also help elevate Darwin’s standing as a tourist destination. Darwin has hosted more than 30 large cruise ships, plus another 13 smaller cruise ships this year, and having a modern, dedicated arrival terminal will help attract even more vessels to the city in future.
The second project that I believe will be great news for locals and tourists alike is the world-class World War II museum, which has been earmarked in the area between Parliament House and Herbert Street. I noted the comments earlier today by some members questioning its location. My own personal view is it is a great location. By having it in the city, it will be more accessible to a greater number of people, and provide further support for those other wartime features and attractions such as the East Point Museum. For those who are interested to extend their knowledge and what there is to see, it will be a good starting point. It will boost numbers of visitors to venues such as the East Point and the Aviation Heritage Museum on the highway, as well as our own museum. I believe it is a great location; it will attract a lot of people. It will be a showcase. It will certainly complement State Square and areas surrounding, and also be an adjunct to the waterfront. I welcome its construction on that particular site.
Darwin has the potential to offer something unique in an Australian context with the World War II museum and associated Heritage Trail. There is no other city in Australia with a wartime heritage to match that of Darwin, and we should be moving to take greater advantage of that fact. There are so many tourists already travelling to Darwin who want to get a greater appreciation of the wartime history. What we have at present is good; however, I believe that many tourists are leaving the Top End feeling they did not get the World War II experience they were hoping for. Quite a few more are completely unaware, because it is not showcased as it should be. Most of Australia does not fully appreciate the vital role Darwin played in the defence of this nation during the World War II, and this museum will go a long way to filling in that detail.
I am very proud to support the minister’s statement on tourism. It is a vital industry for the Northern Territory, both in terms of our economy, and also employment. This is a government that has invested significant money in tourism. There has been restructuring of Tourism NT. There have been different ways of marketing. However, I also assure the member for Katherine that, when I was minister - and I am certain the current minister also knows - that the smaller operators in the Northern Territory are an important part of our tourism industry, and we certainly support them. We have supported them, we will continue to support them; I am sure they give many tourists a great experience. We have an industry with many parts, with many players. There are some fantastic people in the industry. I certainly agree with the member for Katherine; these are people that go the extra step and have done the hard yards. These are very sound business people with a great love of the Territory, a great love of its attractions, and a great love of the people of the Northern Territory.
Madam Speaker, I commend the statement to the House.
Debate suspended.
Continued from earlier this day.
Mr WARREN (Goyder): Madam Speaker, the Martin Labor government believes that tourism is integral to our economic growth and prosperity. Unlike the CLP’s history of letting the tourism industry down, we believe that it is the future. Tourism currently contributes around 5% to our gross state product. In monetary terms, that is worth over $1.5bn to the NT economy. However, because it is a low input into the GSP, there is potential to increase that. I believe the Martin Labor government’s investment in tourism is most worthwhile, and we expect to take considerable dividends.
Historically, in the Territory, we have relied on our economic base, pretty much tied to the industrial sector. By increasing industries like tourism and other industry across the board, we can broaden our economic base and help continue the development of the Territory. That is the approach that the government has systematically taken across the board in its help for industry. This is part of it and I commend the minister for his most worthwhile speech on that element.
Our successful destination marketing campaigns are working. The successful Tourism NT brand name is hitting the target and it is very well recognised nationally and internationally. When I was in Brisbane last year, people were commenting on it, and mentioned it by name rather than just the NT tourism. Tourism NT is a brand name which is hitting the mark, and people recognise it. It is very simple but it clearly identifies the Territory.
The Tourism NT campaign is expanding, particularly for the shoulder season market, through our Share Our Story banner and promotions, which have been an across the board promotion, particularly in recent times. There is an area there called the shoulder market, which is the beginning and the end of the traditional tourism season. That is an area that we can expand into and extend that time so that we can capitalise on that. That is a nice place to start looking at new potential markets, and it is working. My understanding is that, over the two years that the Share Our Story strategy has been working, despite people from the opposition who have lambasted it, and some industry sectors were less than enthusiastic about it, it actually worked and has shown very high returns on investment. With the promotion of the shoulder season markets, I believe that helps to promote the industry in a competitive world.
Marketing is only one element of helping to develop our tourism industry. Equally as important is to deliver what visitors are expecting when they arrive. In other words, when they come here, they are expecting service levels, infrastructure and products, and they are critical to the whole package.
With service levels, people expect to have trained personnel here. When you look at what the NT Martin Labor government is doing in a whole raft of areas, one is encouraging people with the skills to the Territory. Not only that, it is looking at homegrown people, investing in their training through our VET and hospitality programs. We are bringing the service people up to the levels that are required for the tourism industry.
Infrastructure and products, as I mentioned before, are elements that are critical. It is no use bringing people here unless you have the facilities to house them, and facilities such as the convention centre where they can run their programs for the business sector, for example. Also, The Ghan itself is able to get people here, along with the airlines. The whole thing is an integrated package, and government can play a vital part in the whole aspect of that by not just promoting the marketing side of it, but also ensuring that we invest and help promote the infrastructure and service levels.
Of course, attracting investment in tourism is a key factor. I am led to believe that industry evidence shows that investment confidence in the Territory is strong and solid. You only have to look at the skyline around Darwin and Alice Springs at the moment, and you can see that investment is here. Of course, that is partly tied into the tourism industry. The private sector is showing confidence in the lead given by the government and is investing strongly in the Territory.
The Northern Territory’s competitive advantage lies, of course, in its natural and cultural assets. Most importantly, these occur on indigenous land, in jointly managed parks. Therefore, we need to ensure that we continue to foster the engagement of indigenous Territorians in our burgeoning tourism industry. An important aspect of this is that it offers indigenous Territorians and their communities the opportunities for sustainable employment and will, undoubtedly, be the cornerstone to creating a brighter future for indigenous communities and indigenous children.
We cannot emphasise too much the partnership potential of working with indigenous people throughout the Territory because, as I said, it creates sustainable and long-term employment. It creates employment in an area where they have the natural ability to promote, but they also have the understanding. We should not forget that people come to the Territory, not just to catch a barramundi – that is about second or third down the line. The real reason they come to the Territory is to experience the unique natural environment here but, more so, to go to a part of the world where you can engage with the indigenous community and get a cultural experience with indigenous Territorians. That is fantastic and we should be plugging that more and more.
Of course, today’s travellers use the Internet. I am told about 75% of NT business records they use the Internet when planning a holiday. That shows the sea change in the way people think about taking their holidays and the way they approach it is more sophisticated. We need to continue to bolster our online marketing capacity through our national website, travelnt.com, and our international visitor website, australianoutback.com. I believe the number of hits these sites are getting is far exceeding expectations and augurs well. We need to continue developing those sites and adding new aspects to them and keeping them updated; the Northern Territory government is very much on top of that. That is great news - people overseas do not have to go through a tourist travel agent. They can go online, like they are shopping online. They can go online and find out about the Territory. They can find it directly from us; they are not getting it second and third-hand. I believe the Internet is the way of the future, and I commend the government for looking at advancing that, nationally and internationally.
We need to continue to keep abreast of the highly competitive business tourism market. The waterfront development’s fabulous world-class convention centre and the new cruise ship terminal are excellent examples of how the Martin Labor government is committed to investing in tourism infrastructure.
The business market is very competitive, but we certainly have some natural advantages here, particularly, as I said before, with the engagement with natural aspects of our Territory lifestyle - the environment and the indigenous cultural aspects. After they have finished their business conventions, many people want to stay on for some time, so we can take advantage of that. You can include that in the packages of these business conventions. Also, once we have the convention centre open, what a fabulous place to be able to broadcast to the world, and how proud Territorians will be to be able to say: ‘You can come up here to our convention centre and, then, when you finish with Darwin, you can go to Alice Springs which has an equally fabulous convention centre’. We are really holistically marketing the Territory.
We can maintain our competitive advantage by using our uniqueness, and also the value-for-money experience for tourists. Let us not forget that there are many budget conscious backpackers and grey nomads who continually come to the Territory. We should be fostering their experiences as well. That is absolutely essential.
I am very proud of my electorate of Goyder and our outer Darwin rural area, which is well placed to take advantage of tourism in the Top End. My electorate of Goyder is the gateway - and I do not say that lightly - to Kakadu and Litchfield parks. The rural area has many places of interest. The rural area could be marketed, and I am sure will be marketed in future, as an accommodation destination for visitors to our parks. It has the potential to be a base for the budget conscious travellers, especially the grey nomads, because it is centrally located for Kakadu, Litchfield, Dundee, the Cox Peninsula, and the Pine Creek goldfields. It is only a very short drive from Palmerston, Darwin and the city’s highlights. It is quite central for those particular areas.
For people coming to the Territory, it is a long trip from Darwin to Kakadu, Pine Creek and Litchfield but, if you base yourself around the rural area, then you can be quite central. You can have quite interesting day trips and not have your whole day involved in travelling somewhere. One of the unfortunate things for the Territory is that we do have such a vast territory and there is a lot of time involved in travel. By basing yourselves around places like the rural area, you can facilitate access to many of other areas quite significantly. Getting around the rural area is made much easier because the roads are nice, easy driving roads for self-drive travellers and caravaners. They are quite easy to get around as most of them are sealed, so it is quite good to base yourself in that area.
We have a fantastic rural bus service servicing our rural area. On the new buses that come out there, particularly in the middle of the day, you can travel all the way out to Noonamah and Humpty Doo. It is just a connection with the Palmerston bus routes into Darwin for an absolutely fantastic day out. You can see the rural area and go and visit some of the hotels there.
With the self-drive car hire visitors, you do not have to drive very far to get to the rural area. If you want to visit some of the highlights there, it is not too far from Darwin and it is an easy drive.
Accommodation in the rural area is growing all the time. We have the traditional areas such as the Humpty Doo Hotel, the Noonamah Hotel, and the Litchfield Hotel. These are great places to rock up in the traditional Aussie style and have a counter lunch, a counter dinner, and a drink there – in moderation, of course – and share a story with the locals. There are plenty of locals who are only too willing to tell you some great stories; some of them true, some of them maybe garnished with a bit of local identity. You will certainly enjoy your time out there. Tourists are starting to find that out and are enjoying it. It is a traditional Australian, rural atmosphere.
We have a number of homestays; they are quite numerous now. More are coming before the DCA all the time. That is just local people and small businesses getting involved in the tourism industry. They are a great idea as people can enjoy some rural home hospitality.
We have several caravan parks and more at various stages of planning. There is one proposed that is near development stage at Humpty Doo. That will be a great facility, a really top line caravan park with cabins, very much well like The Palms just before you get to Palmerston ...
Ms Lawrie: FreeSpirit.
Mr WARREN: They changed that to FreeSpirit? Okay, FreeSpirit. That sounds a fantastic name change.
Historically, some places of interest in the rural area are the Southport township, which is one of the original townships in the rural area. It has a lot of history. There are some signs which tell you a little about the place, so you can read about the history. It was the original gateway to the goldfields and part of the early development of the greater Darwin region.
We have the fabulously named Humpty Doo. Everyone likes the name Humpty Doo. I will digress and tell an anecdotal story about an American chap who was coming to his retirement age and decided that he needed somewhere to live for the rest of his days. He looked through the Internet and called up all the exotic names he could find and he came across this place called Humpty Doo. In his American style, he said: ‘I have to live in this place called Humpty Doo’. He promptly sold up and moved to Humpty Doo. Unfortunately for him, the part of Humpty Doo he chose was about to be renamed Herbert, which is an historical name in the region. He had only been there six months and they renamed the part of Humpty Doo Herbert, because Humpty Doo was growing and you need to get the separate identity for that region. His reaction was: ‘God damn it! I travelled halfway around the world to come to this place called Humpty Doo and I am no sooner here and they change the name of it to Herbert’. He was little miffed at all that, but he gets on with life. He goes over to Humpty Doo and does his shopping, so he is proud of that.
We have the historical aspects of the Humpty Doo rice project and the Fogg Dam and things associated with that. That is just a handful. There are plenty more historical sites. There are World War II airstrips preserved along the Stuart Highway. We ensured that they are being preserved and there is more work going on. The minister this morning announced that there is more preservation of these sites, and the public have been urged to come forward and advise of more of these World War II heritage sites.
Just down the road from us at Adelaide River, we have the war cemetery. The proposed World War II museum adjacent to Parliament House is going to be great for the CBD. We are very conscious of our World War II history. This government is doing a lot towards promoting that because there is a particular section of tourists who are interested in that.
We have parks at Kakadu and Litchfield and the Litchfield loop road, which the government has invested highly in and significant dollars have been spent on. These areas have been opened up all the time to more tourists, which is great. The roads have been improved. Facilities out there are being improved all the time and the government is promoting that.
We have the Berry Springs Wildlife Park in my electorate which is a fantastic facility. Associated with that, but separate, is Window on the Wetlands and the Fogg Dam Nature Park. They are both fantastic places. Window on the Wetlands is a great facility. I took a group of politicians, as part of the Environment committee, out there a couple of weeks ago to have a look as a part of their trip to the Northern Territory. They were absolutely overwhelmed by the facility at Window on the Wetlands. Even in the Dry Season, it looks great. They got to experience a little of the presentation by the local Kenyon family as part of their engagement in Window on the Wetlands. They were really blown away by the presentation and were impressed by the style of presentation and the facility they went away with some great ideas. Some of them are planning to come back with their families after their business is finished.
Fogg Dam Nature Park is a very important research centre for amphibians, reptiles and monitoring the cane toad invasion into the Territory. A lot of research is done there, and the wildlife there is absolutely fantastic, particularly during the Dry Season. The sunsets are great and well known. That is an area we are investing in and it is certainly paying dividends as well. It is all within a very close proximity.
The Howard Springs and Berry Springs Nature Reserves in the rural area are well known to the locals, and used often by the locals. They are also becoming tourist attractions in their own right, and people are starting to enjoy them.
We have many tourism businesses in the rural area. The Didgeridoo Hut at the turn-off to the Arnhem Highway has traditional indigenous artists working on didgeridoos, paintings, and a whole range of cultural aspects and artifacts. They are selling them and making good money. It is developing a joint venture partnership. The Crocodile Farm on the Stuart Highway is great for tourism - everyone wants to see a crocodile when they come here. The Lakes Resort at Berry Springs is always quite popular, particularly with the locals. There are the Jumping Crocodile and Adelaide River Tours on the Adelaide River, and the Goat Island Resort on the Adelaide River is being developed quite nicely. I hear tourists are looking forward to getting out there as much as they can, and I have good reports from that.
We have always prided ourselves in improving our access to some of the best fishing in the Top End, and I believe it is important we acknowledge that. We are improving the boat ramps and access roads to them. It really does auger well that we have worked on these fishing facilities, because fishing is a big part of the Territory. It is a very strong point that I would like to talk some more about, but …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Goyder, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I move an extension of time of 10 minutes, pursuant to Standing Order 77, for the member for Goyder to conclude his remarks.
Motion agreed to.
Mr WARREN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The tourism story in the Northern Territory is a continuing and evolving story of growth and sustainable development. Thankfully, we have moved beyond the CLP days of picking winners. In those sad days, of course, we all remember the Dalway style of business investment. From listening to the input from the other side of the House, that mentality really has not changed. It is not about picking winners; it is about investing in the future of the industry.
I was listening to the member for Katherine and I was quite disappointed by her mish mash of CLP carping and whingeing that we have come to expect here. You would think there could be some reasonable input here. She mentioned the Berrimah Line, but gave scant regard to the south of the Berrimah Line. I happen to be a member for south of the Berrimah Line. I read and listened to the minister’s speech quite differently to what the member for Katherine said - and I am glad she has come back in the room because I do like to address a person personally. I was really disappointed, because it is not just about the Berrimah Line. What you have to understand is that Darwin is at the forefront of entry into the Northern Territory. People do come here and, as part of the whole package, we have to attract people to Darwin. It is not just about the rest of the Territory. It is a whole package we are going to sell. We are not about picking winners in Katherine, Darwin, Alice Springs, or anywhere. It is about the whole package and that is what Tourism NT is about - the whole package of developing the Territory.
For the minister to talk at length about Darwin is quite appropriate. I would like to think people come to the Territory just to see Goyder, but that is not the truth. As much as I am very proud of that area, I know that people come to the Territory for a whole raft of reasons. To promote Darwin as an entry point is quite appropriate when you are developing the whole industry as a package. Once they are here, hopefully, they will then visit places like Goyder and Katherine and other areas.
I was also a little disappointed that the member for Katherine mentioned the natural beauty of the Katherine region. It is absolutely brilliant and I am looking forward to walking from Katherine up to Edith Falls next year. It certainly is a beautiful region, but there is more to the region than just that. I get …
Mrs Miller: You better not say any more; you might have foot in mouth.
Mr WARREN: The indigenous aspects to tourism in the Katherine region are important but the member for Katherine failed to even mention that. She talked about business, and business is an important part of tourism. However, tourism business relies on the product you are actually trying to sell. It is not just about the natural beauty which is great, but it is also about the indigenous and cultural aspects of it. It is important that we try to promote that. I know that you are concerned about the parks which you carped on and whinged about, but the real answer for the future is with joint venture projects in these particular regions. That is the way forward, and I have heard that consistently.
I was at a conference last week and people were promoting the indigenous engagement and the indigenous future employment opportunities but, also, the greatness of indigenous aspects for the Katherine region which, unfortunately, the CLP has failed to acknowledge and neglected for many years.
In conclusion, the Martin Labor government has adopted sustainable and economically sound government involvement in tourism. It is what the general public and private investors expect of good governance. We emphasise promotion rather than regulation - across the board promotion and strategic strategies that supports our burgeoning tourism industry and helps us keep abreast of our major competitors. The minister, in his important statement, outlined the sound and sensible approach that the Martin Labor government has taken to support our unique and special tourism industry. I commend him on his statement.
Mr HAMPTON (Stuart): Madam Speaker, I support the minister’s statement on tourism and acknowledge the contributions of previous speakers. I thank the minister for bringing it to the House, and particularly thank his agency, Tourism NT, under its CEO, Maree Tetlow. I acknowledge the efforts of the staff members of Tourism NT throughout the Territory and in regions, particularly Jo-Anne Harkin and her staff in Alice Springs who do a great job. I also thank the previous Minister for Tourism, the Chief Minister, for her work in this important portfolio.
As we have heard from other speakers, tourism is probably the largest contributor to our economy in what it brings into the Territory. Also, the jobs and the $1.5bn it brings into the economy speaks volumes for that contribution. It directly employs, as we have heard, 12 845 Territorians, or 13.5% of the Northern Territory workforce. Those statistics speak volumes for the tourism industry and the impact it has on the Northern Territory.
With that large contribution, there are also the jobs, and there is the flow-on effect throughout the regions and in Darwin as well as the bush. The flow-on effects in the communities are the need for shops, services, retail and other small businesses. The contribution and the flow-on effect that tourism has on small business is significant and we should not under-value that contribution.
I acknowledge two significant steps taken by this government; the first being legislating the NT Tourist Commission as Tourism NT in 2006 and bringing it under the umbrella of the Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development. This was a significant change. It provided the Tourism NT people with more focus, particularly regarding major projects which are happening throughout the Territory. It also provided additional resources to develop tourism in regional areas with indigenous people.
The other significant step that this government has undertaken is in the budget. In Budget 2006, we saw the Northern Territory government increase Tourism NT’s annual base funding on a permanent basis to the sum of $10m. Once again, another significant step by this government in supporting the tourism industry and all those smaller businesses that benefit from the flow-on effects of such a significant industry. This also ensures that tourism is properly resourced to carry out marketing and development activities and remains competitive into the future, particularly against other states in the country, but also internationally. It is important that our operators and our marketing and campaigns remain competitive against an increasingly demanding industry.
I acknowledge the summary report done by AEC into the next tourism strategy for the Northern Territory. The AEC Group is an independent consultant group. The report was released last week and is there to inform the development of the Northern Territory Tourism Industry Strategic Plan 2008 - 2012. This strategic plan is due to be released in December 2007. I encourage people in my electorate of Stuart to provide feedback. Read the consultant’s report and summary report, but also provide feedback of the report to Tourism NT about what they see are the issues and a way forward, I suppose, for their operations or their businesses. It is an opportunity for people throughout the rest of the Territory to have a say before the strategic plan is released in December.
The other important part of the report is that of indigenous tourism, which continues to be one of our key points of difference. This is highlighted through the Northern Territory Indigenous Tourism Strategy which sets out the guiding principles for a sustainable indigenous tourism industry. The Indigenous Tourism Strategy recognises the fact that indigenous tourism enterprises can only be sustainable if the community wants these projects and are aware of the work involved in getting them up and running. Many indigenous communities and individuals are getting involved in areas like touring, accommodation, retail, art and specialised cultural experiences.
At this point, I acknowledge some of those smaller operators who have existed in Central Australia over many years and have been the quiet achievers. People like Robert Le Rossignol from the Oak Valley Tours. I am not sure if that operation is still going, but Robert was one of the first small indigenous tourism operators in the Centre many years ago. Also, Paul Ah Chee and his business at the Aboriginal Australia Art and Cultural Centre, based in Todd Street, is doing great things with his tours and the art centre. Another small operator who is coming up on the horizon is Jungala Kriss and his small tour guide business operating from out of Alice Springs. As we heard today in Question Time, Gunya Titjikala, in my colleague’s electorate of Macdonnell, is facing challenges just becoming successful, but are now having to face more challenges through the intervention and the removal of CDEP. These are small but significant players in the tourism industry in Central Australia, and they can really benefit from the Indigenous Tourism Strategy which this government has put together.
As my colleague, the member for Goyder, mentioned, the Internet marketing campaign is a very relevant one for all of us. This time of year I am on the ‘Net as well looking at holiday destinations or places of interest where I could be going over the Christmas break. I acknowledge that there are quite a few websites that support Tourism NT, including the travelnt.com and australianoutback.com websites and Tourism NT’s corporate website, tourismnt.com.au. Having looked on those, particularly the travelnt.com website, it is very user friendly and I can see how it is going to benefit many people. No matter where you are in the world, you can get onto the web and find out more about the Territory and what it offers in tourism experiences.
Regarding Alice Springs and surrounds, obviously being my home town, I am very proud of the things that have developed in Alice Springs, particularly in the tourism industry. There are plenty of reasons why it has been successful and will continue to be. The great outback experience is strongly promoted in our campaigns, with the fantastic landscapes of the Western Macs and even the Eastern Macdonnell Ranges, and our national parks such as Rainbow Valley. If you have not been to some of those places, as a Territorian I certainly encourage everyone here to get out there and experience it for themselves. The Western Macs with its waterholes such as Ellery right out to Glen Helen and even to Gosses Bluff, is a fantastic experience, particularly at this time of the year before it gets too hot. The Larapinta Trail is another fantastic asset and a jewel in the crown of the Northern Territory.
We should not underestimate the sporting tourism area. Alice Springs is fast becoming renowned for some fantastic sporting events that attract people from all over the country and overseas. We have events like the Finke Desert Race. I normally camp there every year, along with 12 000 other people. It certainly brings many tourist dollars into Alice Springs. The Masters Games is another significant event which attracts thousands of people into Central Australia and is going from strength to strength every two years. Another one is the Imparja Cup Cricket Carnival we have every February/March, an indigenous cricket carnival that brings participants with families and partners to Alice Springs for that experience. If you get tired of watching the cricket, you find many people are visiting our national parks, the Western Macs. These sporting events are just fantastic. Sorry?
Ms Carney: It is not possible for things to get boring in the cricket.
Mr HAMPTON: No, it is not possible, but partners and families take that opportunity to get out through the Western Macs or the businesses and tourism operators in Alice Springs.
The AFL and NRL challenge matches that we have in Alice Springs have been regular events over the past few years. They bring in people from all over the region, but also from the capital cities. If you are a Port Power supporter and Port happens to play in Alice again next year, then obviously you will get a bit of a crowd from Alberton Oval into Alice Springs. Sporting tourism cannot be undervalued, and I am sure people in the Top End agree with that.
The other area that we should not undervalue is cultural events and festivals tourism sector. Once again, putting my hand up for Alice Springs, is the Beanie Festival. I know the member for Macdonnell opened it this year. It is a fantastic festival that brings in a totally different crowd of tourists, along with the different events of the Desert Mob Festival recently held in Alice Springs. I am sure the minister for Arts can attest that it offers a totally different experience for tourists besides visiting the Western Macs or the art centres around the place. Yes, sporting tourism, the cultural events and festivals tourism sector are significant areas of tourism. They are worthy of putting on the public record, particularly for Central Australia.
For my electorate of Stuart, programs such as the Stepping Stones program that has been marketed in the regions is successfully being rolled out through the Territory to assist indigenous individuals, businesses and communities wanting to become involved in tourism. One of the programs in my electorate is the Black Tank community, a small outstation about 40 km or 50 km north of Alice Springs. Stepping Stones has been a great program for them to access, and it has supported them in getting their small family business up and running. They are having some challenges at the moment, but I am sure, with the support of this program, they can continue to provide opportunities for their family in that particular industry.
The Aboriginal Art Trails is another new initiative developed earlier this year by Tourism NT. In my electorate - and I want to raise this with the minister - are the opportunities through the Tanami region. The experience of travelling on a four-wheel drive route from Tilmouth Well, turning left and experiencing the country through Mount Wedge, Newhaven Bird Sanctuary, and on to Nyirripi, a small community in my electorate, and then driving back through the four-wheel drive route to Yuendumu to the famous Warlukurlangu art centre, and then moving back through to Tilmouth Wells. The Aboriginal Art Trail is an exciting one, and one that I wish to raise with the minister. These trails add to the traveller’s level of understanding of Aboriginal culture, and stories, beliefs and law unfold while they learn more about traditional art.
These exciting new networks of niche experiences have full endorsement and encouragement of the Aboriginal people, the traditional owners of the land who want to share and develop these experiences and become more actively involved in tourism. An important element of the Aboriginal Art Trails is that of the TLC Tourism Development Officer funded by the Northern Territory government. The lady in Alice Springs is Maree Meredith. I have talked to Maree on quite a few occasions, particularly about the Mount Wedge Newhaven Bird Sanctuary and Nyirripi experience. Maree is out and about there. That position is vitally important in getting traditional owners involved in potential tourism opportunities on their land. It is a very good position, funded by this government, and one worthy of noting as well.
Obviously, the art centres and galleries, as I have mentioned, are something that I experience and visit all the time when I am out in my electorate, whether it is at Yarralin, or through Ampilatwatja, Utopia, along the Sandover Highway, but also up the Stuart Highway at Ti Tree, where Peter King has his art gallery. These are important centres for the drive tourists, and cannot be underestimated.
There is much discussion and controversy about the shire councils, particularly from the opposition. However, I can see the value in tourism with strong local governance in some of these regions. It is important that it is seen as a good move, because strong local government council shires provide communities and developers - whether they are tourism operators, miners, horticulturalists or whoever – with opening the doors for these types of economic opportunities. I believe that is an important element that cannot be forgotten in the whole shire debate. I know in my electorate, I can see the value of larger shires working together to maximise the opportunities that tourism offers the bush. I would also like to place on the public record my support for the stronger, larger shires, particularly in creating jobs for people in the bush.
There is no limit to the challenges out there for the tourism industry, but also in my electorate, as I said. Today in Question Time, we heard the minister answer questions from my colleague about Gunya Titjikala. The Commonwealth intervention is certainly bringing its challenges to the bush regarding creating real jobs. I am sure all of us in this House want to see real jobs created. Tourism provides that opportunity, but let us do it in a sensible way. Let us sit down with people - whether it is in the creek bed or under a tree - and talk about the real opportunities. Where are they now? Let us not put barriers that intervene and stop these opportunities that we are seeing at the moment, with Gunya, for example. The intervention is providing its fair share of challenges for my electorate in tourism and economic development. Let us get some commonsense into this whole process.
In response to other members’ contributions, the member for Greatorex raised a good issue about the grey nomads. In my travels up and down the Stuart Highway, I come across them all the time. I was interested in reading today there is actually a driver’s guide that was launched by the minister this year particularly targeting the drive market. That driver’s guide is something I am interested in finding out a bit more about regarding things up and down the highway. All of us here, particularly in seats outside of Darwin in the regional centres but also members in Darwin, are interested in ways of promoting the regions, whether it is in Tennant Creek, Katherine, Alice Springs or in Ti Tree. I was very interested in coming across that today, and it is something that I will be looking at a bit further.
Regarding the waterfront development, there are arguments on both sides. For me, as someone living outside of Darwin, I can see the benefits of investing in infrastructure such as the waterfront. For me, the challenge is how we maximise the opportunities for the regions. A big project like the waterfront is going to attract more visitors to Darwin. What we need to do now is work with Tourism NT and those regional tourism organisations …
Mr HENDERSON: Mr Deputy Speaker, I move an extension of time for 10 minutes to allow my colleague to conclude his remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr HAMPTON: Thanks. The challenge is: how do we get regional tourism organisations such as CATIA to reap the benefits of such big infrastructure and projects such as the waterfront? That is the question we should be focused on; not being caught up in the debate about the amount of money that is put into it. Sure, it is a lot of money, but with that investment in this infrastructure comes opportunities. It is important that organisations like CATIA and tourism operators down the track work out campaigns or strategies to benefit from this big investment.
Our best asset in all of this - we can talk about millions of dollars put into the waterfront - is the people of the Territory, whether you are at Yuendumu, Alice Springs or here in Darwin. If you do not invest in the people, then all the money you can put into bricks and mortar or into marketing campaigns and strategies is not really worth anything. We need to invest in the people of the Territory, regardless of where they live, because they are the ones who will make something succeed or fail. We should not forget that we need to invest in people, in education, so we have indigenous people coming through the system who can read and write, who can participate in economic development, whether it be tourism, mining or whatever. Our best asset, for me, is the people of the Territory, and we should keep a focus on that within this tourism strategy.
I congratulate the minister and Tourism NT for the fantastic year that they have had to date, and also all those tourism operators in Alice Springs, throughout Central Australia, and in my electorate of Stuart.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Mr Deputy Speaker, I also speak on the matter of tourism to correct the record. I was of the view, which I expressed during estimates, that much of the signage that I had seen in recent times left a lot to be desired. I had seen programs that had been promoted by a former government and those signs, particularly around the World War II period, are fading. They have faded significantly. I had not seen a number of the other signs and I thought that, perhaps, that would be the case across the board. At the outset, I will say that, as a result of an extended trip during the July break to Alice Springs and back and, then, just recently across to Pigeon Hole for the field day, I took a detour through Gregory National Park. I am pleased to report that some new signage that I had not seen before, are up and down that highway and are very good. There is nothing worse than having a magnificent product and finding some of the signage fading away and sending out the wrong message. So, it was good to see those signs.
Tourism is, undoubtedly, a very important industry. I have just come back from a CPA conference. When you listen to delegates from the South Pacific, and hear of their economy in all its spread, you realise that some economies, particularly in the Pacific Islands, have nothing left to trade, other than one jurisdiction which said that pawpaws was all they had. They were having difficulties selling the pawpaws because big markets like Australia were making it increasingly difficult. Of course, they have one industry that they can then promote, and that is tourism. It was clear in that context, when there was nothing much else left to trade, that the strategies for tourism became critically important. It has the same effect on the Northern Territory.
It is fascinating aspect of the economy that the industry of tourism reaches so many so widely. The honourable member who spoke just prior to me made reference to education, and how important it is to bolstering our capacity in tourism. There is nothing better to go on, say, a tour of Katherine Gorge and have a local indigenous lad telling you great stories about the Gorge and the background and so on, and entertaining people and being confident to do so. That comes as a result of a good-quality education. We need to see a lot more of that because people who come to the Territory want to engage with the indigenous aspect of the Northern Territory. That is why education is important.
I know that this is probably shocking for the member for Goyder to hear me speaking of things in a favourable light that would pertain to the current government. The way that the member for Goyder couches his terms is, generally, you draw a line in the sand and everything that happened prior to the election of the great illustrious Labor Party to office in the Territory - a whole new golden era dawned on the Territory – was in darkness, terror and fear, and no good thing emanated. I have to alert the member who spoke just prior to me who inadvertently made comment about the Masters Games and a few other things regarding tourism development in Central Australia. Sadly, as he is new to the Chamber, he probably did not realise that those things actually emanated from a time before the great golden era dawned in the Territory with the Labor Party and set everything straight. Prior to that time, it is barely worth mentioning. It just makes you shudder to think how terrible things were.
I find it a bit discouraging sometimes when you have these sorts of talks in here; that we can take a sensible approach - so sensible, in fact, that I am forced to bring forward an issue that will probably offend the member for Goyder. It does not directly relate to the Territory government; it is another tier of government. It is the Palmerston City Council, and it relates to a park. There is a park not far from my home within walking distance. It is the only sizable park that is not far from my home. In fact, most people in Palmerston make good use of Marlow Lagoon. It happened a couple of years ago - and this is just to illustrate some of the strange thinking that goes on, on the other side - when my son left me with a kelpie that I needed to look after, so I had to take the kelpie for a walk. Where would l walk it? Marlow Lagoon. I happened to find a few cane toads whilst I was at Marlow Lagoon. This disturbed the member for Goyder deeply because it was in his electorate. He thought that I may be making moves into his electorate by walking my dog in his park, so much so that there was this strategic leak to the other arm that operates in support of many of the members of the other side, the NT News: wonder what the member for Blain is doing wandering around Marlow Lagoon in Goyder electorate? Is he making a move on Goyder? No, I am just walking my dog in the park. That is the major park in Palmerston and is within walking distance for me. It takes me three minutes to jog there. So I do not mind wandering in other areas.
I do not mind talking about things that have happened right here that are under this government that are okay, as long as we can just be intellectually flexible enough to think that before the great and golden era of the Labor Party came to set everything straight in the Northern Territory, member for Goyder, some nice things did happen. We have a wonderful Territory and, as we move along, there will come a time - I know it is probably almost unbearable to consider - that there will be no Labor Party in office in the Northern Territory, and there will come another government.
Anyway, we have an excellent place. Whether I drove around the Northern Territory when the Labor Party was in government or the CLP, Uluru looked fantastic. It looked the same. The sun was shining just the same, and Central Australia was a magnificent place before the Labor Party came to office. It still is. Good things are happening now and good things happened before. Let us get over that part of the silly nonsense and look at what we have to deal with today.
I will put something on the agenda. I am not having a slight at anyone here. I may put something on the table as a member of parliament. I know I am in opposition and it must be a rubbish idea because it does not come from the great and illustrious crew who are in government, but it is an issue. If properly developed, approached, supported and led, it will promote a significant boost to the Territory economy. That is a strategic aspect of tourism. Other jurisdictions have done so. The Territory has tried in the past under another government - how dare he criticise the CLP! They had a shot at it - it is pretty hard stuff; it is still being attempted today. It is the issue of full-fee-paying students and finding a way to get more students to come and study in the Northern Territory from other places, particularly overseas. That is, without a doubt, a significant industry that could be very well exploited in the Northern Territory if we approached it in the right way. Other jurisdictions have done so and have gained the benefits.
I may well be quoting something that is incorrect because I heard it some time ago, but in one place - and I think it might be Albury/Wodonga area - the university focused on full-fee-paying students and recognised the economic benefit that could contribute to the local economy. At one point, the contribution made by full-fee-paying students coming into that jurisdiction exceeded their major export, which was fruit production. When you track the benefits of tourism that flow from a full-fee-paying student, they are colossal. My goodness! There is something going on at the other side, guys. Did you get a tip off? There is a mood afoot; big changes that results from these underlying issues ...
Members interjecting.
Mr MILLS: There seems to be some tension in this room, I have to say, and it is nothing to do with the opposition. There are four of us causing you so much grief. Obviously, you had a bad weekend or something. There is a bit of housekeeping. You are sitting around the table and having a meal, but people are not putting out the right vibes. I have that feeling in this room today. I hope we can deal with it.
That aside, full-fee-paying students is an industry the Territory, strategically located, could really make a go of. I have had a number of meetings with the Vice-Chancellor. There have been some moves made. Much more could be made. There are some challenges. The Territory may not be as attractive a place as Sydney for those who want to have a student come and study in Australia, but we do have something quite special; that we are not far from Indonesia and the climate is very similar. There are ways of marketing this, in a niche way. That is where you need these very close and carefully developed and maintained relationships with key people.
Some gains have been made in this area; a lot more could be. If you are looking at it from a tourism point of view, the flow-on benefit from a full-fee-paying student is colossal. Second, that full-fee-paying student often has their family visit. They go back and tell stories about the place where their child lives and much more flows from that. I have come from Perth where I worked in this area for a time. Numbers of families who have come to visit their children who have gone through primary school, secondary school to university, have now taken up investments in Perth as a result of their connection to that place. We have seen a little of it in the Territory, but more could come.
Finally, I would like to touch on another matter which does cause me some concern, and I ask the minister to respond to this. There have been a number of media releases and earnest statements made during this parliament and the previous parliament relating to parks and reserves. There were some major changes to the way that our parks estate was administered. In all of that, many arguments were had in this Chamber and it was a quite complicated business. However, the result of those changes brought about on every utterance from government, the smiling faces on media releases, that a core principle would be when the parks estate is changed, that they will remain accessible to all Territorians and visitors on a no-fee/no-permit basis. That was established in a ministerial statement in 2002. A media release in 2005 reaffirmed that core principle.
This is a press release dated 17 February 2005, with the Chief Minister’s face up in the corner smiling nicely, where she said: ‘All Territory parks and reserves will remain accessible to all Territorians and visitors on a no-fee/no-permit basis’. That was the same words in 2002 and 2005.
However, then we have some correspondence flowing through. Some of it was recently to minister Henderson. It is correspondence that goes to a tour operator. The tour operator has been asked to fill out his permit form so that he can access Territory parks and reserves - that are remaining accessible to all Territorians - on a fee for permit basis, which is contrary to the two clear principles which were clearly expressed by the Chief Minister, on both occasions, in fact. Perhaps the Tourism Minister did not know about that. Anyway, what flowed from this is that, in 2007, in pursuing this matter of an application fee, a permit fee of $100 needs to be paid if this tour operator needs to go into the park. Less than four times, it will be $100 …
Ms Carney: It is a shame - absolutely outrageous.
Mr MILLS: If you want to take more than four tours per annum, the fee will be $500. That needs an explanation, as it was announced this is something that would not be changed, and the words were at the top of the list of the principles that are behind this new world-class national parks system getting the go ahead. Please explain, minister, how this has occurred then? How is it that there is, in fact, a fee and a charge for someone who wants to access a park?
It is completely contrary to the statements that have been made again and again in the debate in this Chamber to reassure Territorians. It went into everyone’s letterboxes with a beautiful little piece of paper with smiling faces, and told that to be a fact, because it was a principle upon which this whole negotiation was based. Now, we have something that is quite the opposite. We do not get a flashy brochure in the letterbox explaining this. We do not get a big announcement, or a media release. We do not have something organised out the front there: ‘Let me explain, we are going to levy some fees now’. Oh no, you hear nothing.
You just have some poor tourism operator saying: ‘I thought I heard that there would be no fees, no charges for any visitor visiting any of our parks’. Oh, now it is going to be $500. He makes his way to the Territory opposition, has a shot at the Territory government, and is not satisfied. He was led to believe - as all of us were - that that was a principle upon which this was based.
Please explain, Minister for Tourism. You may need to see the Chief Minister, because the Chief Minister clearly made that statement. There must be some explanation, and that explanation must have the same intent to communicate with the community as you had when you were telling the other story. Go and tell them all. Tell them all you changed your mind, or it was not quite the case. Spin your words whatever way you like, but why do you not put the same advertising money, which we pay for, behind this change of plan? Explain it to us please, Chief Minister and Minister for Tourism.
Ms SACILOTTO (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I support the minister’s statement on tourism. There are many exciting things happening in the Port Darwin electorate. It is natural that the entertainment hub, business hub, accommodation hub, and restaurant hub should also be the tourism hub. The waterfront project is good news for the Territory as a whole. It is good for jobs, the economy, business, and it is definitely good for tourism. It is all smack bang in the middle of my electorate - the great electorate of Port Darwin. It is also fantastic in amenity which will be enjoyed by residents close by in the CBD, Larrakeyah, Cullen Bay, Tipperary Waters, and Stuart Park areas, which encompass my electorate.
The Martin Labor government is committed to nurturing the economy of the Territory, and this includes capital infrastructure projects such as the waterfront development. It is a fantastic project which will provide stimulation to our economy for many years in areas such as construction, retail and tourism. Our waterfront development, which incorporates a fabulous 1500-seat convention centre, is professionally managed by Malu Barrios, who has already booked many conventions, with interest coming in daily from around Australia and the world.
The wave pool will be a small part of the tourist experience. We must remember, in Darwin it is beautiful but also hot. Having this asset will encourage families to stay a bit longer, and I am sure it will be a great hit with mums, dads and kids. Think about this scenario: mum at a conference, dad up in the CBD shopping, and the kids having a ball in the wave pool. Then mum finishes the conference and the family go off to Kakadu, Uluru or Nitmiluk, and then back for a couple of days to enjoy the historical areas of our city, shopping, markets and a few dips in the wave pool. With the two hotels that are under way, it will be the utmost in convenience and a great base for any holiday throughout the Territory.
Our cruise ship terminal is going to be another important tool in encouraging increases in tourism. Considerable work has already been started at the future home of the cruise ship terminal, with the project’s expenditure to reach approximately $4.5m, and improvements planned to international security and a much-improved entry statement to Darwin. First impressions do count, as does comfort. The importance of this project is evident when we look at the 2007 cruise ship year. This year, we will play host to 35 large cruise ships and 13 smaller vessels. This is a huge achievement for Darwin to attract this number of cruise ships, and is only set to increase each year as our facilities improve and we continue to tell our story.
I direct you to the websites, as other members have, such as tourismnt.com.au and travelnt.com. They have fantastic tools to plan the perfect Territory holiday. This is one example of a tool to plan a sample itinerary, which I will read for you. A five-day Darwin itinerary:
In quite a short period of time you can get quite a distance and experience all sorts of different things. In my own back yard, and in the electorate of Port Darwin, one such business is Arafura Sailing Adventures, based in the Cullen Bay Marina. Their lead vessel is the Sundancer which is a fantastic 50 ft sailing catamaran first launched in June 2005. The Sundancer sleeps four couples in luxury and comfort and takes these lucky couples on fantastic adventures around our magnificent Territory, such as their seven days Cobourg/Tiwi Island Eco Tours. They also host a great three-day tour of Bare Sand Island in Bynoe Harbour. If you are a really keen sailor, the crew welcome any volunteers to assist with sailing the vessel, from hauling the mainsail in the morning, trimming the sails, or steering a course during the day.
The diversity of this business is such that Peter Herden, the business owner and operator, Skipper Ben and Relief Skipper Ian also cater for corporate and group charters, weddings, functions, and are also available for breakfast and sunset cruises. I cannot imagine a more beautiful place to enjoy sunrise or sunset than on our fantastic Darwin Harbour. Peter Herden has lived in the Territory since 1972 and knows the Top End waters and the environment very well, as he has sailed extensively in the area. Peter’s background encompasses fisheries management, indigenous community development and the Australian Army. Peter is a real asset to the Territory’s tourism industry as he truly loves his work and really enjoys showing off our Territory. Peter always wants to show our important tourists a good time, and share with them his extensive knowledge and understanding of the Territory’s lifestyle and rich history. I believe Peter works under the same principle as I did when I was in business; that is, your business is only as good as your most inexperienced staff member’s worst day.
Peter and his staff are always having a great day and enjoying their jobs, so they are great advocates and great people to be taking tourists up close and personal around to areas that we would not normally get to see. A highlight of Arafura Sailing Adventures is a perfect example of one of our local people wanting to share our great Territory with visitors from around the world and having the confidence in our economy to start a unique service business.
I commend Tourism NT and, in particular, the fantastic and vibrant Share our Story campaign. It is becoming well known by people in the southern states, and that means that we are doing our job properly in promoting our great Territory. Well done, also, to the brilliant tourism businesses in the Darwin area. Feedback has been very positive in relation to the friendliness and the assistance provided by the CBD shopkeepers, restaurants, including our beautiful restaurants at Cullen Bay such as Yots Greek Taverna, which is owner operated by Evan Papadonakis. I was having lunch there the other day and it was fantastic. It is a beautiful spot; the weather is lovely at the moment, and it was certainly a fantastic meal and a really authentic Greek/Australian experience with fantastic food.
I encourage all Territorians, shopkeepers and people working in retail, when seeing tourists walking around the city area, to go out of their way to be friendly to them and make the Territory a very friendly place and a very positive tourist experience. That type of campaign cannot have a dollar figure put on it. It means that we are as proud as punch of our Territory, ensuring that we are providing the best possible service to our tourists and locals alike.
Mr HENDERSON (Tourism): Madam Speaker, I thank all honourable members for their contributions to this statement which I presented to the House in last month’s sitting.
Tourism is everyone’s business. It is worth about $1.5bn to our economy and directly employs around $14 000 Territorians. When tourism is hit by global events that are outside our control, whether they be terrorism, economic events or industry associated catastrophes like the collapse of Ansett Airlines, our tourism industry is much more vulnerable to the shocks of those events. It has taken time to rebuild tourist numbers to around what they were in 2001 prior to the demise of Ansett, the 11 September attacks, SARS and the HIH collapse that really impacted on public liability insurance premiums that hit a lot of tourism operators really hard. Many tourism operators in the Territory could not get insurance at all.
It has been a long road back for the industry, but it is certainly an industry that is very buoyant. We are very optimistic about the future. We are seeing investment right across the Northern Territory in new product. There are 800 new hotel rooms coming on line in Darwin over the next 18 months. There is significantly increased aviation capacity, both domestically and internationally. The convention centre will be complete by July next year. There is much optimism around people in the tourism industry.
I commend the staff of Tourism NT who do an absolutely fantastic job. Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, our tourism agency in the Territory is the best in Australia. I do not say that lightly. With the money we have, the marketing that we are doing, the niches that we are developing, our statistics show that we are swimming against the tide. We have tourism increasing out of proportion with the rest of Australia, and that very much is down to the good staff in Tourism NT and the great marketing campaigns that they are developing in conjunction with our operators - and to whom I pay tribute - in the industry who work very cooperatively with Tourism NT.
When we introduced the Share our Story marketing strategy just over two years ago, there was an almighty hue and cry about it. Many people were saying it would not work, it could not work, it was a terrible strategy, these people did not know what they are talking about. Virtually all of the people who declared at the time that it was the worse marketing campaign that the Territory had ever seen and would be a total failure, have turned around and said: ‘I was wrong. It certainly has hit the mark and is working very well’.
A number of members commented on the proposed strategic plan that AEC Consultants delivered to me last week with 63, I think it is, recommendations in it. This is a consultant’s report. The consultants were engaged by the agency. They have had many discussions and consulted widely across the Northern Territory for input. Certainly, feedback is called for. I have written to operators, tourism associations, people in the industry, to get across this report and these recommendations. It is a strategic plan for the next five years. It is a plan that I hope individual operators will be able to own, and to use to guide their business strategies over the next five years. The consultants would like feedback by 19 October 2007 on those recommendations. They will then report to me, as minister, and I will take a proposal to Cabinet for consideration as to government’s response to the recommendations in the report.
All operators have now been written to and e-mailed. The report is on the Internet. It makes a number of significant recommendations regarding the real opportunities to continue to drive growth in the tourism industry in the Northern Territory. It is really further building our reputation as the destination of choice for nature and culture-based adventure. We are not a mass market destination. We are a niche destination based around our landscapes, our flora, our fauna and our unique indigenous culture.
Further building our reputation are the recommendations from the consultant targeting emerging tourism markets such as China - a very important market as more and more Chinese are travelling overseas. A Chinese television documentary crew was here just a few months ago. With the launch of a major documentary series in China towards the end of this year, with a market reach of up to 300 million people, it will certainly put the Territory on the map. We could not cope with tens of thousands of Chinese travellers coming here on package tours; however, what we can do is to work to really focus on the unique nature and cultural aspects for those tourists.
An important recommendation that is growing awareness for me, as minister - and rapid awareness - but not part of much discussion in our tourism industry at the moment, is the debate around climate change and where tourism fits into that debate. Also, the emergence, very rapidly, of tourists, particularly out of Europe and our core markets in central Europe, who are making decisions about where they go, who they stay with, who they tour with, based on leaving a carbon neutral footprint regarding those purchasing decisions. It is a rapidly evolving point of difference; that increasing numbers of tourists, who want to travel, but want to travel environmentally aware and responsibly, are making decisions about how they get to destinations, who they stay with, who they tour with. Our industry has to quickly get to grips with this demand from the market and position themselves as accommodation providers, tour operators, for that market and introduce carbon offset programs to their particular tour or their particular accommodation. That is going to be an emerging debate on which we are going to have to focus.
Regarding the issue about regional tourism associations, I believe the report is very clear, out of surveys, that we have to start thinking and acting differently about how we disperse tourists through our regions, how we promote our regions, and how we ensure that, when tourists come and fly in - and the reality is, in spite of the carry-on from the member for Katherine, people either fly to the Territory to Darwin or Alice Springs, or they drive through the Territory. There are no direct commercial flights to Katherine or Tennant Creek anymore. Much as we wish there were, the fact is, there are not. As a minister, as an agency, as a government, you can only deal with the cards that you are dealt with. The reality is that Katherine Airport is not, in the immediate future, going to see direct services from the likes of Qantas, Tiger Airways or Jetstar.
We have to focus on the reality that most people are going to enter the Northern Territory through Darwin or Alice Springs Airports. We need to work out how we disperse those travellers through our regions to the best of our abilities. Other figures coming through are showing a very steady, but continuing, evolving decline in the self-drive market. It is still very important but, with the advent of discount carriers and airfares we just saw yesterday - $39.95 one way from Melbourne to Sydney, Melbourne to Alice Springs - many people, instead of doing the once-in-a-lifetime big drive trip to the Northern Territory are going to hop on a plane, take the flight to Alice Springs or Darwin, and then hire a car for the weekend or for the week, and do the trip. These are the trends that are emerging in the marketplace.
As I said to members of the Katherine Region Tourist Association last week and the Tennant Creek tourism association - I think it was Thursday last week; Thursday, Friday I was in Katherine and Tennant Creek - we really have to rethink what we do and how we do it. Nostalgia is not an entrepreneurial strategy that I would endorse, either as a minister or as a business operator. We can all wish back to how things were 15 or 20 years ago, but the fact is the market is changing, and the way people arrive and are dispersed through the Northern Territory is changing. We can be nostalgic about days of old, but that is not going to get us there in a very cutthroat and competitive industry. We have to rethink the way things are done. I urge people, as I did in Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Darwin, to look at this report, not from a defensive position but at the opportunities that are outlined in this report, and how we grasp those opportunities. One thing that is absolutely clear for me is that if we stand still in tourism we will go backwards. We will certainly go backwards.
All I say to people in the industry is read the report with an open mind, and not from a defensive position, and put your point of view forward. My commitment is to do whatever we can to better disperse tourists throughout the Northern Territory, to better target tourists to stay longer in the Northern Territory and spend more money in the Northern Territory. That would be to the benefit of the entire industry.
The member for Katherine talked about how terrible the marketing is; that we are not spending any money in marketing the regions, not spending any money marketing Katherine, and that the statement did not go to all of the regional tourism issues and opportunities. I would need hours of parliamentary time to talk about all aspects of the tourism industry and what is happening across the Northern Territory. The fact is I get 20 minutes. The reality of the statement was focusing on reporting to and updating the parliament and Territorians about the success of the Share Our Story marketing campaign, and about a very important aspect of our future tourism industry here in the Top End, which is the progress of the convention centre and the cruise ship facility.
I know the members of the opposition absolutely hate the waterfront development; they do not think that the convention centre should be there. They campaign on the convention centre being in Darwin next to their mates’ hotel here in Darwin. However, I advise the House that already we have over 17 conventions booked for the convention centre in Darwin over the next few years, with an additional 10 000 people already booked to attend a convention in Darwin. That is 10 000 people who are going to be coming to this great capital city of ours and spending time at a business convention here, who would not have come here before. Whilst they are here, they are not just going to spend all their time and money at Stokes Hill Wharf. They will be exploring Darwin, they will be hiring cars, they will be travelling through the region, they will be spending money regionally, they will experience the Northern Territory, they will tell their friends and relatives what a great place it is - and so it goes on ...
Mrs Miller: Send them to Katherine; we will look after them
Mr HENDERSON: We will try to send them to Katherine, Madam Speaker. Absolutely, we will try to send them to Katherine. There are 10 000 people who are coming to Darwin who would not have come to Darwin unless we had built the convention centre. It has only been in the market for a short space of time.
The member for Katherine talked about nothing is being done for Katherine and we are not marketing Katherine. Well, she really needs to get out and talk to operators a bit more because …
Mrs Miller: I am out there all the time.
Mr HENDERSON: Well, we talked about the visitors centre and how terrible it was that the government, with approval from the Katherine Region Tourist Association - and I am sure the Chief Minister remembers this at the time - contracted Katherine Town Council to run the Visitor Information Centre. I have some numbers here that shows it is going gang busters ...
Mrs Miller: No, I did not say it is terrible.
Mr HENDERSON: It is going gang busters and the member for Katherine talks it down. Here are some figures. Just in bookings at the Visitor Information Centre, in comparison to the same period in 2006, May, June and July: May 2006 there was $57 000 worth of bookings taken for operators in the Katherine region ...
Mrs Miller: Interesting one.
Mr HENDERSON: Listen, member for Katherine ...
Mrs Miller: I know them, I have them.
Mr HENDERSON: $57 000 in 2006, and $97 000 in 2007. That is nearly double the number of bookings taken in June …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: It gets better, member for Nhulunbuy. June 2006, $64 000 worth of bookings. In June 2007, $143 000 …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Katherine wants to go backwards - wants to go back to the good old days, Madam Speaker.
In July 2006, it gets even better again. In July 2006, $76 000 worth of bookings; 2007 $196 000 - nearly three times the number of bookings. I will send this to the member for Katherine. Every single month was an increase …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister is quoting from a document. I wonder if he would be good enough to table it.
Mr HENDERSON: Absolutely.
Ms CARNEY: Thank you.
Mr HENDERSON: Absolutely, Madam Speaker. I will send a copy to everybody - in fact, I did give copies to the Katherine Region Tourist Association when I was there on Thursday.
In the last 12 months, $691 000 has been spent marketing Katherine by Tourism NT, which is $691 000 more than when the CLP were in government. Sixty thousand of these brochures went to the drive market. It is a fabulous production. I urge the member for Katherine to get online to the travelnt.com website and see the fantastic promotion of the Katherine region and all of our regions in the Northern Territory. This website would be the best state government tourism website in Australia by far. It is translated into seven international languages and there are more to come.
The member for Katherine said we do nothing to support small operators. We are working with Territory Discoveries which hosts these small operators, with facilities for people locally, interstate, overseas to be able to book product online through Territory Discoveries. That is how we are supporting operators.
The member for Katherine talked about we are not promoting people staying in Katherine. Well, if you go to the travelnt.com website you will see maps and itineraries for the Katherine region including itineraries for day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5. There are itineraries that are promoted to travellers to spend five days and longer in the Katherine region. You do not have to look very far, member for Katherine, to see how we are promoting the Katherine region.
I want to read a letter sent to the Sunday Magazine from the Sydney Morning Herald, titled ‘A beautiful country’ from a gentleman - I presume it is a gentleman - by the name of Vic Mazzone in regards to the terrible job that Tourism NT is doing promoting the Katherine region:
So, member for Katherine, we are promoting the Katherine region. We love the Katherine region. The Visitor Information Centre in Katherine …
Mr NATT: Madam Speaker, I move an extension of time of 10 minutes for my colleague to conclude his remarks pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will not be much longer. We are promoting the Katherine region. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, with double the number of bookings coming through the Visitor Information Centre. The results are there that Tourism NT is doing a great job supporting the region and the great operators in the Katherine region.
The member for Blain talked about full-fee-paying foreign students. That is an area on which Charles Darwin University continues to work to build numbers. I believe numbers are increasing at CDU, from my memory of the last Charles Darwin University Annual Report. The member for Blain mentioned that he had met with the Vice-Chancellor on a couple of occasions to speak about this. The Vice-Chancellor just went to Vietnam with the Chief Minister to promote study at the university.
I suppose, in a lot of things, we could always put more resources in and work harder and try harder, but it is not an area that is being neglected by the university. I know, as minister for Education, that a number of our high schools across the Northern Territory are developing very good links with schools in China and Japan in particular. I agree with the member for Blain that full-fee-paying international students and student exchanges are an important part of growing our tourism industry.
He mentioned the issue of fees for our national parks. I think he acknowledged that the changes that the Territory government had put in place in joint management of our parks in the Northern Territory were probably the way to go. I think he had almost got to that point. It must have been the former member for Greatorex who held the whip hand in the CLP party room - as the chief said: ‘Fight them to the death. Let us whip up fear and hatred and get these petitions going and tell a pack of porkies about what the Territory government was doing in giving our parks away’. It was real scaremongering.
That is not the point. The point is that we want to continue to develop our parks estate jointly with traditional owners, and having traditional owners on boards of management. As Minister for Tourism, I am well aware that there are significant investment opportunities in our parks from companies which are seeking to invest in indigenous enterprises and new destinations in our parks estate. That is going to be done sensitively, over time and with consultation. Nitmiluk is the prime example of what can be done. I know that Nitmiluk and the traditional owners are looking at significant investment and upgrading infrastructure, facilities and accommodation in the park. We, as a government, work with all Territorians to develop opportunities for investment and jobs. There seemed to be a bit of a thaw from the member for Blain in whether the CLP are going to continue to oppose and knock the decision for joint management. I hope that they will come on board and be constructive.
The Territory government said, at the time, there would be no fees, no charges for our parks. Our consultants, AEC, have identified that it could be an opportunity for increased revenue that would go to infrastructure in our parks estates. This is a consultant’s report that has made a suggestion and a recommendation. I have spoken to my colleague, the minister for Parks, who has carriage of this issue, and it is still government policy that we do not support fees for parks. That is the current position.
I thank my colleagues on this side of the House who contributed to the debate. Members all have tourism operators in their electorates. It is great to hear, right across the Northern Territory from the Top End to the Centre, what communities and entrepreneurs are doing in developing our tourism industry. It certainly is an industry that employs people right across the full spectrum of the Territory’s population.
Finally, Madam Speaker, the advent in Central Australia of Tiger Airways flying to Alice Springs in the first week in December goes to show that you have to work long and hard to encourage increased air access to the Northern Territory. When you do get those extra seats, it certainly drives competition, and competition provides cheaper airfares and that is going to bring more tourists to Alice Springs and Darwin. That is an opportunity then to disperse those tourists through the region. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the debate. I look forward to giving the House further updates of our tourism industry across the Northern Territory.
Motion agreed to; statement noted.
Continued from 28 August 2007.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, this afternoon I move acceptance of the Auditor-General’s August 2007 Report. In his opening remarks, the Auditor-General has expressed his pleasure at the improvements made to his budget, which has improved his capacity to do his job and increase the level of scrutiny he can provide. The government welcomes this scrutiny.
The role of the Auditor-General is a critical one in any functioning democratic polity. The government believes in open government and transparent processes; a strong Auditor-General is part of that. The role of the Auditor-General is, in particular, evidenced in this report. In the last six months of last financial year, the Auditor-General conducted a series of agency compliance audits to test the capacity of a broad sweep of agencies in discharging their accountability requirements. The results are listed, without reference to individual agencies, and provide a guide for performance of agencies against a suite of accountability rules and responsibilities.
Weaknesses were shown in a range of agencies across a range of performance areas. This is of concern to everyone and is being acted on by agencies. These weaknesses include procurement process issues; weak documentation, in some cases; a lack of internal auditing capacity; and other issues. The Auditor-General has, through his compliance process, highlighted matters that could be very problematic if they are not dealt with. In each of the identified cases, the agency is on notice to work through procedures and actions to rectify the problems identified. The Auditor-General has made the point that some of these weaknesses have been identified in the past and appear to recur. These matters are being taken seriously by chief executives, and I am confident they will ensure these problems are properly attended to.
I believe this has been a very successful exercise conducted by the Auditor-General, doing exactly what he is in place to do. The result of the exercise will be strengthened government procedures and processes. For those who believe that this exercise has revealed some great issue in our public service, let me just point out that there are 16 000-plus public sector employees in the Territory government. Each one works hard in the best interests of the Territory and with the Territory’s future at heart. The turnover of the public sector, by the very nature of the community we live in, is around 25%, probably the highest in Australia. The job of training and retraining people is constant and large.
It would be a miracle if some procedural weaknesses were not found. In fact, I would have thought the Auditor-General was not doing his job. So, while I take very seriously the concerns raised by the Auditor-General, I am also satisfied that the Auditor-General did not find corruption or widespread maladministration. From all the posturing from the opposition in Question Time last sittings, you would have thought his report reveals this problem – it did not - or this level of problem - it did not.
I am very proud of our public sector and the work they do. I am equally happy to ensure that auditing is in place to ensure we have the correct mechanisms and procedures so the public sector and government continues to be above reproach.
In addition to these compliance audits, the Auditor-General provided 11 separate reports, and these will be commented on by the relevant minister. Again, in each case these have been responded to by agencies and the issues raised by the Auditor-General taken on board.
In closing, Madam Speaker, I thank Mr McGuiness for his work. He is a first-class Auditor-General who, I believe, has the interests of open, transparent and accountable government at heart.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, the Chief Minister’s response was, with respect, less than satisfactory. I make this point very clear: we do not allege, nor have we ever alleged, corruption in relation to matters arising from the Auditor-General’s report. What we assert is that the Treasurer and other government ministers are not doing their jobs properly because of the matters found and identified by the Auditor-General.
Whereas the Chief Minister preferred not to outline what those matters were, I, on the other hand – and perhaps not surprisingly – wish to outline them. I am referring to matters contained or listed in the Auditor-General’s August 2007 report commencing at page 38. I will quote from the issues that he has highlighted in relation to particular agencies:
Another one:
Next one – I will just list them. I am sure Hansard does not need me to separately quote them:
Another one:
Another one:
Here we go again. I would have thought Territorians would be interested in this stuff:
That is at page 41:
I will come back to that. Another one at page 42:
Another one:
The Auditor-General raised these, as he is obliged to do. These are serious matters. These are not just one-off instances that are popping up in the report. Indeed, the Treasurer in the Parliamentary Record on 29 August 2007 referred to it as a ‘trend’; that the Auditor-General noted a trend in relation to these matters. The Attorney-General referred to it, in addition, as ‘a theme of a weakness creeping into internal controls across a number of areas’. Let us be very clear about this. On 29 August 2007, in an answer to a question asked by the opposition, the Attorney-General and Treasurer - the same person - said that the Auditor-General was talking about ‘an emerging theme of a weakness creeping into internal controls across a number of areas’. Even the Treasurer, who has a number of responsibilities under the Financial Management Act, said, yes, there are a number of problems.
The Treasurer did not do terribly well when he was asked about this report on 29 August 2007 and sought to correct, or at least vastly improve, on the answer the following day; that is, on 29 August, the Treasurer seemed to, in the first instance, resent the question being asked, but then he said that the Auditor-General, did not qualify an amount next to the comments he made in relation to agencies, and that there would have been a response from the responsible agency in the Auditor-General’s report. The Treasurer, obviously, forgot or was not aware when he got to his feet that, in fact, there was a response from each agency in relation to the matters raised. He sought, if my memory serves me correctly, to remedy that the next day.
The point I make is this: what the Treasurer said on 29 August, and his approach generally given his responsibilities under the Financial Management Act, clearly demonstrate that he has taken his eye off the ball. Indeed, the fact that the Auditor-General refers to the Financial Management Act might have even encouraged the Treasurer, on 29 August, to address this issue. You would have thought that it would have alerted him to these problems. In fact, the Treasurer said, when answering a question on 29 August:
That sounded impressive. What it suggests is that, prior to the release of the Auditor-General’s report, he had no idea in relation to any agency - no idea …
Mr Stirling: How would I? Do you think he comes and gives me a copy before it is tabled in here?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms CARNEY: You have no idea, no idea …
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Madam Speaker! She is accusing me ...
Ms Carney: Listen, listen, there is no point of order and you know it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: The Leader of the Opposition is accusing me of gross impropriety in the sense that the Auditor-General comes along to my office, gives me a copy of the report, and says: ‘Syd, some bad things here; I have to give you the heads up’. It does not happen like that, you idiot.
Ms Carney: I assert no such thing, Sydney. I do not …
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr STIRLING: It is tabled in this House; I see it the same time as everyone else.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, resume your seat. I ask you to withdraw the word ‘idiot’ please.
Mr STIRLING: I withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: No, I have decided on this point of order.
Ms LAWRIE: It is a separate point of order.
Madam SPEAKER: I will handle this one first. Leader of the Opposition, you are aware that reports from the Auditor-General come to the parliament to me, before they go to members …
Ms Carney: I am very much aware of that, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: I would like you to withdraw any comments relating to that.
Ms CARNEY: I withdraw the comments. If the Treasurer misinterpreted what I said …
Mr Stirling: No, I did not.
Ms CARNEY: … then I apologise. But I made no such assertion.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, cease interjecting. You have withdrawn.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, my point of order is to request that the Leader of the Opposition withdraw the foul language she just used in the Chamber directed at the Attorney-General. I heard her very clearly.
Madam SPEAKER: I am sorry, I actually did not.
Ms CARNEY: It may have been offensive, Madam Speaker. I withdraw the word ‘deadhead’.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you. Please resume.
Ms CARNEY: Madam Speaker, let us be very clear about this. Not for a moment do I assert - nor would I, because it would be absurd to do so - that the Auditor-General slips it under your door. What I assert is that as the Auditor-General was going through the departments coming up with what are regarded, on any objective analysis, significant issues and significant failings within a range of departments. Given the Treasurer’s responsibility under the Financial Management Act, he had no idea about any of these issues before he saw them in the Auditor-General’s report which is, obviously, tabled in the parliament and then we all have a look at it.
I resent the assertion that the Treasurer, who ought to know better, is of the view that I suggested that the Auditor-General slips it under his door. My point is that the bloke who is meant to have responsibilities for agencies and what they are doing with Territory money had, apparently, no idea of this failure before he read it in the Auditor-General’s report. You have to ask: what does that tell you about the Treasurer? It tells that he, like his colleagues, has become so drunk on power he sails through his day and does not think that he needs to do his job. He does not think that he needs to be responsible for the way agencies administer public money.
It is noteworthy that the Auditor-General says: that these difficulties, which were outlined at the beginning, were encountered at more than one agency. Therefore, the Treasurer cannot say: ‘Oh, well, it was one or two agencies’. Although the Auditor-General made no reference to it, we understand that, predominantly, the areas of concern were in Education and Health, but we also understand that it ranged across a number of agencies.
The Auditor-General said at page 42 as a result of all of these failings:
So be it. The point I make in respect of this is that the Auditor-General fully understands - as does everyone in this House except, apparently, the Treasurer - the importance of the effective and transparent administration of public monies. The Treasurer feigned interest on 29 August and said he would be seeking a Treasury explanation. He, obviously, knows absolutely nothing about these failings. The Treasurer knows nothing about agencies’ lack of documentation to support official travel. He knows nothing in relation to an agency or agencies’ lack of evidence for approval of purchases using corporate credit cards. He knows nothing, apparently, about an agency’s or a number of agencies’ failure to adhere to their own policies for the approval of hospitality expenditure. He knows nothing, apparently, of deficiencies in the recording of fixed assets.
At budget time, the Treasurer bounced in here and talked about lots of money and assets and all that sort of thing, giving the impression that he actually knows what he is talking about. You cannot come in here and go through the motions and then say: ‘I do not want to have anything else to do with it for the rest of the year’.
I thank the Auditor-General for his report. I am concerned that the Chief Minister, in her response, said - if I heard it correctly - that the problems are being taken seriously by CEOs. I am concerned for this reason: I do not remember the Chief Minister saying: ‘We, as ministers of the Crown, we as responsible ministers for each agency, or even my colleague, the Treasurer, are mightily concerned about this’. There was nothing about where the buck stops. She simply said: ‘Oh, yes, CEOs are concerned’. I am sure they are. They should be concerned because it is public money that we are dealing with.
No corruption is alleged. What is alleged is that the Treasurer of the Northern Territory is not across the issue. He clearly knew nothing about what can be regarded as quite damning failings within a number of agencies. I find it astonishing that the Treasurer, given the wonderful Financial Management Act and everything this Treasurer has said since he has been Treasurer about transparency and the responsibility of government and what happens with the money, is not across a number of failings in respect of public monies.
For the most part, that represents the opposition’s concerns in relation to the Auditor-General’s report. I note that on page 5 he gave a reasonably short history of some financial resourcing problems he has experienced within his agency, and makes the point that the decline was corrected during 2006 and 2007. The opposition is very pleased to hear that because we know about the great work the Auditor-General does. I agree with the Chief Minister when she praised our Auditor-General. I believe the Territory is very lucky to have him. The opposition speaks with the Auditor-General frequently, and we are very grateful for the professional assistance he provides to us.
However, Madam Speaker, we do not believe it is appropriate for a Treasurer to duck his responsibilities. We do not believe it is appropriate for a Treasurer to, apparently, have absolutely no idea about what could be described as systemic failings within a number of agencies when it comes to the spending and subsequent accountability of public monies. That is an issue that we regard seriously.
If the shoe was on the other foot, the member for Nhulunbuy would, presumably, be standing here, having had for lunch whatever Mr Wood had for lunch, screaming at the top of his voice at these findings. I appreciate that the Treasurer will have a go after this, but you cannot actually attack this report. You do, Treasurer, have nowhere to go with it. What I would like to hear from you, through you, Madam Speaker, is what you have done since 29 August 2007 in relation to putting in place processes or directions to senior public servants - you know I am talking about those at the executive level - to ensure that the next Auditor-General’s report does not include some of these failings.
He did say, at page 42, that this area ‘will be the subject of continuing attention’. I look forward to hearing from the Treasurer about what he has done and, perhaps, what he proposes to do, and whether there are any time lines that he has implemented. He did say that he would have a briefing; I assume that has occurred. We look forward very much, as usual, Madam Speaker, to hearing from the member for Nhulunbuy.
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I do not know whether I will entertain or dignify the comments made by the member for Araluen with a response, except to say that I can remember when you talked about ineptitude, incompetence and flaws. There was one CEO of a Health department, under a CLP government, running up many thousands of dollars in bottle shops against a credit card - bottle shops against a credit card. One may well have wondered about the diligence of a particular Treasurer at the time or, indeed, the minister for Health, or, indeed, a whole lot of people in government at that time. My goodness! We have come a long way from the days when DBIRD loans went to people, when the Treasurer of the day, one Barry Coulter, stood in this Chamber and said ‘yachts to the Caribbean’. I do not know what happened to that loan. We think it finished up in a yacht that disappeared to the Caribbean. This government has come a long way, indeed.
I did hear the member for Araluen state and claim that she meets with the Auditor-General on a regular basis. I do hope that is the case, and I hope that she takes the opportunity to meet the Auditor-General regarding this report. Presumably, she has not yet. She would not have let go with that diatribe that she did in the last 20 minutes if she had met with Frank McGuiness on this very subject.
I acknowledge Frank’s role as Auditor-General, Madam Speaker. He does a terrific job for the Northern Territory. It gives me great confidence that our books and our responsibilities are in good shape.
The other point I want to pick up from the member for Araluen is that she has a strange idea of the Westminster system of individual ministerial responsibility and collective responsibility at the end of the day. If she thinks the Treasurer sits on the back, on the shoulder, of every CEO of every agency in this government, and sits at the shoulder of every minister, and watches what they do every day, I can tell you, as Treasurer, Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, I have plenty to keep me busy without visiting every minister and every CEO’s office every day to ensure that they are doing their job according to every piece of legislation that they are empowered to implement. It does not work like that. Sure, there is end responsibility; however, the matters of government are very much in the hands of the minister and the CEO of their respective agency.
We are well served by Frank McGuiness. His work enables this government and the legislature to examine how the public service operates and, most importantly, how we can improve financial performance of government and efficiency across the board - again evident in this Auditor-General’s August 2007 report which provides independent analysis on the results of audits completed in the six months ended 30 June 2007.
This period did see increased focus on internal agency control systems and audit functions, and the report offers a summary of findings for agencies, while more detailed findings were issued to chief executive officers following the completion of each audit. The Auditor-General makes it clear in his report - and he reiterated to me when the Under Treasurer and I met with him to discuss these findings - his intent was to offer a general thrust of areas and issues that need a closer focus and look across agencies. As he noted, while individual issues may not be considered to be material in themselves, that is, they are not tens of thousand of dollars in bottle shops, they are not yachts to the Caribbean and DBERD – DIB it used to be – loans. They do need to be identified to ensure agencies focus on potential weaknesses, strengthen management controls and, ultimately, reduce the risk of any loss of assets or fraud.
I have raised these areas of concern, of course, with the heads of my portfolio agencies. I have requested other ministers do the same to ensure that the Auditor-General’s priorities are automatically agency priorities. Generally, that is the case without even requesting that attention to it. These issues always needs to be under the microscope, particularly aspects such as hospitality expenditure, receipts of goods and services, documentation supporting official travel and, importantly, improving evidence of approval for purchases using corporate credit cards.
The Auditor-General stated quite clearly he intends to examine the adequacy of the internal audit function in agencies in the coming months to ensure they are effective. This demonstrates, as I pointed out last sittings, he is an Auditor-General who does not randomly throw audit hand grenades, but wants to fix any weaknesses he finds in any system. He knows the best way to do that is to push agencies in the right direction, give them a wake-up call, and then check, and check again, to ensure they have put the best systems and controls in place to overcome those weaknesses and mitigate against any chance of fraud or loss of assets.
Madam Speaker, I commend the Auditor-General for his report, and my portfolio agencies for working hard to ensure they meet the Auditor-General’s necessarily high standards. I encourage the member for Araluen to undertake and continue to have the regular meetings she claims to have with the Auditor-General. I urge her to have one with him as soon as possible regarding this report. She might then have a less strident attitude and approach to it in this Chamber once she has had an opportunity to speak directly with him.
Ms LAWRIE (Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage): Madam Speaker, I join with the Attorney-General in thanking the Auditor-General for his report.
Both the Department of Planning and Infrastructure, and the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, were included in the whole-of-government issues which the Treasurer has already responded to. The Auditor-General also looked at a couple of additional issues in agencies for which I have ministerial responsibility.
In relation to Darwin Port Corporation, the report looked at the financial management systems. This is detailed in pages 18 to 20 in the report. The audit found that the IT controls over the Finance 1 system which the Darwin Port Corporation uses for financial management were considered unsatisfactory. The response of the port is outlined in the Auditor-General’s report. These are very detailed comments. I will not repeat them, but suffice to say the port acknowledges the deficiencies and has put in place a range of measures to deal with each individual concern the audit raised.
In the Department of Planning and Infrastructure, the Auditor-General issued qualified audit opinions in relation to four or five acquittals of grants prepared by the department in respect of road funding grants received from the Commonwealth. The Oznet 1 - that is, the Oznet National Network Program - is currently worth $186.1m over five years from 2004-05 to 2008-09. It should be noted that the qualified opinions issued by the Auditor-General relate to the timing of the reporting and audit only, and no anomalies in the receipt or expenditure of Commonwealth funds have been identified by the Auditor-General. In the 2006–07 financial year, some delays occurred in the receipt of Commonwealth funding. The works on the AusLink network continued as planned with the Territory government funding the planned works until payments were received from the Commonwealth. Whilst annual variations to receipts and expenditure will occur, those variations will not impact on the total current value of the program to the Territory.
The Territory government was reimbursed and fully paid for all eligible works under the AusLink program to the end of the 2006-07 financial year. Delays in preparing financial reports for the 2005-06 financial year occurred due to a requirement to undertake a detail reconciliation of the previous five years of National Highways Program receipts and expenditure to confirm records between DOTARS and the Territory. The reporting and audit requirement was also increased as a result of changes to the Commonwealth funding levels under new programs, and also has contributed to the delays.
The Department of Planning and Infrastructure is confident that, having completed the whole of program life reporting required at the end of 2005-06, it will in future be in a position to meet the legislative reporting requirements for AusLink programs. I thank the Auditor-General for his report and my agencies for their responses to the issues raised.
Dr BURNS (Health): Madam Speaker, during the August sittings the Auditor-General tabled his report on audits conducted during the six months to 30 June 2007. The Auditor-General’s August Report summarised the results of statutory audits of financial statements, information technology audits, and compliance orders.
The Auditor-General’s compliance audits focused on assessing the extent to which agencies adhered to the legislative requirements and the extent to which their internal control environment was adequate. Compliance audits were performed in each of 10 government agencies including the Department of Health and Community Services. The report addressed a broad range of important governance issues. These include the financial reporting of tertiary institutions such as Charles Darwin University, Batchelor Institute and Menzies School of Health Research.
Also included in the Auditor-General’s report are reviews of the information and technology systems that support financial management processes of government agencies. Receiving particular attention from the Auditor-General was the Government Accounting System, GAS, and the Personnel Information and Payroll System or PIPS.
The Auditor-General’s information technology audits focused on the extent to which IT systems supported financial management processes. The report also included a significant number of compliance audits assessing the extent to which agencies have adhered to legislative requirements and the extent to which their internal control environments are adequate.
A number of general issues across government agencies were identified by the Auditor-General which caused a degree of concern, and which will require quick action by agencies to improve the effectiveness of their control environments. Some of these issues include failure of agencies to adhere to their own policies for the approval of hospitality expenditure; raising purchase orders following the receipt of invoices; lack of receipts for goods and services; inadequate documentation for the reimbursement of telephone and official travel expenses; and inadequate internal audit capacity.
The Department of Health and Community Services has acknowledged its need to improve its internal controls, and the financial and human resource management capacity of its staff. It has continued to invest heavily in this area. A wide range of training and development programs are being provided across the Territory. A total of 11 640 training activities were attended by 3618 individual staff members throughout 2006-07. This equates to 45 174 hours of training, an increase of 7.4% in total training hours compared with 2005-06. The department spent $2.99m on training and development activities for the 2006-07 financial year, including expenditure on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cadets, a 30% increase from the previous year.
Building on the success of the cost centre manager training, a new corporately sponsored professional development initiative, essential in leading people and managing procurement, was developed for extensive consultation to better satisfy the training needs of the department’s current and aspiring managers and leaders. A total of 469 Department of Health and Community Services employees attended the essential suite of training, with further sessions planned for 2007-08. A stage 2, which will concentrate on more advanced skills development, will be released in 2007-08.
The Department of Health and Community Services is actively recruiting to the positions of Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer. These positions will provide leadership and direction to further corporate governance within the department.
The Auditor-General’s statutory audits of financial reports included the Charles Darwin University and Menzies School of Health Research. In particular, the Menzies audit finding, including end-of-year accounting and control procedures, were found to be generally satisfactory; IT controls over the payroll and finance system were considered to be unsatisfactory; and there was no evidence of incident handling and response procedures to an attempt that was made by someone to gain unauthorised entry to the school’s computer network.
I am assured by the Menzies School of Health Research - and I have discussed this matter with Jonathan Carapetis, who heads the Menzies School of Health Research - that they have taken the Auditor-General’s comments on board and they will be remedying the issues that have been raised.
Similarly, with the Department of Health and Community Services, I am sure all the valid points that have been raised by the Auditor-General will be addressed by the department. I give an undertaking that, as minister, I will be asking questions as follow-up to ensure that the Auditor-General’s comments and issues raised have been taken on board, dealt with, and remedied.
Madam Speaker, I pay tribute to our Auditor-General. He does a fantastic job. He is someone with an eye for detail as well as the bigger picture. When the Auditor-General comes forward with issues, as a government we have always listened to that, and have encouraged our departments to properly respond to comments and issues raised by the Auditor-General.
Mr McADAM (Corporate and Information Services): Madam Speaker, I respond to Auditor-General’s August 2007 Report to the Legislative Assembly as it relates to comments made in relation to the Department of Corporate and Information Services.
First, on page 13 of the report, the Auditor-General made reference to the information technology controlled environment, and made two recommendations under that heading. Second, on pages 14 and 15, the Auditor-General discussed the Government Accounting System and the Personal Information and Payroll System. In relation to GAS and PIPS, the Auditor-General made a number of specific findings. I intend to address these recommendations and findings as they are related to the two headings in the report.
The first recommendation concerning the information technology controlled environment is that the process governing user access administration for GAS applications to be standardised. I am advised that the processes to administer system access for users for the Government Accounting System will be standardised and strengthened through an updated identity management system, known as ePASS 2 currently being developed for implementation across government. The ePASS 2 system will control the verification of user’s identity and access to GAS.
The second recommendation concerning the information technology controlled environment is that further attention be given by the department to implementing recommendations contained in a 2006 consultant’s report dealing with disaster recovery. I am advised that the consultancy review of disaster recovery options for the Chan data centre provided a number of recommendations to improve the centre’s capacity to withstand a disaster level event. These recommendations have been implemented. In addition, a planning for a disaster recovery exercise is under way to test the centre’s preparedness.
The review also recommended the investigation of options to provide a level of IT capacity which will enable the operation of business-critical systems in the event of the data centre being completely disabled. This could mean establishing a second data centre at another site, complete with IT requirement and data that could be used to run the government’s main IT systems - for example, the Health and Police systems - if the Chan data centre is unable to operate. The cost of creating and maintaining a second data centre with spare capacity is considerable. This investigation of options is progressing, with cost-benefit analysis being undertaken and a business case being developed.
From the outset, I should point out that the comments regarding DCIS on page 15 of the Auditor-General’s report contains a misprint. In the second sentence, DCIS advice to the Auditor-General was that the specific issues raised have been reviewed. The published DCIS comment is incorrect. The Auditor-General has been advised and will issue a corrigendum to its report.
The first issue arising from this matter relates to reconciliation of an internal clearing account for the Construction Division. The accounting treatment, for some specific transactions dating back four years, has resulted in the amounts for these transactions affecting ledger reconciliations. The Construction Division has more complex reconciliation requirements. This is due to the interaction of transactions processed through the Asset Information System, and a high volume of transactions with other agencies that are processed through a clearing account. This complexity led to a delay in completing the account reconciliation. The account was reconciled and cleared to a nil balance before the end of the financial year.
With regard to the treatment of the old transactions, the options for rectification are being assessed as these transactions cannot be processed in the usual manner. Resolution options are being discussed with the Auditor-General’s Office.
The second issue arising from GAS and PIPS, on page 14, is the need for enhanced controls over payment of accounts. I am advised that the current control processes to ensure payments are appropriate and accurate include provision of daily payment reports that are checked, both within DCIS and NT Treasury, to monitor payments to help avoid incorrect payments being made. To further strengthen payment monitoring processes, DCIS has developed a new report that focuses on higher value payments. This report allows specific monitoring of high-value payments to provide additional assurance that any significant payments made from the NT government account are correct.
Another specific finding on page 14 is the need to ensure that vendor records in GAS include Australian Business Numbers. A vendor record is kept for every entity to which the NT government makes payments. It provides a record of the entity’s details, including bank account details, to process payments electronically. For GST registered companies and businesses, the vendor record also includes the entity’s Australian Business Number. I am advised that DCIS undertakes a full review of vendor records semi-annually to check accuracy and completeness of records. The review originally scheduled for October 2006 was delayed due to the relocation of the unit that manages vendor records to DCIS’s Palmerston office, and other resourcing requirements. This review was completed later in that year. The tax treatment of payments made to vendors has been correctly applied, with tax deducted where required.
Another finding on page 14 is delays in reviewing the GAS security profile report. Agencies are advised monthly the schedules of all staff who have access to their ledgers are available for the agencies to review and verify their users with access to GAS to ensure current and appropriate practices. I am advised that DCIS has now implemented a regular three-monthly review of DCIS staff with access to GAS to ensure that only appropriate and properly authorised staff retain access to GAS.
This issue is linked to the GAS user access administration issue on page 13 of the Auditor-General’s report. Controls over staff access to GAS can be improved once ePASS System 2 becomes operational and has this functionality incorporated into the system.
Page 14 of the report also includes the finding of the need for improved monitoring of debtors. The audit issues relate to a lack of annotation of status on aged debtors reports. All debtors are reported and reports monitored, but staff are not handwriting notes on collection status and age of debts alongside some entries in the report. Information on the age of each debt is recorded in the debtor’s system, and is appropriately monitored. Overall, debt management controls are adequate, and the audit issue is relatively minor. Annotation of collection status has been improved and reports updated. Another report is being developed to highlight debtors with a collection status for regular review and update.
The report also raised the need for regular reviews of advanced accounts, and the review and follow-up of PIPS exception reports. The issue with advanced accounts relates to quite a few minor irregularities with forms; for example, electronic copies held as opposed to hard copies. Procedures have now been reinforced, including a requirement to review and sign hand-over take-over forms each time the holder of an advanced account changes.
In relations to PIPS exception reports, DCIS is addressing issues raised through an internal review of reporting, and audit processes covering responsibility of audit action areas, ownership of files, communication between business units, and standard operating procedures and staff training compliances with those procedures. Additionally, DCIS will continue targeted training programs for payroll services, particularly the detailed training for new staff which will be provided through the payroll school initiative.
Finally, in relation to PIPS, the Auditor-General’s report raised the issue of deviations from standard PIPS operating procedures with regard to recording the commencement and termination of employees, and controls over payroll disbursement. I am advised that DCIS is emphasising procedural requirements and staff training, and enforcing tighter adherence to standard operating procedures. In relation to recording the commencement and termination of employees, the main issues were unavailable personnel files and incomplete documentation on files, such as checklists and calculation reports. The files not found within DCIS were held by relevant agencies on agency instruction. DCIS will investigate options for establishing base records for personnel files not held by DCIS.
In regards to controls over payroll disbursement, the issue centres on salary processes for monitoring salary overpayments reports, and tax file number reports. DCIS will develop an audit report to evidence nil overpayments. DCIS has recently developed a salary overpayments database system, otherwise known as ePOD, to record, monitor, and automate some processes for dealing with overpayments. The audit requirements for recovery schedules is addressed to the new ePOD system which links to both the HR and accounting systems, PIPS and GAS. The recording and management of overpayments will be enhanced through the ePOD system.
In conclusion, Mr Deputy Speaker, I pay a sincere tribute to Mr Frank McGuiness, the Auditor-General, for his stringent oversight, transparent approach, and management controls as they apply to government. I, like other ministers in this House, seriously appreciate his stewardship of his role, and wish to make very clear that we will ensure all issues raised by the Auditor-General now, and into the future, will be addressed in a serious manner.
Mr VATSKALIS (Business and Economic Development): Mr Deputy Speaker, I speak in response to the Attorney-General’s response on the Auditor-General’s August 2007 Report.
As Minister for Essential Services, I am responsible for the Power and Water Corporation. The corporation was audited in this period, and the Auditor-General recommended eight changes for Power and Water, primarily to do with their IT systems. I report that Power and Water agreed with all eight findings, and has already corrected them prior to the report, since the report, or is going to correct them as soon as possible.
All eight findings were in relation to general computer controls, which are the IT systems that support the Financial Management System, Work Information Management System, and Retail Management System based on the criteria set out in the scope and objectives.
I will go through each finding to demonstrate how Power and Water has addressed the Auditor-General’s concerns.
Audit Finding 1 - formalise the project for the upgrade critical business system servers for the Financial Management System. Power and Water Corporation agreed with the recommendations and the project plan has now been developed, and incorporates the date, the milestones, resources, risk, and a scheduled go-live date. Progress is reported to the Power and Water Corporation.
Audit Finding 2 - review and implement improvements in the security in the UNIX operating system security environment. The Power and Water Corporation has agreed with all the recommendations and has been able to implement the recommendation for the Financial Management System and Work Information Management System servers security environment. The recommendations for the Retail Management System environment are currently being addressed.
Audit Finding 3 - improve security over network user account. Power and Water Corporation agreed with the recommendations and has already implemented active directory security policies to address this. In addition, further work has been undertaken with the outsource providers, Fujitsu, to reduce the number of network user accounts required. The corporation will continue to actively monitor Fujitsu domain administrator user accounts.
Audit Finding 4 - continue work on the development of a firewall that would give the corporation greater control of incoming traffic. The corporation will continue to work with DCIS and the outsourced service provider, Telstra, to develop a more appropriate firewall architecture.
Audit Finding 5 - review of all database account for FMS, WIMS and RMS to remove all opportunities for inappropriate access to the systems. Power and Water Corporation agreed with the recommendation and the specific accounts identified have been reviewed and were removed and/or amended as appropriate. An annual review process has been developed to ensure this will not recur.
Audit Finding 6 - introduce regular, forced changes to users’ passwords. Most systems already have forced changes to the users’ passwords, and Power and Water Corporation agreed with the recommendation to introduce this for the systems where this was not in place. This was implemented as a priority.
Audit Finding 7 - ensure that terminated users are removed from the system in a timely manner. All identified obsolete accounts have already been ceased, and the process to monitor user accounts has been redesigned to significantly reduce the possibility of the problem recurring.
Audit Finding 8 - implement access restrictions that limit users’ rights to update or delete jobs with the Financial Management System. Power and Water Corporation agreed with the recommendation and a review of the security environment of the Financial Management System is currently being undertaking, which will include access restriction over the scheduled task list to protect critical jobs.
I am pleased to say that Power and Water have responded in a timely and professional manner. I commend them on their prompt response.
The Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development, for which I am responsible, was not audited in the last six months. However, they have been proactive and have taken on board the recommendations from the Auditor-General. DBERD has implemented a number of new internal control processes to ensure procurement and contract legislation is being adhered to, which incorporates guarantees and indemnities.
DBERD has also introduced the electronic Travel Request Information Processing System. They have also recently reviewed and updated their Accounting and Property Manual along with delegations and travel guidelines.
I commend my department for the proactive approach to the Auditor-General’s findings.
Lastly, as Minister responsible for the Sport and Recreation portfolio of the Department of Local Government, Housing and Sport, I advise the department was subject to a routine compliance audit undertaken by the Auditor-General’s Office. On completion of the audit, the department has taken on board the recommendations from the Auditor-General and is currently reviewing its internal processes to ensure matters identified are properly addressed.
Since the audit, the department has introduced the electronic Travel Request Information Processing System. The department is also reviewing and updating its Accounting and Property Manual and internal procedures to ensure better compliance with procurement legislation.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I commend all three of my departments on their approach to these findings and their professional and prompt action to address any concerns that were raised.
Mr HENDERSON (Education, Employment and Training): Mr Deputy Speaker, I commend the Auditor-General on his report to the parliament.
I will be speaking in relation to my agencies of Employment, Education and Training, Tourism, Commissioner for Public Employment, and Multicultural Affairs. There were no specific points raised by the Auditor-General specific to those agencies. However, there were comments made in regards to Charles Darwin University, the Charles Darwin University Foundation Trust, and Batchelor Institute which, although I do not technically have responsibility for financial management, as the minister responsible for the legislation that established the university and Batchelor, I will make some comments.
In respect of the Department of Employment, Education and Training, there was no specific adverse mention of any agency in the general agency compliance audit that the Leader of the Opposition so theatrically and hysterically made comment about. The report made a number of recommendations involving findings from agency compliance audits in various agencies including DEET. DEET provided no comment for inclusion in the Auditor-General’s report. Of the issues that were identified by the Auditor-General across selected agencies, DEET will be looking at whether these specific comments related to controls within that agency. If the comments are in relation to controls or lack of controls, or controls that needed to be amended or upgraded, then DEET will take those issues on board.
The Leader of the Opposition went right over the top regarding this report. All of us take the Auditor-General’s periodic reports to the Assembly very seriously. It is an institution that has independent access to government agency accounts, and oversighting the expenditure of public money is an important part of the framework of accountability and transparency. The Auditor-General and his staff do a great job.
If you read the agency compliance audits and some of the issues that the Auditor-General commented on, with some sort of conspiracy theory and a degree of intensity in some of the words on the page - which the Leader of the Opposition tried to ascribe - they probably would be alarming. However, the Auditor-General has not identified, in regard to the scope of these issues, any significant - however you determine that word - financial exposures. His report has gone to controls that need to be implemented, amended or upgraded as part of the checks and balances for the receipt and expenditure of large amounts of public money.
Across the Northern Territory government across all agencies, the budget is something like $3.2bn, which is an extraordinary sum of money in anyone’s sphere of reference. As ministers, CEOs and Chief Financial Officers, we all have to be absolutely accountable for the expenditure as per legislation for that $3.2bn. I would have thought that, in reporting to this parliament, if the Auditor-General had significant concerns for that lack of controls that were leading to significant financial issues for agencies, he would have reported specifically in relation to that agency.
I believe he is just looking a general tightening of controls. He is looking at and making comments to CEOs and CFOs that there are very specific requirements under different legislation that require accountabilities and that, in some of those agencies, those accountabilities are not as transparent as they could or should be. He is making recommendations in that light. I would have thought if there were significant exposures in regards to an individual agency or across government, that very much would have been either (a) highlighted in his report or (b) independent findings provided to Treasury.
The Leader of the Opposition went right over the top. I certainly did not read, in any of the Auditor-General’s report, any allegations that there were significant and large exposures to the public account. If you are going to go to the theatrics and some of the hyperbole levied at my colleague, the Treasurer, regarding his accountabilities and performance in his role as Treasurer …
Ms Carney: Look at the way he treated me.
Mr HENDERSON: I will just make the point that it was the Leader of the Opposition who came in here, screaming like a banshee, and being totally theatrical …
Ms Lawrie: Swearing.
Mr HENDERSON: Yes, just really right over the top regarding the accountabilities for the Treasurer. I will make a point that, as the Treasurer said, we have come a long way as a parliament since self-government, from the history and the cavalier days of money in one hand and out the other, and do not ask too many questions, and the end justified the means. That was the mentality at self-government. There was a lot of easy Commonwealth money around, the boys were in town - and there were a lot of good things.
I agree with the member for Blain, there were a lot of good things done in those days but, over the years, through auditing standards, national standards, international standards, the evolving accountability and transparency requirements in the Westminster system, and also with the advent of the change of government in the Northern Territory, there is an enormous amount of accountability in the system that was not there just as little as seven or eight years ago. The Leader of the Opposition forgets that.
It was this government that inherited, in August 2001, a projected budget deficit of $126m, when the budget papers that were actually handed to this parliament, just eight weeks prior to the election, predicted a budget deficit for the 2001-02 financial year of $12m. That was the extent of the transparency and accountability that existed under the previous CLP governments’ regime. If you really want to talk about the capability of Treasurers, or whether the books have been somehow aligned for presentational purposes just prior to an election, we had a financial exposure of $114m that emerged in eight weeks, that the people of the Northern Territory were not aware of at the time they went to the election in 2001.
If the Leader of the Opposition wants to make all sorts of allegations about the competence or otherwise of the Treasurer, the member for Nhulunbuy, there was a very specific issue around the transparency and accountability of $114m that she seems to forget was the legacy of the last CLP government. Mr McGuiness and the Auditor-General’s department have not pointed to anything in the realms of that amount of money. He made comments about controls around hospitality expenditure; receipt of invoices from suppliers; the recording of fixed assets; receipts of goods and services; documentation to support reimbursement of phone costs for official business; lack of documentation to support official travel; and evidence of approval of purchases using corporate credit cards.
These are all important things that there need to be appropriate controls over in regard to the accountability for public money but, in themselves, they do not add up to huge exposures for the taxpayer, the likes of which used to exist under previous CLP government regimes. It was this government which introduced the Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Act, which requires the Treasurer, in presenting budgets into this House and, therefore, for the people of the Northern Territory, signed off by Treasury as an agency that those figures presented in the budget papers for the budget of that particular year, and two years out in forward estimates, are actually Treasury documents, Treasury projections, and not some work of fiction in the Treasurer’s office to be dished up for presentation purposes. Therefore, in regard to integrity and transparency around the budget, this government has moved a long way towards implementing transparency and accountability, the like of which was never even dreamed of by members opposite.
Obviously, in regard to a budget of some $3.2bn, there are always going to be areas of accountability and accounting that need to be tightened up. That is why the Auditor-General does the job that he does. He does a very important job for the people of the Northern Territory.
Mr Deputy Speaker, with those comments I thank the Auditor-General and his office for the work that they do. It is invaluable for us, as ministers in the parliament, that there is this oversight. The reports he provides to the House are taken very seriously by the ministers and this House, and should not be turned into some sort of theatrical political stunt such as the Leader of the Opposition did this evening in this Chamber.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank everyone for their contribution. As pretty well each speaker said today, we value very much the Audit-General overseeing the financial management across government. It was interesting to hear some of the different views of the debate.
Like the Leader of Government Business, I was disappointed to hear the Leader of the Opposition’s words. Being hysterical and yelling a lot does not produce good arguments, and being abusive of members on this side of the House does not actually support any argument either. It is disappointing that, rather than look at exactly what the Auditor-General was highlighting in the report, the Opposition Leader alleged a conspiracy somehow or other. I thought that was a very pathetic attempt at analysis and reflects on the Opposition Leader rather than any other speaker in this House.
The compliant audits of agencies which were are very important. Again, going back to that this was linked to corruption or some fundamental flaw in the system, is not what the Auditor-General is saying here. He is identifying, through his compliance orders, whether there are areas that we need to improve across a whole range of agencies. He identified those agencies in his report and, of course, we welcome that.
To say, as the Opposition Leader did, that somehow or other, the Treasurer knew the specifics of this and had somehow covered it up is a load of rubbish. That really demeans the Auditor-General. The Auditor-General, when he wants to identify an agency and some practice that has happened, let me say, he puts it in his report. He does not prevaricate, he does not take it softly - he is very direct when he wants to identify an issue, a procedure, or a lack of procedure that needs changing.
This compliance audit, very specifically, looks across a range of agencies at areas that need to be strengthened. This is a good thing and we welcome the oversight of the Auditor-General, because each and every agency can always take a closer look at what they are doing. As I said in my response to the Auditor-General’s report earlier, because we have such a high turnover in our public sector - something like 25% of our 16 000-plus public servants turn over each year - it is up to us, as a government and public sector, to continue that training and to be always vigilant about the practices in place.
Whether that is the way hospitality is run, deficiencies in the recording of fixed assets, or documentation of reimbursement, all that is important. They are small aspects of an agency’s financial management, but they are important. This kind of compliance audit from the Auditor-General is very important in highlighting those aspects.
We welcome it. I am very conscious that not just the CEOS of the agencies named but all CEOs and financial officers were looking very carefully at the recommendations made by the Auditor-General and had already responded.
I thank everyone for their contribution to this debate. I thank the Auditor-General for the important work he does in the Territory. We look forward to the February report he will deliver in a fearless and accountable way to this parliament.
Motion agreed to; paper noted.
Mr NATT (Primary Industry and Fisheries): Mr Deputy Speaker, yesterday I had the pleasure of launching the Primary Industry Market Indicator, or PIMI as we call it. It is the culmination of work within my Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines that has taken place over the past two years. For the last few months, PIMI has been available on the department’s website as a consultation trial allowing stakeholders and users the opportunity to provide feedback.
Put simply, PIMI is a new Internet-based tool to analyse and identify market opportunities for different primary industry products for both the domestic and international market place. Its primary aim is to provide information to assist in maintaining and further developing existing markets, and to identify future market potential through strategic development programs. It brings together all available information on domestic and export markets in one place. As I will explain later, there is also the capacity for the model that has been developed for PIMI to be used for other industry sectors such as the education and health services industries.
Before discussing PIMI and the model that has been developed, it is important to provide a contextual background, an explanation of why we are interested in developing this new tool. The Northern Territory Economic Development Framework that was developed out of the Economic Summit held in 2005 identified five key objectives for building a prosperous, dynamic and sustainable economic future for the Northern Territory: regional growth; investment in the Territory; development of our workforce; improvements in productivity; and environmental sustainability. The framework also identifies the importance of broadening our economic base to protect the economy from the volatility associated with our dependence on industrial sectors such as mining. Whilst mining in the Territory is forecast to grow in the coming years and underpin strong growth across the economy, we still need to encourage diversification. The summit recognised that the volatility in the economy could be offset by achieving an increase in domestic demand for goods and services through population growth and by maximising business opportunities associated with our comparative export advantages.
The primary industry sector in the Territory is up to that challenge. Not only does the primary industry sector have a key role in improving the export performance of the economy, it can be a critical driver in regional development. The Economic Development Framework points out that excellent opportunities exist in regional communities for the development of pastoral, horticultural, fishing and aquaculture-based industries, which will not only build stronger regions and communities but also provide meaningful employment opportunities.
My department clearly has a pivotal role in promoting and assisting opportunities for economic development throughout the Territory. It is very important that we also note the fifth objective of the Economic Development Framework; that is, we integrate development with our environment, that there be a commitment from government to ensure that the environmental mistakes made in the rest of Australia are not repeated here.
Members would be aware that the Prime Minister has established a task force to look at the development of farming and agriculture across northern Australia which is headed with Senator Bill Heffernan. Given the controversial nature of Senator Heffernan, it does raise the question of how serious the Prime Minister is taking this task force. I must also report that, to date, there has been some disquiet at the apparent lack of any systematic and rational approach being developed by the task force. Whilst we have welcomed the establishment of the task force, and we recognise that it has some serious challenges before it, we are concerned with the level of engagement that the task force has had with governments and industry across northern Australia.
I can assure the House that this government will expect a thorough examination and scientific analysis of any plans proposed by Senator Heffernan’s task force. We will certainly not be allowing it to become a Trojan horse for the willy-nilly opening up of the Territory so that mistakes made in the southern part of our continent can be replicated here.
It is somewhat ironic that it was against the backdrop of moving agriculture to northern Australia that the federal government announced that it was relocating its strategic tropical horticultural research to the south. The decision to relocate CSIRO’s tropical horticulture research capacity from the Territory seems to be at odds with the Commonwealth government’s publicly stated position to put science ahead of bulldozers.
We welcome development, but not at any cost. We want development to be backed by sound science. With that in mind, the task of my department is to identify what it can do to foster and facilitate opportunities for further growth, and that is reflected in the DPIFM statement of purpose, which says:
In that endeavour, DPIFM is active on a number of fronts. Despite some recent criticisms from the horticultural sector, the fact is we continue to commit substantial resources to research, not just in horticulture, but across the board in all primary industries.
However, supporting primary industry in the Territory is more than just research and extension services. It is more than having the infrastructure in place to protect our biosecurity, and it is more than shop-front services that we provide across the Territory. The bottom line for all the sectors in our primary industries – that is, hoof, hort and hay - is that you need to have a market. There is no use producing or growing a product unless you have a willing buyer at the right price. That is where the importance of the Primary Industry Market Indicator, or PIMI, comes in. It is a tool to help primary producers determine whether there are market requirements that match their production plans, and where those market plans may be.
As members will be aware, primary industries, some old and some new, are an important part of the Territory’s economy. The horticultural sector has grown from a $96m industry in 2005 to a $145m industry in 2006. That is a significant increase. At the same time, the contribution of the Territory’s cattle industry to the NT gross state product in 2006 was estimated at about $180m or 1.5% of the total GSP.
Of course, with products such as live cattle and horticultural products such as mangoes, we have strong and established markets. Wherever possible, we need to be looking for opportunities to diversify our market efforts for those established sectors, as well as identifying potential markets for new products. It is a risk management strategy that we simply cannot leave to chance.
I know that the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association participated in the Chief Minister’s recent trade delegation to Vietnam. Conversations that I have had recently with the Cattlemen’s Association indicate that they are aware of the need to explore and exploit new market opportunities.
At the other end of the scale, we have what might be termed new and emerging industries within the primary industry sector. Who would have thought that palm trees would be exported from the Northern Territory to Dubai? Who would expect cut flowers from the Territory to be adorning board room tables in Sydney and Melbourne?
The challenge for our primary industry sector over the next decade is to clearly identify where there are competitive advantages and where those advantages can be translated into carving out new market opportunities. That includes export market development as well as the identification of markets domestically.
As the value of the Territory’s primary industry continues to increase, we will need to meet the challenges of seeking and investigating new markets for Territory produce. That is where this innovative tool known as the Primary Industry Market Indicator, or PIMI, will play a role. In the past, decisions about market opportunities for Territory produce were based on a mix of tradition, industry knowledge and experience, with a dose of hearsay and intuition. As a result, some decisions were not as effective as they could have been. This approach was undertaken as there was no alternative approach until now. PIMI is a response to the need to make informed, calculated and decisive decisions about where, when and for what to commit resources - decisions that inevitably will have to factor in the expansion of existing markets or the opening up of new ones.
The Primary Industry Market Indicator has been developed as an evidence-based web tool that cross-references a range of Territory produce commodities with their export and domestic market potential. The information is displayed in a colour-coded matrix, and provides linkages to country-specific information as well as product details. Although PIMI has initially been developed to report on crops, forestry and horticultural products, as well as meat and livestock, I would anticipate that, with time, it can be extended to cover seafood industry products and any new primary products that arise.
When you enter the PIMI site through my department’s website, you are able to choose between either the crops, forestry or horticultural section, or the meat and livestock section. This initial screen also contains an executive summary about PIMI, an explanation of how it works, and a section that explains how the colour-coded ratings operate. In addition, there is a feedback button which allows those using PIMI to make comments or suggestions to assist us with further development of the site.
This first version of PIMI covers Asian vegetables, citrus fruits, cut flowers, dragon fruit, hard wood plantation forestry, native forestry, hay, jackfruit, mangoes, melons, nursery products, rambutans and table grapes. On the livestock side, it covers buffalo breeders, buffalo feeders, slaughter buffaloes, cattle breeders, cattle feeders and slaughter cattle. All these are given a ranking by the PIMI matrix, and the rankings range from good existing market demand with a potential to increase supply, to good existing market with a minimal potential to increase supply, through to low or nil existing market demand with a potential to increase supply, and low or nil existing market with minimal or nil potential to increase supply. There is a red rating, which is a prohibited market due to trade restrictions; a U rating, which means there is an unknown or limited market knowledge; and, finally, a Q, which means that quarantine restrictions apply.
It should be pointed out that PIMI is focused on the real potential in markets. It is not based on a supply or price-taker approach. It is a rational, evidence-based matrix that identifies real opportunities rather than a wish list. Not only will it be helpful to producers, but it will also assist my department and other agencies to determine, prioritise, and allocate resources and effort that go into developing new or supporting existing markets.
It will also assist us in determining where the research effort is directed. Over the past couple of decades, my department has directed research into more than 200 different plant and crop varieties, based primarily on what might grow under our local environment conditions. It would have been useful to have more empirical evidence to support the decisions to undertake that research. PIMI has the potential to become a valuable tool in supporting and informing government and agency decisions with regard to the provision of assistance to industry, including where we focus research and development work and extension services.
It will also help underpin agency promotional and marketing activities into the future and, over time, it will provide high-level data to government and will help drive government/industry partnerships that focus on strategic policy settings.
PIMI will also provide credible high-level data to me, my ministerial colleagues and industry, in making informed and supportive targeted export-orientated trade missions to existing and new markets. I should point out that, although PIMI currently focuses on 14 countries around the world, it also has its eye firmly on domestic markets in other Australian states. The point should not be lost that, for any of our products, particularly our horticulture industry, the domestic markets should be our focus.
PIMI will be a source of information that can bolster the case for attracting investment into the Territory’s primary industry sector, and it will help government focus its attention on those areas where we have opportunities to expand and build new markets. However, although it has come a long way from the first conceptual design and, as far as we know, it is a unique tool in this web-based format, PIMI is still very much a work in progress. Due to its very nature of being a dynamic market-driven system, I expect that it will always remain a work in progress. PIMI relies on the quality and quantity of information fed into it. Data underpinning it is continuing being collected, verified, analysed and reviewed for currency and accuracy to ensure, as market conditions change, so do the ratings of the individual market displayed in the PIMI matrix.
I am hopeful that we will soon be able to expand the site to provide the background evidential information that has been gathered to support the individual ratings. It is important that the system be transparent and accountable, and that stakeholders have access to the information that may, in fact, identify for them how to overcome a barrier into a particular market. Of course, my department stakeholders and industry partners will have an integral role to play in providing market intelligence to strengthen and challenge the information contained in the PIMI.
I indicated earlier that the model employed by PIMI may have applications across a number of sectors across the Northern Territory economy. It is worth noting that the development of PIMI has been a collaborative effort across the government. In particular, I know the Department of the Chief Minister has contributed to the work undertaken by my department in developing PIMI. Over time, I have no doubt that similar market analysis can be employed to identify opportunities for growing our economy. The Chief Minister has ensured that her trade-related missions into the region have had a strong educational focus, promoting the opportunities for students from Asian countries to further their education in the Territory. The PIMI model can be used to identify strategic markets, not just for education services, but also for health services, business services - and the list goes on.
As transport and communication linkages continue to expand, we have a great opportunity before us to develop and nurture a more outward-looking economy. Indeed, the economic summit in 2005 identified that it is something we need to do. My department recognises the challenge, and also recognises our effort to expand the contribution made by the primary industry sector must be evidenced-based. We must know that production decisions are predicated upon knowing that there is a market to be served. PIMI goes some way to providing that evidence-based information system, and I look forward to its continued development and expansion.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I move that the Assembly take note of the statement.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the minister for advising us of this tool to assist in understanding market opportunities in primary industries. I had a look at it on the website, and I found it interesting. It could be useful for those who want to learn more about what can be grown or produced in the Northern Territory.
However, minister, I note for your recall that, on a number of occasions, I have placed questions in my responses that, in my view, still have not been satisfactorily answered. They are important to discover if we are doing our best to support and strengthen the primary industry sector in the Northern Territory.
As the minister would know, the primary industry sector is a difficult environment in which to work because of distance from market as we are, largely, a new agricultural area. In other states, they have had many additional years to develop and perfect their industry; however, we are still left with the challenges not completely addressed.
The first question is: how did this tool arise? Did it arise as a result of the industry calling for it? Did they say they needed something like this? I would like that to be the case. Is this the sort of assistance they have been calling out for? They do need support. More than anything they need to have recognition of the genuine support of government. That is not easily given to those who work in primary industries; you have to really show it. So, did it arise from the industry? Did they ask for something like this? That will help me in forming a view on this. I hope it was industry which called for it as they needed this kind of support, and government has responded. Or was it the department that thought this might be a good idea and, perhaps, a way of rationalising the information which is flooding around, and bringing it together in one place?
My concern is that, in doing it in this manner, you are removing people from the equation to a large degree. The information then becomes digitised, and it is managed through the Internet. The last thing which someone, who is struggling on the land trying to make a living, wants to do to have questions answered is to use the Internet to help solve some of their problems. What you need is someone standing beside you and talking to you. I am hoping this does not result in fewer people on the ground - knowledgeable people, people who do not have their own individual axe to grind, but are there by virtue of the knowledge and experience they have in the Northern Territory to be able to provide interpretation, advice and support.
I say this from a practical point of view. I know my dad, working on the land, would not be going to the Internet - my brother maybe. What they need more than anything is someone they can trust and form a relationship with willing to support them through it. I remember when I first arrived in the Territory I was interested in horticulture. I went to the Berrimah Farm and looked at all the fact sheets – which I see are here. Having someone I could talk to was useful - someone who could guide me. I could ask the additional questions and they could direct me this way, that way, or the other. I hope that element is not challenged by this tool. I hope it is not a tool of the department to rationalise that very expensive component of department: people. People are really what make the difference.
In order to provide the support for the primary industry sector, they also need the confidence that research is being properly attended to. The minister would know that, in recent times, there has been a change in the way knowledge is arrived at and provided. Not so many years ago, knowledge was something which was managed by those entrusted to provide leadership. It was a support, and it was provided freely to the industry groups. In more recent times, and I see it affecting the Territory – and I am leading to my second question for which I am still not convinced I have an answer – knowledge becomes a product. It is a product which can be developed, purchased and owned by the private sector. Therefore, you have the larger operators, the ones with the money who can fund their own research, who control and own that as a product, and it does nothing to service the smaller operator. It becomes a commodity.
In that environment, it is easy to run the arguments to governments that you do not need to be in the research business. ‘We will do that’, says they multinational. ‘We will conduct the research. We will own the research’. It becomes a commodity. Knowledge is power. Therefore, we have an erosion of the research capacity. It is a national and international trend. Those influences are sweeping across the Northern Territory, and we need to stand against that trend because the Territory still has a way to go in its development. We are still a community that needs to build trust and relationship, and to see knowledge as something that we need to develop and share as a community so that we can grow.
It is not a place where multinationals can come and own knowledge and utilise it as a commodity. In that environment, we have this issue: you can rationalise your research capacity. It is expensive, anyway. You can run a review across your research capacity within the primary industry sector. By way of a question from the member for Goyder today, there was some way to address this underlying issue. Can you assure me and this House that the research capacity in the Northern Territory is not being diminished and that the effect of the review is not to find a way of removing yourselves from the research farms? Will we come to a place not so far away where there will be cleverly crafted arguments that can be presented to justify the withdrawal of effort in the area of research?
Is the Katherine Research Farm safe? They are in need of land. Maybe there is an opportunity to expand and to say we have another way of doing it now; we have a PIMI. You need to have these matters before us to properly assess. I would much prefer a government that was plain and simple and said: ‘This is what we are going to do’ like the business we heard from the minister for Education. I asked a question with regards to the school in Alice Springs and you get words. You know in your gut what the answer is, but the words do not say it.
People would love to know. If you have a review going on, is the purpose of that review to run the ruler across your research capacity and to find a way of reducing it? If that is the case, let us have our grumble, squeal, scream, fight, and then get on with the new landscape. Do not play games with people. This question has been asked on two other occasions. Assure me that the research properties and effort into primary industry will not be diminished, but rather enhanced. Will we be going the way, against the trend which has already occurred in other states, and support the industry? We have a way to go.
Possibly, it appears from the point of view of government that primary industry is a portfolio into which you do not have to put much effort, but anyone who has touched it knows that it is immensely complex and challenging. There are growing challenges in the primary industry sector. With climate change and the drawing out of Senator Heffernan and those activities, you really need to have your wits about you. The hardest part of the portfolio is forging credible links with the industry.
As you run your campaigns in the northern suburbs and the like, you cannot run that sort of activity in the primary industry sector. They do not talk a lot but, when they do speak, you need to listen. That is why it was disappointing when we had the Pigeon Hole field day, which was a culmination of very extensive and highly valuable and impressive research, that the minister was unable to attend. Those sorts of things have an effect. The industry takes that message. They did not talk a heck a lot about it - and I did not want to get involved - but it did send a message. They like people to walk with them. When you are working remote, you like to know there is someone who really understands you and walks alongside of you. To not attend those sorts of events sends that message.
That is why I am saying that it is not about research effort for the sake of it. You need to reinforce that message to the industry that you care enough to reinforce the research capacity. Do not allow it to be owned as a commodity by those who would be running arguments to government, saying: ‘There is an opportunity to cut some costs; sell off that land at Berrimah. Do not worry, we are not going to reduce anything’. Well, you better convince us that, over the horizon we have the capacity to go, not just to balance the books today and tomorrow. Not ‘solve the problem, and off we go with our super and, wacko, we have been a politician for a time’. We really do need to deal with that question.
I need to say this. I have had a look at the tool. I have had a look at many of the fact sheets that are represented on there. I have hard copies of them at home. I trust they have been upgraded and things like that. I really want to know where this came from. Did industry call for it? It is probably useful. I want to hear the feedback. If you can report to us at times that the feedback is good, I am sure we will hear it. If not so good, we will probably hear nothing. I would like to know what sort of feedback we do get.
I hope, in time to come, not so far away, we can have a statement about the Ord River Stage 2. I will conclude my time on this issue with my compliments to the minister for Agriculture in Western Australia, Hon Kim Chance. He gave me an excellent audience last Wednesday when I spoke to him. I wanted to hear the Western Australian story on Ord River Stage 2. I had a couple of briefings from this side of the line, and I still find it difficult to get a handle on where the Territory government is with regards to Ord River Stage 2. At the field day at Pigeon Hole, there was a large contingent from Kununurra, and they certainly were not shy in expressing their concerns about the lack of activity on the Northern Territory side of the border. This is the sort of effort that governments need to be engaged in. I learned from my briefing with minister Chance that the Western Australian government - by the way, this minister, in a state of two million, was able to offer me three different times that I could meet him, and he gave me in excess of an hour, with senior advisors. Also, the door is open for me to talk to him at any time on any matter related to Ord River Stage 2. I hear the complaint from those who are endeavouring to meet ministers in this jurisdiction of 200 000, that many times they have difficulty in getting to see a minister.
That aside, what I learnt from the Western Australian side is how serious they are on Ord River Stage 2. I know there will an opportunity; the door will be left open to bash up Mr Heffernan. That is an issue too, and I will probably join you in some aspects of that, but that is an aside. The greater part of the development of Ord River Stage 2 sits on the Northern Territory side. On the Western Australian side, the infrastructure for Ord Stage 1 is all already in place, of course, and paid for. The Western Australian government has spent in excess of $50m to clear the native title and sacred sites issues on their side of the border. They resolved the environmental issues, I believe in 2002, and the native title land and indigenous issues in 2005. It cost them $50m in excess thereabouts to do so.
The importance of this matter to the Western Australians, which has not leapt across the border where the larger part of the Ord Stage 2 holding is, is that the Premier’s department chairs the committee, on which there are five ministers charged with the responsibility of looking at issues related to Ord Stage 2. Then there are two other ministers who sit outside that group.
I was impressed, I must say, with getting the appointment, and the amount of time minister Chance provided me with and, then, to learn that that is the level of the commitment of the Western Australians. I will not be going any further on that issue than to say that there is no way that he denigrated the effort on the Territory side. However, it became clear to me, and carefully phrased - but not so carefully phrased by those who came from Kununurra and were at Pigeon Hole. They were wondering what on earth was going on on the NT side of the border. I have heard the answer, and that is about a water management plan. However, it does not wash when I do not really see any effort. I do not see much progress at all and it is causing some concern in Kununurra. It is an area that really is remote and a heck of a long way from Perth, and they seem to be getting this kind of treatment and this support from Perth. We really need some activity and that kind of support from Darwin - at least some kind of statement so we know exactly where we are.
Is this government taking those sorts of development issues seriously? I would like to have a statement on that so that we can have a proper talk about it. There may be some issues that I am unaware of, that I have not been able to gain through briefings on this side of the border. There are more questions than answers as a result of getting my briefing on the Western Australian side of the border. I suggest the future is calling for these kinds of statements to be made. I am sure PIMI is going to assist in some regard. I look forward to the answers to those couple of questions that I have asked. It is a good statement, it is probably a good tool, and I wish you well.
Mr VATSKALIS (Business and Economic Development): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I support the statement made by my colleague, the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries. I am very happy to answer the question that the member for Blain asked regarding how the PIMI or Primary Industry Market Indicator was developed.
Primary industry is a hard portfolio because you have to be able to liaise with the primary producers but, at the same time, you have to be a salesman, not only for your state but also for the producers. The Territory Primary Industry portfolio oversees the cattle producers, the flower growers, the horticulturalists, the agriculturalists. When I was the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries, one of the things that struck me was the limited number of companies that were exporting cattle, flowers, or fruit and vegetables, and our ability to export to more countries.
I know that the industry was always after new markets. The reality was that the industries, especially the cattle industry, were quite happy with the price they were getting through the live cattle export to Indonesia. However, my worry was all our export markets had gone bust and we had to work very closely with the industry to find other countries. When I came back from one of my trips, a question I asked was regarding all our cattle being exported to Indonesia, with very few to Malaysia and none to many other countries. How were we going to improve this, to change this condition? I asked for information: how we can export; where we can export; if we do not export, why we do not export; and how we can change the situation. In order to get all this information together we had to develop something that could put all this information together so, with one look, we can find out just where we are now.
I pay tribute to the people in the department, especially Rod Gobbey who made the first draft of the Primary Industry Market Indicator on a piece of A3 paper. He marked the countries, the products we produce, where we are producing it, and then did research, seeking information from national and international organisations about where we can actually export, whether there was a demand for our products, were there any limitations, and were there quarantine reasons. From there on, I am very pleased today to look at the web page and find out that what he put on a piece of paper is now, in a most sophisticated way, on a web page.
Of course, the people on the land, yes, they are very innovative with IT. The people on the land are very clever with their computers, and most of the people, if not all, have computers in their workplaces because they get information from the Bureau of Meteorology, Meat Livestock Australia, and from a number of other sources in order to do their job more efficiently and more productively. For them, it was very easy to look at the Primary Industry Market Indicator and find out about the different conditions, what markets we are looking at, why we cannot sell at these markets, whether there are specific requirements for these markets, and adapt their produce to fit the demand of the people in those markets, and work with the department to ensure we are opening new markets.
As minister for Regional Development, I believe the Primary Industry Market Indicator has tremendous relevance to all my constituents, not only in the urban environment, but the non-urban environment. There are very important synergies here. We have the port, the rail, the road, the shipping and, of course, economic development commencing in different areas.
I still maintain a close relationship with the horticulture industry, the agriculture industry, and the cattle industry. The reality is that outside the major urban centres, economic development will come through the cattle industry, the horticulture industry, and the mines. These things are not happening in downtown Darwin or downtown Alice Springs. They have the possibilities for economic activity, and the ability to provide jobs. In fact, last week in the newspaper, the McArthur River Mine manager highlighted how many indigenous apprentices had graduated from a course in the mine, and they were looking for another 45 to be employed in the mine. You have a mine 1000 km east of Darwin providing 50 job opportunities for mainly indigenous people living in the area.
As I said before, we have important synergies. We have the product and we have a way to take it to the market. We still have problems with air transport links, especially with containers to transport fresh fruit and cut flowers to other states and countries. However, I am sure that if people work together we will find a solution to that.
We have to think globally, and outside the square. We cannot think we can export only to Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, or only to Indonesia. We have to think outside the square and try to identify new markets. We have to redefine the demand of products in those markets in order to respond accordingly. The web page, which is well structured and easy to navigate, provides producers with access to the latest information. It is also interactive and enables users to communicate with the department, and the department is actively seeking their feedback.
Of course, the primary industry is a hard portfolio as you are dealing with a lot of people who have different requirements. The cut flower growers have specific requirements which might be different from the mango producers, which may differ from people in Katherine who are producing melons, which may differ from what the cattlemen want.
I know my colleague, the member for Drysdale, is working hard in his portfolio. I am saddened by comments by the member for Blain about why he was not at Pigeon Hole. Last year, I went to Pigeon Hole, and I was pleased to spend two or three days there. Unfortunately, there are so many things happening around Darwin sometimes it is impossible for you to escape. It is difficult to say why he was not there. I can say the same thing to the member for Blain; why he was not at the fundraising activities of the Greek community last weekend for the fires in Greece. I understand that we cannot be everywhere all the times. There are some things we can do, and other things we cannot do. The fact that he was not at Pigeon Hole does not mean that he does not like the cattlemen, or he does not believe in the work the people are doing there. It is a fact of life, with the number of portfolios to be shared in the Northern Territory, sometimes it is impossible to escape.
Back to the Primary Industry Market Indicator. This gives people on the land to access 90 meat and livestock markets, and informs producers of market potential, not only meat and livestock markets, but 21 potential markets for growing crops, forestry, and horticultural industries. Quite correctly, we have identified areas in our region and continent, and we have marked them and will provide information about markets which can be accessed easily, markets which require or want a product, markets that can be difficult to sell a product, areas where we cannot sell our product because of quarantine, for example China. There are some quarantine problems with China and the export of cattle. However, that also gives us the opportunity for the department to work with international organisations, and with other countries’ organisations the same way we do with Malaysian or Indonesian departments of Agriculture, to resolve some the issues so we can open these markets to our producers.
The reality is that unless we get information in place and in front of the primary industry producers, we will be unable to change anything. We will continue to sell cattle to Indonesia and some of our products down south, but we will not be able to access other countries.
Importantly, the Primary Industry Market Indicator will continue to be monitored, and will be upgraded to provide up-to-date information. It has to be done that way as the industry will be watching carefully as their wealth and productivity depends on the information we will be getting from PIMI. Nobody is going to invest money to go on a trip to Vietnam if they do not have the information first about the possibilities, and our ability to access the market in Vietnam. Once the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines demonstrates to the industry that their information is at the cutting edge, is reliable, and constantly monitored and upgraded, the industry will respond and will respond positively.
I worked very closely with the cattle industry, the cut flower and the horticulture industry and I know that people jump at the first opportunity to sell their products. We are one of the few jurisdictions which sells hay to Korea. We are one of the few jurisdictions which helped another jurisdiction build an abattoir so we could access that market to sell our cattle. We are one of the few jurisdictions that were up-front when we wanted to sell produce like mangoes in other states.
Since the Goyder expedition arrived at Port Darwin in 1869 and established a permanent settlement in the north, there has always been a dream that the Territory one day will be a provider of horticultural and agricultural products and services to our northern neighbours in South-East Asia. As we enter the first years of the 21st century, this dream is slowly inching towards reality. We have the port and the railway that links Adelaide to Darwin. We now have people thinking outside the square. For the first time, despite what a previous Treasurer, Barry Coulter, who said nothing with legs would get on the train - meaning no furniture, no cattle, no people - we find now that there are many thing with legs on the train. For the first time, a few months ago, I heard the cattlemen are thinking about exploring the possibility of transporting cattle from the Barkly Tablelands to the port via train. We now have the modes of transport in place and we should be able to utilise them successfully to promote and export our product.
Development of the Primary Industry Market Indicator adds another piece to our burgeoning infrastructure portfolio. With the exception of air transport, most of the pieces are now in place, and the support mechanism producers required are available.
One thing we should not forget is the global change in climate, the global warming. We have found, to our dismay, that it only takes a small change in rainfall and a few changes in weather patterns and conditions in some areas to have widespread destruction of crops and cattle. It will not be long before things change so dramatically that some areas in the north of Australia, like ours, will be one of the few places where we can effectively grow produce.
If you look down south, you see what has happened with the Murray River and the Riverina area, and you hear calls by farmers and politicians about plenty of water in the north. The situation is not always rosy; we have to be very careful how we utilise and harvest the water that comes from the sky within a four- or five-month period. We gave to successfully utilise it for growing crops and irrigating areas.
We have to look at the Territory as territory for us to grow for economic development and for jobs. We have to find access to new markets, not only in South-East Asia, but as far as Europe or, perhaps, even America. Let us not forget that we used to export meat to America, mainly mince meat for hamburgers. The quality of our meat and the fact that our meat is free from some of the diseases that are common in Argentina and South American countries makes our product very desirable in the European Union and in America.
We have to realise that relying upon a small number of countries like Indonesia or Malaysia as our market is risky. It only takes political problems such as we have seen in Burma, or economic downturn in these countries, to see our markets disappearing. We have to open to other countries like Africa or the Middle East or countries further out than South-East Asia. We have to overcome problems we have with quarantine in some of the biggest countries like China. That can be done but, before we do that, we have to put the basis for identifying and acknowledging other countries and we have to be able to tell where, when and how we can access these companies.
I congratulate the people in the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines who worked tirelessly to develop this Primary Industry Market Indicator. I call upon the industry to utilise it and give us feedback so we can improve it further and make a valuable tool for you to access new markets.
Mr WARREN (Goyder): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I am proud to support the minister’s statement on the launch of the Primary Industry Market Indicator initiative.
Two years of dedicated work by the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines has gone into developing this fantastic web-based tool for analysing both domestic and international market opportunities for our primary producers. I guess that has been a hallmark of the Territory government since the Martin Labor government came to power: we have been very aware that you cannot rest on your laurels. We have to initiate a whole-of-government approach …
Members interjecting.
Mr WARREN: I am proud of it! We have to initiate many programs and continue to develop industry, and that has been a key aspect of what we are about. I spoke about it this morning in regard to tourism and am proud to speak about it now in regard to primary industry. It is about being innovative, developing new approaches to the whole aspect of marketing and promoting, and ensuring the sustainability of industries such as our primary industry.
PIMI, as it is known, will help our primary producers maintain existing markets and develop future markets through strategic development programs. In this day and age where we are competing in a very competitive world, our primary industries are up against cheap products coming out of Asia, and areas of Europe and America which are heavily subsidised, I believe we have to make our own way in promoting our competitive advantage. Therefore, any tools or anything that we can develop here, particularly in the Territory, that means we can promote ourselves, is absolutely worthwhile. The best initiatives generally come out of the need. It is interesting that places like the Territory are often the innovators of tools such as PIMI.
The exciting aspect of this model is that it could be adapted for other industry sectors, both private and public. As I had a look at the program, that became very evident to me. This is the tip of the iceberg. As I was writing this, I had difficulty not letting my mind wander to other areas where this software could be used. It is certainly something that we will be taking a lead on. I am sure other ministers, departments and private organisations will be looking very closely at this. I can see many initiatives will come out of this, and I am looking forward to watching the development of this over the coming years in other areas.
The impetus for PIMI came out of the five key objectives identified by the 2005 Economic Summit for building a prosperous, dynamic and sustainable economic future for the Territory. We all remember that very well. I notice many other things have come out of other departments, other business sectors and other areas. Of course, this government has always taken this input from the public and the business sector very seriously. We went away with a lot of information from that summit and this is one of the initiatives that has come out of this in the primary industry sector, and that is great news.
The five key objectives were: regional growth; investment in the Territory; development of our workforce; improvements in productivity; and environment sustainability. This framework also identifies the importance of broadening our economic base to protect our economy from the volatility associated with our dependence on the industrial sectors.
We suffer in the Territory because of our smaller size, and because we are so dependent on the industrial sector, and also, in the building or construction sectors, you tend to be very much caught up in the cycle of things. This government is very aware of that. Across the whole business sector, we have worked very hard to try to spin off these periods of prosperity to ensure that there is sustainable growth throughout the Territory.
Of course, it is important that you look right across the spectrum, not just at the areas which are most obvious. Primary industries are a very valuable and important part of our commodities, investment in the Territory, and our development.
Volatility in the economy could be offset by achieving increasing domestic demand for goods and services through population growth, and by maximising business opportunities associated with our comparative export advantage over other industry sectors. That is the whole perspective behind the development of PIMI; that with a population growth, we will have a domestic demand increase. That will also help to smooth out that volatility.
I spoke this morning about the Martin Labor government’s commitment to growing our tourism sector. This is another aspect of moving away from that volatility. The tourism sector is an area which has about 5% input into our gross state product. Of course, there are big opportunities that exist there for developing that. The same applies to our primary industries, particularly some of the new innovative areas which I will talk about a bit further down the line. We really have to make every post a winner and, by utilising tools such as PIMI, we are moving a long way down that line.
As I said earlier, the principle aim of PIMI is to provide information to assist in maintaining and further developing existing markets, and to increase future market potential through strategic development programs. As the minister said, it showcases selected Territory commodities and their export and domestic market potential using a simple colour-coded matrix focusing on potential in markets, rather than using a supplier or price-taker approach. I guess that is the problem that we have in the primary industries sector; that we very much fall into that approach – we do not always think outside the sphere. Because of our uniqueness and our small size, we have been forced to think outside the sphere. We are not just going to accept that we are going to be suppliers or price takers; we are looking at new commodities and new products that we can produce and grow here in the Territory. It is important that we use tools such as PIMI to develop that, rather than being simply a supplier or a price taker.
Specifically, PIMI has a variety of uses such as supporting and informing government decisions to assist and promote research and development and/or extension works. It will provide a factual basis for undertaking promotional and marketing opportunities well into the future, I hope, as it develops. That is an exciting area as well.
PIMI will provide a focus for prioritising ministerial and high-level trade missions and visits to potential markets. At the moment, we are relying very much on ad hoc information and also information that we see being driven by industry sector hopes, rather than factual information. I am sure that these trade missions are very valuable as we learn so much when we get there. Rather than going there, this will provide us an avenue for being well and truly armed with good market information, supplier information, various aspects of whether we have something to sell, and also understanding our potential markets - whether there are any trade restrictions or things like that. It really does help rationalise our approach at a higher level to such things as trade missions.
PIMI will form a critical and very valid factual tool for attracting investment in the Territory’s primary industries. Industry is always calling out for ways to see that its investment dollars are based on some sort of good scientific fact and research. It is important, then, for people to access the website and see that, okay, these are sectors that we could be investing in. It makes sense, with the one-stop shop approach, and being able to go to a website and look at and assess it properly is very important.
However, most importantly, PIMI can inform decisions made across various departments in relation to exports, coordination and focus. You can actually have not just a primary industry approach, but an across-the-board approach in other sectors as well. There could be combinations of things as diverse as tourism and primary industries going on trade missions, because there are similarities and values in taking an across-the-board approach. PIMI will certainly help with that.
The PIMI is an industry tool where all available data relating to the export of selected primary produce commodities is synthesised and displayed - in a simple format too, I must add. The background data for each commodity is categorised, and a category is obtained from a wide variety of reliable sources such as industry associations and journals, directly from existing producers, other primary industry websites, credible rural press reports and industry focused magazines, and rural extension officers rather than news gathering agencies. If necessary, the PIMI developers will be looking at other organisations or individuals, and they will be sourced if they are relevant and factual.
It is a developing program. It has been road tested by the Horticultural Association in my electorate and other rural electorates. There are some pretty good reports coming from them. I am sure there are some things they would like to see changed on it, and that will be coming about. However, the important thing is that they are on board with this process.
According to the department’s own information, and I quote:
Quite clearly, this is a well researched and professionally developed tool to assist our primary producers in the Territory maintain their competitive advantage. I said at the start that that is what it is all about. There certainly are a whole lot of advantages out of developing industry tools like this.
Growing - no pun intended - our primary industries sector in the Territory will undoubtedly be a critical driver in regional development of the Territory, and will enormously help to contribute to our economic growth, particularly in my electorate of Goyder and, obviously, the member for Nelson’s electorate.
I cannot let this opportunity pass without talking about some of the industry, particularly the horticultural industry, aspects in the rural area. I am sure the member for Nelson is as proud as I am of the development innovations, particularly in the ornamental flower industry in the rural area, where we really do control practically all of that sector of the horticultural industry. The 2006 statistics show that the nurseries and cut flower industries have added considerable wealth to the Territory’s economy. The nursery industry in the rural area has provided about $14m, and the cut flower industry about $3m for a total of about $17m. There has been an estimated 69 ha planted in 2006 and it is growing all the time. At that stage in 2006, there were 66 enterprises employing 131 full-time employees and 16 part-timers. One of the key aspects that the industry notes is that it needs accurate statistical data, and that is where PIMI comes into play. The whole thing about PIMI is that people can develop their industries based on some factual, relevant and handy information.
The value of the flower and nursery industry, for the information of the House, has risen from about $7m in 1997 up to about $17m in 2006. The 2006 statistics for the Darwin rural region cover a number of crops as well, including mangoes, vegetables, ornamentals, bananas, melons, other fruit, hay and silage, and citrus. The industry value in that year totalled $100.5m, which is tremendous. The estimated area planted was about 5700 ha. There were 432 enterprises in the Darwin rural region, which employed almost 500 full-time and almost 1300 part-time employees. You can see that the rural sector is very important both for production and employment in respect of the Territory economy. I am very pleased that industry is calling on good statistical information provided to them, and that PIMI will go a long way to providing that information.
Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, this is an exciting initiative by the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines. I commend the minister for his enthusiasm in presenting the statement. I look forward to the development and implementation of the software. It will put us truly at the forefront of promoting, marketing and developing, in a responsible and sensible manner, primary industry in the Territory.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I look around the House and wonder whether the number of members of government who are sitting here represents a symbolic statement about the importance of primary industry in the Northern Territory ...
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Acting Deputy Speaker! The member well knows that he cannot reflect on the presence or absence of members.
Mr WOOD: I did not. I have not spoken about any particular member.
Madam ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: Make sure you do not, thank you, member for Nelson.
Mr WOOD: I have recently listened to some experienced people in the horticulture industry, and I spoke to a couple of them last night in relation to this statement. Unfortunately, minister, even though the government may be excited by it, I am afraid the horticultural industry does not get overexcited about it.
I wonder whether PIMI really stands for primary industry malaise indicator. If anyone has listened to The Country Hour in recent times and the issues that have been raised here, there is concern about the future of the horticulture industry and parts of agriculture, especially in relation to research. Whilst PIMI may have some importance, it is something that could have been covered in a one-page document. We really need to be looking at the serious issues that the member for Blain raised, and that members of the horticulture industry are raising as well.
I did look up with web site for PIMI. My background is horticultural science. I grew vegetables for quite a number of years. No, I did not export them; I provided them domestically. If I was looking for information, I would want more detailed information if I were to export crops than what PIMI shows you. For instance, there is a section called ‘melons’. Is that watermelon? Is it rockmelon? Is it hami melon? If you are to export to a certain state or country, you need to know what type of melons that market prefers.
If you are looking at Asian vegetables, there are varieties coming out your ears. There are leafy vegetables, cabbage types, gingers, all sorts of things. When you click on the site, it is not going to tell you that. This information is not what a horticulturalist would need.
I looked for cucumbers, but cucurbits are not on this list. I would have thought that would be a major crop that you would include here. You have all sorts of cucurbits: squash, pumpkins, and zucchinis. These are all commonly grown, or were, in the Northern Territory. If I was a grower looking to find what state I could send cucumbers to, then this PIMI would not give me that information.
When you click on, for instance, one of the sites, you basically get a page which tells you how to get on to Agnotes and the recipe site. I do not believe that is what a grower is looking for. I believe a grower is looking for a breakdown of what particular varieties of mangoes, or what particular varieties of melon. Then, from that particular breakdown, you would expect the site to say which particular variety would be suitable in which particular state and for which particular country. The information is far too general and not detailed enough.
Then I clicked on the domestic market site. I clicked on to Victoria. I thought that would give me some detailed information on markets, but what it gave me was a Google map of Victoria. That is all it gave me. I would have expected something more detailed in relation to the crop that I had clicked on. Say I had clicked on to melons, and then I had other melons - there was a site for rockmelon - and then I wanted to know which state would take my rockmelons. Although you have a No 1 here, which says that that is a good site, basically, it does not tell you much more than that. The information for a grower has to be far more detailed. A grower needs to know what time of year would be the best time to export his crop; what sort of prices would be available; what is the cost of transport; which particular parts of that state would be best to focus in; and whether you would be competing with other states. There is a whole range of issues that a grower would need to know. That is why I believe this tool is not that popular with the horticultural industry.
Minister, I know you launched it yesterday, but my understanding from the Horticultural Association is that, whilst they say it is fine, it is not something that they would really use because it is not detailed enough. They did say to me that it would be good for the government, so people in the government did not head off overseas looking for a market that actually did not exist. At least the government people can go along and say: ‘With jackfruit there is a possibility we could have some sales in …’ - I know in this case, not many countries, but perhaps we could sell them in Western Australia. If we went to Western Australia we could go there with some idea if there was a chance that we could sell jackfruit to Western Australia. Or, if we wanted to sell rambutans, there is a possibility, as we already know, of course, that we could sell them to Japan.
The information - and I understand where the growers are coming from - is not particularly useful for growers. It is certainly good for the government. They would not want to go overseas on a trade mission and take all their buffalo advisors, and end up in, say, New Zealand, and find out that there is no market for buffalo in New Zealand. At least this gives them that indication. However, as a tool for primary producers, I believe that this is simply more of a toy rather than a tool. I believe that that is something – although I am not really sure - you spent two years on developing, which is of great benefit at this stage.
However, what growers did say to me was that if we had a choice about where you spent your money over the last two years, we would not put PIMI up the top, we would put research. That is one of the areas we should be talking about in this parliament. This is fine; it might have its place. What we are looking for is more research into innovative crops. This could not be more evident from some of the discussion that has been held on The Country Hour. You would know that, minister. On Friday, 14 September 2007, on The Country Hour, Alice Plate, the ABC reporter, interviewed Tony Hooper. You could not get a better person to talk about where we are going with horticulture and agriculture than Tony Hooper. He retired as a director in 1995, after more than 30 years with the Northern Territory department of Agriculture. He said he was critical of the federal task force - and I will get on to that later. I know, minister, you mentioned that as well. I will give you an indication of what he said. You do not have to agree with it all, but it is interesting to hear what he had to say:
The transcript continued:
Also on The Country Hour, minister, there was an interview with three people, two of whom I know well: Bruce Toohill, Ian Baker, and Kevin Blackburn:
I know him well and I used to follow a lot of the research he did at the Coastal Plains Research Station:
The reporter asked Ian: ‘Why have you come forward to speak about these issues on the Country Hour?’, and he said:
These issues, now we have had Tracy …
I think that is Tracy Leo:
Bruce Toohill also said exactly the same thing:
Industry looks at them …
That is the government:
… as a service. It doesn’t provide a service.
They went one. These are people who have been in research. These are the people I have known for a long time, who are genuine Northern Territory people who want to see horticultural industries developed, who are saying that, if we are to develop the Northern Territory, we have to put the research into new crops. We have to, and we are not doing it.
Minister, you can shake your head. You go out to the Coastal Plains Research Station now and compare the crops that are grown now with the crops that were growing many years ago in Kevin Blackburn’s time. There were many crops. They were growing Taiwanese cabbages, they were growing Taiwanese cauliflower, they were looking at niches in the market and we are not doing that anymore ...
Mr Natt: Was there a market for them to grow?
Mr WOOD: You do the research work and we hope the commercial industries will come and pick that up. We are pioneering. We are not like Victoria or New South Wales where research has been going on for a long time. That is what the horticulture people are saying, not just me. They are the people that have a lot more experience than I have.
Minister, you also had a shot at Bill Heffernan and I am not going to cry for Bill Heffernan. What I would say in relation to you criticising him - and that is fair enough – is that if you are going to criticise him, what are you doing in his place? Tony Hooper mentioned things like irrigating in the Dry Season and harvesting water. What is the government doing about the potential of harvesting water in the Wet Season to use in the Dry Season? What is the government doing about the possibility of developing the Sturt Plateau using water that is harvested, so we are getting away from the concept of pumping water out of our rivers in the Dry Season for irrigation? Is the government advancing any of that type of knowledge and development? Are we looking at ways of reducing evaporation if we are going to store water through the Dry Season? I do not know. That is what we need to be looking at.
Minister, you also criticised the Heffernan task force, and noted that you would expect a thorough examination and scientific analysis of what they are doing. That surprises me because, when I asked you why you are quite happy to support the peanut industry and, obviously, the large amount of water that it would use, and to compare that with the scientific reports that your own department has done on cotton which would say they would use exactly the same amount of water, you said you could not give a scientific answer because you were not a scientist. He cannot go crook at Mr Heffernan and say ‘Come up with the science’ when I came along and say: ‘Here is your science’, and it is ignored.
We need to be looking at all crops. We need to not be getting tied up in ideological policies because that is what cotton is about. The reason cotton is not grown in the Northern Territory has nothing to do with science; it has to do with perception. It is to do with the perception in the northern suburbs that GM cotton will be the destruction of the world. Your own science shows it can be grown but, unfortunately, politics gets in the way.
I accept that PIMI has some place in the development of marketing in the Northern Territory, but I think it is a fairly shallow indicator. As I said, it is great for the government. It is not something that growers would use. If growers want to know what the market is, they will be ringing up their market in Sydney or Melbourne and, by experience, will know when the time is for them to get their fruits or vegetables on to the markets. That is the sort of indicator they want. They want to know the cost of getting their vegetables and fruits to the southern markets. They want to know when it is the best time to get on to those markets so that they do not lose because the market prices are so low they cannot even be covered by freight.
This PIMI does not give them that sort of information. If it did, they would support it. Having spoken to people in the horticulture industry about this, they are lukewarm. They do not see it as a priority. Those people are already in the market; they know how to grow their crops. If they need information about the crops they will always find it out.
We need to do more work on research. It is funny that we have the Department of Primary Industries in Queensland doing work on Northern Territory mangoes in the Northern Territory. The question is: why are we not investing the same money? If Queensland can do it in the Northern Territory, then why aren’t we? That, in itself, is an indictment of the attitude of the government to primary industry.
Minister, you have one of the best portfolios. Primary Industry is a great portfolio. I am a great fan of horticulture. What I am afraid of is we have gone backwards instead of forward in trying to promote new crops or new species of existing crops so we can expand the markets and find more niche markets. If you look around at the vegetable industry, how many vegetables are we trying?
Mr Natt: Come and get a briefing, Gerry. Come and get a briefing. You will find out a lot more.
Mr WOOD: I can get a briefing, but we are here today, minister, and you can tell me. I do not mind getting a briefing.
Mr Natt: Well, you should. It will bring you up to speed.
Mr WOOD: Okay, I am happy to get a briefing. However, minister, you can tell us today how many varieties of vegetables we are actually trialling. Are some of the commercial people taking an interest in what we are doing? I do not know.
Although you tell me that, minister, I listened to The Country Hour the other day. There were three important people – Ian Baker, Kevin Blackburn and Bruce Toohill – who have years of experience in this. They are telling you that; I am backing them up. We should be listening to these people because they are the ones with the experience; they are the ones who have the background. I would listen to them when it comes to taking advice as to where the horticultural industry in the Northern Territory is going at the present time.
Debate adjourned.
Ms LAWRIE (Planning and Lands): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
This evening, I congratulate Total Recreation, which is a non-government organisation that provides recreation opportunities for people with a disability. Total Recreation, like many non-government organisations, survives on a shoestring budget but is always looking for opportunities to promote awareness of people with a disability and to provide some fun and recreation opportunities in the process of their promotion.
They came up with the novel concept of a fun evening at SKYCITY’s ballroom, which was described as Dancing with Celebrities. When I was minister for disability, Total Recreation approached me to participate in this competition. I willingly accepted the invitation. The other celebrities involved in Dancing with Celebrities, which was held on Saturday night, were Dave Tollner, the member for Solomon; my parliamentary colleague, Gerry Wood, the member for Nelson; Andrew Barcroft, the proprietor of The Good Guys at Jape Homemaker Centre; and young Sammie, a DJ at Hot 100.
We were paired off with young adults with a disability. My very capable dancing partner was Josh Campton, a young man with Down Syndrome. I can say that Josh was incredibly tolerant and understanding of my lack of abilities, particularly in the Cha Cha, and also my inability to get to quite a few of the 13 practice sessions which were held in preparation for Dancing with Celebrities evening.
In stark contrast to me, I believe the member for Nelson attended many of the practice sessions ...
Mr Wood: I needed to!
Ms LAWRIE: He was noted as a good attendee. He and his partner, Megan Halvorson, did a very impressive Tango …
Mr Wood: Tangoette.
Ms LAWRIE: … and took out the Dancing with Celebrities Tangoette competition. It was very impressive. It is very difficult to see how your competitors are going when you are out on the dance floor with them, but there was great acclaim for the success of the member for Nelson and his beautiful and very talented dancing partner, Megan. It was great to see Megan’s very large family there. They are a family whom I grew up with in Nightcliff, and they are a very dedicated and supportive family. It was lovely to catch up with Megan’s elder sisters, whom I grew up with, and to see her mother, Joan, rejoicing in her daughter’s success.
The member for Solomon was very fortunate. He was paired off with Margaret McGregor. Her father is well known to people in Darwin, Alasdair McGregor, a former magistrate, and a very committed advocate for people with a disability over many years. Alasdair has served on the Mental Health Advisory Committee and has done a great job in advocating for people with a disability. Margaret is a very gentle, pleasant young woman. She was extremely excited, as were the other participants in Dancing with Celebrities. It was great to see her deal with the sheer height challenge of being paired off with the member for Solomon. He was described by our very gregarious and entertaining MC, Charlie King, as akin to dancing with a basketballer, which was a fair description. They took out an award on the evening as well.
Andrew Barcroft danced with Tahnee Afuhaamango. Tahnee is well known to us as a very capable young woman with Down Syndrome, who is a star in the swimming pool. She has broken records around the world in swimming. She is an absolute legend. She is a very extroverted and interesting young woman. We kept cracking jokes on the evening, in terms of, if it was not going to be Tahnee’s way, it was not going to be any way. Tahnee and Andrew really lit up the dance floor with the first dance, which was the Cha Cha, and stole the hearts of the 170-odd people assembled in the SKYCITY ballroom with their fantastic display of the Cha Cha and took out the prize for that.
Sammie from Hot 100 was paired off with a really gentle young man, Ray Roach. Ray, whom I had the pleasure of dancing with when we did the progressive dances, has a wonderful, quiet, shy sense of humour. Again, there were some height challenges there, because Sammie is much taller than Ray. However, the pair of them gave a really sterling dance performance. I think they were awarded the ‘sizzling prize’. I am trying to remember the exact description of their prize. They impressed us all with their way of working and dancing together as a couple. I went up on the night and thanked Sammie for her participation, because it was very impressive to see a young woman who is from a radio station, not so long having just moved to Darwin, participating in a community event with extremely good humour. Sammie turned up to quite a few of the practice sessions as well, giving up her own time to make that extra effort. Congratulations, particularly to Sammie and her partner, Ray Roach, for the sterling work they did.
It was a great night. Josh, my partner, as I said, was very tolerant. I missed most of the practice sessions; I only made it to three in total ...
Mr Wood: Still won the Slow Rhythm.
Ms LAWRIE: Josh and I took out the Slow Rhythm. I have myself back in Josh’s good books for that performance. He is a very lovely, caring gentleman, and certainly led me through a very challenging set of three dances that we had to learn. Josh was a very good lead.
I thank John Cossons, the president of Total Recreation and his board. They are volunteers. John, who does not have a direct link with someone with a disability, is a very astute businessman. He has stepped into the role of president about three years ago and really has given his expertise in running an organisation to support Total Recreation.
To Eileen Farrel and her team at Total Recreation, a big, hearty congratulations. They stepped out of their comfort zone in pulling together a really challenging program of practice sessions, pairing celebrities with people with disabilities, and pulling together a really gala event. It was an event noted by the sheer fun and enthusiasm that everyone had that evening, particularly the young adults with a disability who are participants in the Total Recreation program. There are quite a few of them. On the night, they were recognised with the hard work by certificates which they were absolutely thrilled with. It was a great night to participate in.
I also thank Bronwyn Graham from the Darwin Dance Academy. Bronwyn is a dancer, and she is used to teaching people who know something about dancing, I guess ...
Mr Wood: She taught me how to dance.
Ms LAWRIE: She even taught the member for Nelson and I to do a few steps without tripping over, and that was quite a challenge. Bronwyn is a woman with a great sense of humour and a great empathy for dealing with people with challenging behaviour - and I am referring in that case to the politicians who were amongst the celebrities. She handled us all with great aplomb. She was also supported by a group of young people who are dancers in her academy who also gave up their spare time to help us out and give us some individual tutoring. To Bronwyn and her group of dancers at the Darwin Dance Academy, thank you; without your dedication and participation it would have been a very difficult event for Total Recreation to pull off with such great success. To Eileen Farrel and the team at Total Recreation, you have done a great job. To Bronwyn Graham and her team at the Darwin Dance Academy, we really appreciate it.
I hope you raised a lot of money on the night. I will be out chasing up and finding out just how much money was raised, because there were some raffle tickets. Marcel from McDonalds, who won the first prize, which was a front-loading washing machine, donated that back, and it was auctioned on the night, raising about $700 extra for Total Recreation for the night. It was a very successful night.
Charlie King, as usual, did a fantastic job as MC. It was a night that I will remember. I took my daughter along because she is good friends with a young girl with Down Syndrome. I wanted to show her that participation in life for someone with a disability is a lifelong experience; that you could be inclusive with your mates with a disability at school, but that inclusiveness needs to continue right through their teenage years and adult years, so that they are feeling very much a part of the fabric of society, and participating to every extent in our society. We are all enriched by working, playing and living with people with disability in our community.
Saturday night really did show that. For people like me, there were lessons learnt about the great humour and forbearance of our dancing partners who took us through some very challenging dance routines. I certainly had never done the Cha Cha, the Slow Rhythm, or the Tangoette before in my life. There is a little part in me that hopes never to have to do it again; it was daunting. However, it was a fun night.
I urge my colleagues in the Chamber, if Total Recreation ever approaches you to support them in any event, step outside your comfort zone and give it a go, because they are fantastic bunch of people. You will really enjoy the friendship you make with the young people with a disability. It is a very worthy cause because recreation is often the hardest thing to achieve for people with disability. The carers, who are so often incredibly tired from assisting and caring for someone with disability, just do not have the time, the money, or the opportunity to provide those recreational options. That really is where Total Recreation steps up and does a fantastic job.
Again, congratulations to John Cossons and his volunteer board, Eileen Farrel, and Total Recreation team, and Bronwyn Graham and her Darwin Dance Academy. I make a special thank you to Josh. He is just a fantastic young man. He was very lovely and understanding regarding the amount of time I had to commit to the entire dance program.
Mrs AAGAARD (Nightcliff): Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to recognise the hard work that has been put into the Welcome of the Cross and Icon from the Catholic Diocese of Darwin for the World Youth Day Journey of the Cross and Icon here in the Territory. I was very honoured to be part of the welcome of the cross to the Northern Territory, where the official program started in the forecourt of Parliament House. The Chief Minister was part of this official welcoming of the icon and cross. This cross has travelled around the world and is always carried by young people. It is here as part of the celebration leading to World Youth Day next year in Sydney, when His Holiness the Pope will be travelling to Australia as part of the celebration.
It was quite a special event which happened here in Parliament House. The order of proceeding was directed by Mr Kevin Thomas, the chairperson of the Catholic Diocesan Coordinating Committee for World Youth Day. There was a Welcome to the Country, which was very moving, by Mrs Cathie Wilson, who is a member of Larrakia people and who welcomed us to this land with a very special welcome.
There was also a young woman who was accompanying the World Youth Day Cross and Icon who spoke about the story and the significant of the cross and the icon. The Chief Minister, Hon Clare Martin, welcomed the cross and icon to the Northern Territory. Then, the new Bishop of Darwin, Bishop Eugene Hurley, responded to the Chief Minister’s welcome. I add my welcome to the new Bishop, Bishop Eugene Hurley, to the Northern Territory. The position of the Bishop of Darwin is a very important in the Catholic Church. I know that honourable members will join with me in welcoming him to the Northern Territory.
After the Bishop spoke to us, there were special prayers for the cross and icon as it travels across the Territory. It has been to the Tiwi Islands and Katherine and to various other places - to schools around Darwin and other parts of the Territories. It was a very special occasion. After the cross and icon left Parliament House, there was a special ceremony going over to the Anglican cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, and then, on to the Uniting Church and then, on to St Mary’s. I would just like to add my thanks for allowing the cross to start at Parliament House. It was very special for all of us who attended.
I also had the pleasure of attending, on 30 September at the Casuarina Uniting Church, the opening service of worship for the 31st Annual Meeting of the Synod of the Uniting Church and the installation of the new Moderator of the Northern Synod of the Uniting Church, Reverend Wendell Flentje. Reverend Flentje is the minister at the Casuarina Uniting Church and he takes over from the Reverend Steve Orme who has been the Moderator of the Northern Synod for the past two years.
I place on the record my thanks to Reverend Steve Orme, who is a friend of mine as well as being a member of the Uniting Church. He has been a very special person in his committed role as the Moderator. I wish him well in his, perhaps, more relaxed times now just being the Minister for the Darwin Memorial Uniting Church. I hope that he and his wife, Judy, can have a bit of a break just being a normal minister of religion during this time. I thank him on behalf of the people of Darwin for his contribution in relation to the church.
The installation of Reverend Flentje as the Moderator was a special service. One of the special things about the Uniting Church is that it has, in fact, the Aboriginal side of the church as well as the non-Aboriginal church. The way in which worship is carried on is very special where there are things done in language and things done in English. It was a very moving service and everyone who was there enjoyed the service.
Just for the record, perhaps people do not understand much about what a Moderator is. It is the equivalent of a Bishop in other churches. The constitution of the Uniting Church in Australia calls upon the Moderator to exercise a variety of responsibilities including: to give general and pastoral leadership to assist and encourage the church in her missions, witness and prayer; to counsel and advise and uphold the standards of the church; to preside over meetings of the Synod; to represent the church on public occasions; and to speak on public issues on behalf of the church. It is a very important position and it is one which has a national role as well. I wish Reverend Flentje all the best in his new role.
I thank the people at the Casuarina Uniting Church for putting on such a lovely evening, with wonderful food at the end, and beautiful singing throughout the service as well. Thank you very much for inviting me to that and putting on such a wonderful occasion.
I seem to have been doing quite a lot of things at churches. The night before that, on 29 September, I had the pleasure of attending the Anglican Church Missionary Society dinner at Kormilda College. This was a special dinner to help raise money for missionaries around the world. The Anglican Church is very involved in mission across the world. There was a special guest speaker who was a missionary in Jordan and provided a very interesting speech. I thank Reverend Mark Dickens, the Minister at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Nightcliff, for inviting me, but for also organising such an interesting night. I wish all those people who are involved in the Anglican Church in this area of mission all the best because it is a very special area of work which people are involved in.
On 28 September, I attended the National Police Remembrance Day Service at St Mary’s Cathedral. This is a very special service which is held each year and which marks the commemoration of those police officers who have died while they have been actively working for the police service. It was a very special service. Father John Kelleher, the Administrator of St Mary’s Cathedral was involved, with Major Peter Wright, the Chaplain of Police, Fire and Emergency Services, the Right Reverend Eugene Hurley, the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Darwin, and various other people as well. The Darwin Chorale was present and Sand Williams, Doug Loft, Senior Constable Dave Skelton and Sergeant Angela Stringer performed the Police Hymn which is Uphold the Right, which is always a special part of that particular service. I extend my thanks to the police for holding this service each year. It is an important way in which people in the community can recognise the special role that police have in our community.
Tonight, I would like to recognise the life of Mrs Kathleen Cannon. Mrs Cannon is the mother of the Principal of the Essington School, Darwin, Mr David Cannon. His mother died on 30 May this year. As with everyone, it was a very sad time for David. I asked him if he would like me to read this eulogy from the funeral into the Parliamentary Record. He was proud that I could do that for him.
That was 30 May 2007. The requiem service for Mrs Cannon was held at St Rita’s Catholic Church at Babinda on 1 June 2007, and the celebrant was Fr Grundy.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I want to follow up with comments after my question to the Minister for Employment, Education and Training today on the fate of the ANZAC Hill High School.
My question was: please put on public record the real intention of this government about the future of ANZAC Hill High School. We went through a disturbing time last year when there were rumours that the school would close at the end of the year. Now, when we thought everything had settled down and the school was back in action, again there are rumours of the school closing to be used as a youth intervention facility.
The minister’s response in Question Time did not give me any reassurance that the school would continue to operate as a middle school past the beginning of 2008. What he meant by that, I do not know; whether he envisages that some time through 2008 it will be closed. His answer, concentrating on the need for a youth intervention centre in Alice Springs, led me to believe that was his priority. As the Minister for Education and Training, I find that disappointing because I thought of all the things he would do would be to stand up for his school - a school which is quite remarkable and has done amazing things.
The minister seems to be saying that Alice Springs needs this youth intervention centre. I do not deny that. I believe there is someone looking at a number of options of where it could be placed. However, I would have thought his loyalty - if I can call it that - should be to his schools as the minister for Education. That disappointed me.
ANZAC Hill is quite a remarkable school. It is only small. It has a very experienced principal. I want to mention some of the good things that go on there that would be suddenly taken away if it does not continue as it is. The school had a consultant come in and look at their curriculum. Bruce Wilson, who was previously the CEO of the Australian Curriculum Corporation, completed a very positive review last month. He was particularly impressed with the professionalism of the teachers and the quality of the work. He also commented that there were a high number of parents who attended these evening sessions of portfolio chats. Out of his review, the school has started working on his new ideas about extension, and how it can enlighten and enrich the learning program for students. After settling down from the threat of being closed, they are now straight into their new year, looking at this.
There are many other things they have done. For instance, some of the young girls were in the grand final netball team, the debating teams did well, and they even had a successful girls footy team. One of the students won King of the Mountain; some of them played in the touch Rugby game and won. They had a very successful track and field day with eight records broken. Constance Price is a teacher who gets her students involved in Red Cross in the Readathon for Multiple Sclerosis, and they also do a lot of work for the Zonta Club.
The Year 7 team and the students all survived the Year 7 camp. I asked them where they went. The boys went to Arltunga, and the girls went to Ross River. It is not an easy task to take young students out on camps, as you may recall, but the kids had a great time and they loved it.
Anna Montgomery won a grant of $49 000 for work on Investing in our Schools. They also have the Clontarf Football Academy there, which continues working out of ANZAC Hill quite successfully. One of their teachers featured in an Indigenous teacher promotion. Mandy Hargreaves also takes the students out to the velodrome to help them with that sporting venture, which is great. They also received quite a substantial amount of money and an award for Quality Schooling, Excellence in Family School Partnerships. ‘We have a keen staff who have done lots and lots things’, said the principal, ‘and various levels of training and choice theory. In this case, our school management work with everyone, puts teaching strategies and assessment into a framework. We also teach the central thinking of it to our students’.
The school won a literary award, $10 000 for the Great NT DEET supported accelerated literacy project work - a secondary school having great success in catching up. For instance, literacy for those students who cannot read was quite high, so they have done amazing works like that. They also got a Commonwealth grant of $50 000 in 2005-06 to assist and develop their library resource centre – it was $49 000 for laptops, trolleys and electronic whiteboards as well.
It is a school that is continually active, involves their students in many things, their parents are particularly strong, they support their school council, and they really do have a dedicated team of teachers. They are aware that many of their students come from the lower socioeconomic areas of Alice Springs. The indigenous enrolment is up to about 60%. It is difficult for them to really stack up against some of the schools that, perhaps, have just mainstream kids, whereas they are always being measured because some of their students are not as mainstream as we would like, with these schools. Perhaps there is a feeling that ANZAC Hill does not achieve as much as they should but that, of course, is just not true. Many of the kids are quiet, come from very difficult circumstances, and it is overwhelming that, in fact, their attendance is amazingly high. Regarding attendance in particular, they said they have never had Year 10 students opt out of school; the Year 10s continue. It is a hard-working school and there are children who actually learn.
The sad part about it is that, no matter how hard they try, and how much effort is put in by the teachers, they just feel as though they are being, again, put under stress. The parents often say: ‘We feel exhausted by this continual stress of knowing that, perhaps, next year we might be closing’. It is hard because, if you are a Year 6 parent now, and you are going to enrol your student in Year 7 next year into middle school, would you choose ANZAC Hill knowing that their future is under a cloud? Or would you not send them to ANZAC Hill and send them somewhere else? If that occurs, of course, their enrolment numbers are affected. I do not know whether this is what Education is thinking about; whether that is the way they see it going. However, it is certainly disappointing that the minister does not give the school what it deserves - and that is a tremendous amount of support.
Coming back to his comment about the intervention facility, we are all aware that the small demountable that is behind the Youth Centre at the moment is inadequate. It does not give a 24-hour service for those students who need it. Most of all, it does not give those young people who come there for a meal and for a safe place, the services they need to ensure they do not go back to a home that is threatening. If they are not attending school it is found out why - that the environment that they are expected to live in is one that will make them safe.
We understand that we have a number of students and young people in Alice Springs who need to be picked up and helped, and that we have the adequate resources to assist them. I had a group of people from the youth support sectors who came to me and spoke about it. They would like to provide that 24-hour service but, most of all, they would also like to ensure that there are the support services given to these children at the end of the day; that they are not just then sent home to the same environment which might be completely unacceptable.
You have to weigh up whether we need this youth intervention centre at the risk of losing a good middle school. That is the dilemma that is being faced at the moment. I really believe that the minister should say we can have both. We can have ANZAC Hill which is a good school which really provides an excellent environment for learning and takes on some of the hard kids. As well as that, we can have the youth intervention facility - perhaps not at Alice Springs but certainly in a central situation where it could be readily available to all those young people who require it.
I say to the minister, do not give up on ANZAC Hill; do not be so quick to put them down. What you are doing is making them feel insecure and they are losing that strength they need to have to continue. Support them. Let them know that they can continue the way they are to provide a good education but, at the same time, yes, government, ensure you provide this youth intervention facility somewhere that will be suitable for the needs of our children.
Mr KNIGHT (Daly): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I take this opportunity to acknowledge some conscientious students in my electorate and update you on our regular school awards program.
At the Wooliana School, young Jeremy Ah Fat received the school award in June for his positive attitude towards learning. The school principal, Petrina Reardon, says Jeremy is an enthusiastic student who enjoys all school activities, both academic and sporting. He is a quiet achiever who is always willing to help those around him. Jeremy is an excellent role model, and sets a positive example for his Year 2 peers.
In August, the student award was presented to Mikayla Green for her desire to learn. Mikayla tries extremely hard and does not give up when she is challenged. She also helps to make lunches for the younger students and looks after their wellbeing. Mikayla is both conscientious and reliable and does not hesitate to offer her assistance when the need arises.
The student award was given to Sarah Jimarin for the month of September for her positive attitudes towards learning. Sarah always tries her best at whatever she does. Congratulations to Sarah.
Finally, at the Wooliana School, the October award was given to Denby Hubbard for being a positive role model for the younger students in the community. He is both conscientious and reliable and never hesitates to share his skills and knowledge with his peers.
I congratulate Petrina who has 40 enrolled students. They attend regularly and are getting good results. I hope we can support them with added infrastructure in the coming years.
At the Taminmin High School a few months ago, I attended the school’s first musical titled Cold As Ice. I helped out at the bar that night and thoroughly enjoyed the production. I was kept extremely busy with a lot of alcohol and soft drinks consumed. I think everybody enjoyed it. I congratulate the teachers, especially the students, and also to the parents who came along, for putting on such a great production.
At Taminmin, the September monthly award went to two Year 9 students, Megan Hamilton for her work in Maths, and David Cowie for his work in English. There were also two Year 8 student awards to Tasha Morrow for Information Technology and Health, and David Ung for Information Technology, English and Science.
At the Mataranka Primary School, the award for August went to Darcy Boon. Darcy was awarded the ‘You can do it, emotional intelligence award’. Congratulations to Darcy. I believe you are doing great work and I encourage you to keep up the effort.
Finally to Timber Creek, the following students were presented with awards for the month of August: Aston Baxter, Jazlyn Little, Simon MacDonald, Renita Harrington, Mikey Smiler, Ryan Hector, Peter Harrington, Bradley Hector and Hayden Hector. The Hectors are quite numerous in Timber Creek. Congratulations to those students; it is a great school and I hope they keep up the good work and keep winning our sports carnival as well.
On 1 September, I travelled to the Peppimenarti community for their open day. It was a wonderful day of events with displays of artwork and also dancing. Most of the artwork was sold out very early in the day. The people who travelled from Darwin and in from Daly thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. I thank the president, Stewart Hodgson, also to the matriarch of the community, Regina Wilson, and her daughters, Nunuk and Naiya, and all the other Wilson family for putting on such a great day. I hope it goes into the future.
Eight students from the Peppimenarti School recently made a long journey to Darwin with their teacher, Ms Bree Whitford, to complete the Swim and Survive program with the Royal Life Saving NT at the Parap pool. The program teaches children vital water safety skills, including swimming techniques, water confidence, survival and endurance. Peppimenarti is situated near spring-fed creeks, waterfalls and crossings, so it is important that children learn how to be in the water safely without any sort of problems. The eight children who completed the program were Austin Jimarin, Edward Jimarin, Glenda Hodgson, Kate Modilkan, Stephen Thomas, Shania Tallunga, Sherelle Leman and Henry Kundu. Their teacher, Ms Whitford, said the children have really embraced the Swim and Survive program as well as the Water Safety Month activity; so much so that they have entered a Be Water Safety Wise song competition where their entry will be aired on Imparja Television. The children are really excited about seeing themselves on television. Well done, children. I hope we can get that pool equipment there, some instructors, and you will be able to use the pool quite regularly in this very awkward build-up season so you do not have to go down the creek.
The Berry Springs School celebrated its 30th birthday on 21 September. I was fortunate enough to be at the event. It was a great day. Former teachers and former students attended. It just shows what an excellent school it has been over those 30 years, from a very quiet beginning with just a couple of demountables and, basically, scrub. It is now a very modern school producing excellent students. Congratulations to all those teachers and students both past and present.
I also congratulate Jarrod Ryan who has just won the Nuffield Australian Farming Scholarship. Jarrod is a fodder producer and is the general manager of a family-owned business, Northern Australia Exports. The business is based in the Douglas Daly region. The award is worth $25 000 and will enable Jarrod to study dry land and irrigated fodder production in the tropical environs overseas. Congratulations, Jarrod. It is certainly well deserved. I hope you bring that knowledge back to the Douglas Daly region and support that community.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I report on my recent study tour undertaken during some of September to London and Singapore. I had a number of objectives at the commencement of the study tour, and I am happy to say that most of them were met. I also learnt about a range of additional matters, and I am pleased that so much of what I learnt has application, both direct and indirect, to the Northern Territory.
I would first like to talk about my visit to Broadmoor Hospital. This hospital provides specialist health care for people who would require treatment in conditions of special security due to their dangerous, violent or criminal propensities. Patients with mental illness or acquired brain injury require the services of skilled professional staff in a safe and secure environment, and Broadmoor provides a range of treatments for its patients, including assessment, specialist care and rehabilitation.
The Territory’s two prisons are at capacity and, indeed, the most recent crime statistics reveal that our gaols are overflowing. More can be done for our mental health facilities. There are ongoing questions about whether our gaols are equipped to deal with inmates who are mentally ill or who have an acquired brain injury. I have long been of the view that a specialist facility for people convicted of serious crimes against the person and who have mental health problems should be established in the Territory, particularly given the high number of prisoners who are unable to be treated in the mainstream prison.
I was keen to view this facility and am grateful for the extensive tour and information provided to me. I was very impressed with every aspect of Broadmoor, and am now strengthened in my belief that a specialist facility is needed in the Territory. We do not have a facility that has specialist treatment programs that are equipped to deal with the people who have committed crimes and who have a mental illness or acquired brain injury.
Our two prisons are just not equipped to provide the expert facilities that those inmates require, and our mental health units and wards are under-resourced and people who work in them should not, in the normal course of events, be required to deal with extremely violent prisoners. Prison officers are not trained to deal with these types of offenders, and psychiatric nurses are trained but should not be forced to deal with them either. A better alternative is clearly required from any perspective.
Broadmoor houses about 300 patients. It provides specialist health care and treatment for people, mainly men, with mental illness or personality disorder who need the services of skilled professional staff, which must occur in a safe and secure environment. The security of the environment is crucial. Some of the patients at Broadmoor have been found by the courts to be unfit to plead. Others have severe mental illnesses and severe personality disorders. Some of them have committed heinous crimes. Some of the Territory’s prisoners share some traits of those in Broadmoor.
The security at Broadmoor is incredible. I have not seen anything like it, and I doubt that I will see anything like it for the rest of my life. Clearly, it is necessary to assure the community that it is not possible for these highly dangerous patients to escape. Having seen the facility, it is certainly not possible for any escape to occur.
The services at Broadmoor are impressive. There are social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, forensic psychiatrists - and the list goes on. They have a staff of about 1200; 650 of them are nurses, many of whom have experience or expertise in psychiatric nursing. This number of staff ensures that a multidisciplinary approach is undertaken and a genuine attempt at rehabilitation and treatment occurs.
Quite rightly, we punish offenders by putting them in gaol. There is the ability to hold a prisoner indefinitely in the Territory known as ‘at the Administrator’s pleasure’, but it is exercised rarely and very few prisoners in the Territory are held on those terms. I can think of one. I doubt that there would be more than five in the Territory.
It follows that almost all prisoners in our gaols will be released. We will release murderers, rapists, other sex offenders, child abusers and people who have committed evil acts, some of whom have a mental illness or an acquired brain injury, into the community. Most of them have not received specialist or specialised treatment.
While many in the community may want all prisoners to be held at the Administrator’s pleasure, only undemocratic governments and corrupt legal systems would allow it to occur. Hence, we need to look at the types of prisoners we have and ask what the consequences are of releasing them without specialised treatment.
A Chief Minister now and in the future and, indeed, in the past, must consider or should have considered, a specialist treatment facility to deal with prisoners who require specialised treatment in order for them to be released - as released they will be.
I have already spoken to the Prison Officers Association about this and they agree that something needs to be done. I am very keen for a facility to be established. The total Broadmoor model should not and could not be adopted or adapted in the Territory, but there is plenty to learn from that historically and currently interesting and valuable institution.
I also met with the Crown Prosecution Service. Building on information from an earlier study tour, I met with the CPS in London and discussed a number of issues in relation to prosecuting domestic violence offences, including prosecutions where victims are reluctant to give evidence, known as victimless prosecutions. It seems that the Territory and other Australian jurisdictions are not the only ones which deal with these problems. Improving and increasing prosecutions of perpetrators of violence against women and children is not only an area of interest to many Territorians, but one in which we all have an interest because of the potential to decrease both the number of cases before the courts and, ultimately, violence in the community.
Among some of the things I wanted to learn were how to proceed to prosecute without a victim, and how successful the prosecutions are. I was also interested to learn how the evidence gathering occurs; how, in practice, reluctant victims are dealt with; how the specialised domestic violence courts are fairing; and how judges and magistrates are responding generally to prosecutions without the victims.
Domestic violence cases generally proceed in much the same way as they do in the Territory. There are, however, some important exceptions, one of which is that the responsibility regarding a decision to prosecute a case rests with the CPS, and that is an important exception. A lawyer decides whether to prosecute. Lawyers are placed in police stations and are known as duty prosecutors. The investigating police then take all of the evidence and other material they have collected to the prosecutor, who then decides whether there is enough to initiate a prosecution, or whether and what additional information is need to provide evidence of a sufficient amount or quality for a prosecution. I was told that some regard the placement of a prosecutor for these purposes as fettering police powers. Nevertheless, it is working well, and has done so for the last three years.
The test as to whether to prosecute is, nevertheless, both evidentiary and it incorporates a public interest element. It is, however, policy to prosecute if at all possible, and to champion the causes of victims of domestic violence. All prosecutions proceed on the basis that many complainants will seek to withdraw a prosecution within 27 days, based on CPS figures and research.
There have also been high attrition rates, not uncommon in the Territory as well. In an attempt to counter this, the CPS’s policy is to look at ancillary evidence and evidence from the victim. Ancillary evidence may be available from photos, neighbours, the content of 999 calls - our equivalent is 000 calls – and, possibly, children. Although taking evidence from children is controversial, in some cases the need to prosecute may outweigh the fairly obvious problems of using children in this way.
Another form of evidence gathering includes the use of what is known as head cams by investigating police officers. That means that if police attend call-outs or speak to a woman, children, partners or other witnesses, their statements are recorded. It also means that pictures are taken of the relevant areas, and that injuries, the state of distress, and damage to property are available to use as evidence.
There are various matters that need to be considered in deciding whether to proceed with a prosecution in the absence of a victim who withdraws a complaint, but the responsibility to prosecute a case is that of the CPS - it is not that of the victim or the police. However, there are certain matters that the CPS must be satisfied about. The victim must have signed a withdrawal statement. An assessment is made of whether the allegation was true and why the victim wants to withdraw it, as well as the impact of not proceeding with the prosecution.
The officer conducts a risk assessment, which includes whether there is other evidence. Consideration is also given to the effect on children, prior convictions, other reports, the impact of dropping the case, and whether there is support in the community for the children and victim if the prosecution is dropped. A relevant officer will conduct an assessment of all other evidence.
A case can be prosecuted without a victim, and I strongly support this concept. The CPS may apply for a witness summons in the event the victim does not attend court or shows an unwillingness to proceed with the case with the prosecution. In those circumstances, a warrant may be issued. This is also controversial, but there are occasions where it is helpful to a victim who may be pressured to withdraw a complaint if she is able to say words to the effect of: ‘I am not pursuing the prosecution, the police and the CPS are the ones who are doing it and, if I do not go to court, I will be put in gaol’. Anyone who has worked in this area or who understands the framework in which domestic violence works will appreciate and understand the significance of what this means to a victim.
There are four specialist domestic violence courts in London. Trials occur within 28 days. Prosecutors have specialist training in domestic violence, as do magistrates and judges. Indeed, the Judicial Studies Board has domestic violence on its list for training. Those courts are working well regarding conviction rates, but the CPS is not always happy with the sentences being given. There was not time to get significant information in relation to sentencing.
Another measure for dealing with domestic violence is the appointment of an independent domestic violence advisor, known as an IDVA, for each victim. These advisors have proved to be the missing link for increasingly effective intervention in domestic violence cases, and they have had a positive impact on a number of cases which resulted in prosecution. High-risk victims are the subject of multi-agency risk assessments in which IDVAs participate. The outcomes of those conferences may influence if it is to prosecute without the victim, and what other protective measures may be needed.
One of the key performance indicators in the DPP is known as OBTJ, which stands for ‘offender brought to justice’. It does not measure the conviction rate, but it is a good measure nevertheless, as many citizens simply want to see an offender bought to justice, and that is a useful end.
The framework and policy directed, and increase in the number of prosecutions, has been in place for several years and it is delivering results in getting more cases to court. There is much the Territory and, indeed, other Australian jurisdictions can learn from this.
I also met with the Respect Task Force. Given the high levels of antisocial behaviour experienced in the Territory, it is critical to see how other jurisdictions are tackling the problem. The Respect Task Force is run by the Home Office and is designed to tackle antisocial behaviour and its causes, and has strategies developed to address truancy, strengthen local communities, and strong measures for tackling antisocial behaviour.
The Respect Task Force was established in 2005 as a result of community dissatisfaction with levels of antisocial behaviour occurring in neighbourhoods. It arose from a widespread view that the criminal justice system was not meeting the needs of the community. In 2003, an Antisocial Behaviour Act was created and the Respect Program developed after that.
I was provided with a great deal of written material and I propose, while talking about the Respect Task Force, to quote from some of the material I received. The literature states that, when respect for self, others and the community breaks down, antisocial behaviour takes hold. Making offensive and threatening remarks, dumping letters and other rubbish in the streets, urinating in the street, and things like that are clearly inconsiderate or disrespectful by any definition. The program and its action plan strategy underlying it is all about respect - hence its name. Many Territorians would understand very well the rationale behind this program, as well as acknowledge its appeal. Significantly, the respect strategy aims to tackle the causes of antisocial behaviour, and is generational insofar as it aims to ensure that the next generation does not get involved in the antisocial activity.
Early intervention in families is also a component. The Respect team trains practitioners such as police, social workers, child protection workers, community workers and so on. They do not case manage. The Respect Task Force works closely with the Youth Justice Board about which I will talk shortly.
In addition to antisocial behaviour orders, it is worth pointing to another tool used in the area of youth justice and antisocial behaviour; that is, acceptable behaviour contracts which are voluntary agreements between, usually, individuals that outline what a offender should and should not do. These can be applied for by a range of individuals such as teachers and police, and they are used when someone’s behaviour is unacceptable but not criminal.
Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, since I am 20 seconds from being out of time, I will end there but indicate that I will continue my report during the rest of the sittings.
Mr NATT (Drysdale): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I acknowledge a young woman whom I have had a little to do with in my electorate over the past couple of years. Unfortunately, she is leaving the Australian Red Cross and the Communities for Children Program. I speak of Bridie Scott.
Communities for Children is an initiative that works on improving the lives of young children from the ages of zero to five years of age, obviously also working closely with their families. The program places particular emphasis on early childhood initiatives that achieve better outcomes for children and their families. They help families and communities deal with the issues before they become a serious problem. Australian Red Cross is the facilitating partner for the Palmerston region. Bridie has been the Project Officer for the Communities for Children Program and has been with the service since its inception.
She has left the program to pursue her dream of establishing a business in the Palmerston area, and she has done that. She has established a shop in the Gray Shopping Centre called Second Hand Nursery Land. The Gray Shopping Centre is smack bang in the middle of my electorate of Drysdale. I thank Bridie for the contribution she has made to the community in her time, and wish her well in her new business enterprise and hope that she has every success that she has been looking for.
Last sittings, I spoke of the success of the women at the Hair Art Salon which is located directly opposite the Drysdale Electorate Office. I talked of the achievements of the salon and how they took out the lion’s share of awards at the Northern Territory International Hairdressing Society Championships held here in May. Owner, Sonia Kinna, and her staff deserve many congratulations as they claimed gold in seven of the 11 categories including Salon of the Year, Senior Hairdresser of the Year which was Bonnie Snell, and the Junior Hairdresser of the Year, Kirstyu Bulluss.
Bonnie Snell went on to compete at the International Hairdressing Society’s national finals, hosted in Melbourne, against 120 other hairdressers from around Australia. I am pleased to report that Bonnie won the runner’s up medal for the Senior’s Ladies Haircuts. My congratulations to Bonnie. I know that she has had some terrific support from Sonia and the other girls in the shop. I wish her every success, and Sonia every success with the shop in future.
Another outstanding achievement worth recognising is that of Detective Senior Sergeant Robert Jordan who, last month, was awarded Rotary Police Officer of the Year. Robert has almost 20 years experience serving as a police officer, and has served across most of the Territory including remote and rural areas. Until recently, he was posted at the Palmerston Police Station where I can vouch for his dedication and professionalism. I congratulate Robert on his dedicated service to the police force and on being recognised and awarded the Rotary Police Officer of the Year.
While I am talking about the Palmerston Police Station, I would like to mention that we have a new superintendent there, Matthew Hollamby. I was lucky enough to doorknock Matthew a couple of weeks ago. He was on holidays at the time but was kind enough to spare me 15 to 20 minutes to have a bit of a talk about a few things. Since then, I have made contact with Matt on a couple of occasions to talk about constituents’ concerns. I am pleased to say that Matthew has responded remarkably well. He is a very personable and extremely helpful person, as are all the officers within the Palmerston Police Station. I thank Matthew for his support of me and the concerns that I have put to him, and the prompt action that he has taken to ensure that the concerns have been addressed. I look forward to working with Matthew over his time at the helm of the Palmerston Police Station.
With October being Business Month in the Territory I would like to draw your attention to two local businesses operating within my electorate of Drysdale. My electorate is quite diverse, but significant parts of it incorporate the industrial sector which contains many fantastic business enterprises, two of which are notable for obtaining recognition for some outstanding achievements recently. They are Northern Stainless Pty Ltd and NTESS Fire Consultants who are the NT winners and national finalists for the Telstra Business Awards respectively in the MYOB Business Award and the Panasonic Australia Business Award, which is for a business with 21 to 50 employees.
These awards recognise the achievements and enterprising spirit of small businesses across Australia and provide a range of business benefits. Through extensive promotion and publicity, the awards enable businesses to promote their achievements to the broader community. They also help businesses develop new business relationships, reward hard-working staff, and share in a substantial national prize pool.
Northern Stainless Pty Ltd is based in Winnellie and is a stainless steel fabrication business providing products and services to the building and construction industry. It has specific architectural back-up for some of its designs. Northern Stainless employs a team of about 11 people and the business can design, fabricate and install a range of products including benches, trolleys, domestic kitchens, restaurants and shop fit-outs among its range of products and services. My congratulations go to the Owner Director, Ken Cohalan, and Co-Directors, Darren Colbert and Jenna Duncan. I know these three individuals have put a lot of time and effort into their business to ensure that they are a viable concern. Obviously, winning the award goes to show that the time and effort has paid off. Congratulations to them and all the staff at Northern Stainless.
NTESS Fire Consultants, also based at Winnellie, specialise in fire protection equipment such as extinguishers, fire alarm systems, hydrants, hose reels, smoke detectors and automatic sprinkler systems. They are a local business, which was established less than 10 years ago by Paul Le Measurer and Frank Farley. With a staff of around about 21 at the time of the presentation, this business also has services which include the installation and maintenance of electronic security and access control systems, communications systems, CCTV, MATV, public address systems and emergency training and fire safety training to the construction, mining, marine and offshore oil industries.
Paul and Frank have since sold the business to a private entity. They have joined with a stable of other businesses so that they are now situated with one company in each state around Australia, and now come under the business name of Spectrum Fire. Paul now takes on the role of State Operations Manager and handles the business side of things, while Frank handles the operational works. The business is growing rapidly and now has a staff of 30, which is expected to grow to about 50 within the next 18 months.
Paul has been nominated for the NT Management Excellence Awards as part of the Australian Institute of Management Awards, and I understand that presentation is this weekend. I wish Paul every success with his nomination for that, and I congratulate both him and Frank on their continued success with the business. I hope they go on to bigger and better things in the future.
While on the topic of local businesses, I draw members’ attention to another one which has received recent recognition. Palmerston has a restaurant called the Mediterranean Restaurant, which has been awarded Best Family and Informal Restaurant at the NT Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence. The restaurant was judged against national standards. I wish it all the very best as it goes on to represent the Territory in the national titles to be held in Adelaide. Owner, James Debelin, with his staff of Kyle Whitmore, Kym Cunningham and Bernard Schenkel, have created a family-oriented restaurant with a wonderful menu and a range of food for all age groups. They have done a magnificent job in maintaining an excellent standard. I wish them the best at the national titles in Adelaide.
Last month, the Palmerston Game Fishing Club again hooked up with Happy Mick’s Fishing and Camping store and hosted another kids’ fishing clinic. The morning event is hugely popular, and many children turn out to learn the finer points of catching a fish, and the tying of the knots and how to put a rig together. More than $16 000 worth of fishing gear, including rod and reel combos, was distributed to the kids on the day. I note that this money is raised through the various contests that the Palmerston Game Fishing Club runs - the Barra Nationals is one. That money is put back into a good cause in ensuring youth development within our fishing population.
This is a fabulous event which, unfortunately, I was unable to attend this year due to another commitment. I acknowledge the generosity of the Palmerston Game Fishing Club, its committee and members, as well as the wonderful corporate support they receive from the tackle industry. The Palmerston Game Fishing Club conducts some wonderful events for kids, encouraging them to undertake the fabulous pastime of fishing.
Earlier this year, I presented trophies to participants in the Junior Barra Classic on the Daly River. That event was well attended by club members, who took their boats down for the week. On this particular day, up to 50 children attended. To the credit of the members, they took the kids out for the day, a couple to a boat. The kids had a wonderful time on the Daly catching barra and, at the end of the day, the prize for the best fish and the number of fish caught went to the kids who were lucky enough to win those prizes. All of the kids who participated were given a tackle box, which goes to show the forward thinking of the club is fantastic. The focus is on the future, and educating our young anglers on the finer points of fishing. They also point out the responsibilities and the safety techniques that are required when fishing from a boat or from the shore.
Well done to the Palmerston Game Fishing Club and to Happy Mick’s. I applaud both of those organisations for their support of the kids in the Palmerston area and wish them all the best. I know they are going to continue these events into the future, and I look forward to participating next year and to getting down on the Daly again. I had great success there at the last Barra Nationals. We caught quite a few barra. I look forward to doing the same again, and also getting involved with the kids and ensuring that the education processes of fishing are maintained.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
MESSAGE FROM ADMINISTRATOR
Message No 23
Message No 23
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have received from His Honour the Administrator message No 23 notifying assent to bills passed in the August sittings of the Assembly.
RESPONSE TO PETITION
The CLERK: Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 100A, I inform honourable members that a response to petition No 64 has been received and circulated to honourable members.
- Petition No 64
Promotion of Darwin City
Date presented: 30 August 2007
Presented by: Ms Sacilotto
Referred to: Minister for Local Government
Date response due: 21 February 2008
Date response received: 5 October 2007
Date response presented: 9 October 2007
Response
- This petition is directed at Darwin city councillors to encourage the promotion of Darwin City, and does not fall within the portfolio of the Minister for Local Government.
- Ms Kerry Sacilotto MLA, member for Port Darwin, presented the petition to Darwin City Council for their consideration and response on 20 September 2007.
MINISTERIAL REPORTS
Vietnam Trade Mission
Vietnam Trade Mission
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, this morning I inform the House on the outcomes of my recent trade mission to Vietnam and Japan. Earlier this year, in March, my department led a joint industry and government exploratory trade delegation to Vietnam. Such was its success, particularly in progressing opportunities in live cattle trade and education, that I decided to personally lead a follow-up trade mission last month.
Vietnam is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, and the opportunities are there for the Territory to grow its international trade base. Our trade mission included three key players: Professor Helen Garnett, Vice Chancellor of Charles Darwin University; Stuart Kenny, Deputy Director of the Cattlemen’s Association; and Julie Beaumont, Operations Manager of the Chamber of Commerce. I take this opportunity to thank each of them for their hard work and professionalism.
I am pleased to report there were many good outcomes from the visit. In strengthening political relationships, which cannot be underestimated in a country like Vietnam, I held meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem; the Vice Minister for Education and Training,Professor Tran Van Nhung, Vice Minister for Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Hon Mr Le Bach Hung; and the Vice Minister for Industry and Trade, Nguyen Thanh Bien.
The purpose of these meetings was to promote, at the highest levels, the Territory’s geographical proximity to Asia, our long-standing relationships in the region, and our emerging trade capabilities, particularly in relation to live cattle, tourism, skilled migration and education, with the emphasis here on Charles Darwin University. I also met with Professor Le Huu Nghia, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Political and Public Administration Academy, whose key role is the training and upskilling of Vietnamese civil servants. During the meeting, I was able to talk about the Territory and the benefits and capabilities of the Charles Darwin University. I look forward to hearing more from CDU about their collaboration with the academy in the future.
Importantly, I signed a memorandum of understanding on trade and economic cooperation with Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province. Ba Ria – Vung Tau has many similarities to the Territory, with oil and gas prominent, as well as having strong tourism, agriculture and fisheries sectors. I firmly believe the MOU, together with our strong physical relationship with the province, will ensure that live cattle trade will begin in the next 12 to 18 months. My department is now working with its counterpart in Ba Ria – Vung Tau to develop an action plan to promote and support trade activities, with cattle trade being high on the agenda.
My department has also continued to follow up promising trade opportunities at the business level with the following companies: the Pas Foods Company, where talks have progressed on developing cattle trade including the inspection of sites to construct an abattoir and feed lots; the Khanh Hoa Trading and Investment Company, which is keen to receive the first shipment of around 1000 head of cattle by June next year; and, on the education front, the Phoung Nam Group of Companies is looking to develop a vocational holiday program with CDU which combines two of our great strengths, tourism and education.
From Vietnam, I flew to Tokyo to meet with Japanese industry and government leaders to promote further energy trade between Japan and the Territory. Energy security is most important to Japan and is a key destination for Australia energy exports. Our aim is to establish Darwin as a leading centre for gas development, which would deliver huge economic flow-on benefits to our economy. While in Tokyo, I met with the Japanese Vice-Minister for Energy, Mr Nakano; the Director General of Natural Resources and Energy Policy with the Ministry for Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr Hiraku; and, importantly, with the Chairman and President of INPEX, Mr Matsuo and Mr Kuroda.
At these meetings I presented the case for the Territory to accommodate expansion in energy industries and to build awareness of our capability and potential. A good example is the case for Darwin to play a role in developing INPEX’ $6bn Ichthys gas project in the Browse Basin.
The trip was a great success. I am very confident our links with Vietnam and Japan can only strengthen in the years ahead.
Madam Speaker, I commend the report to the Assembly.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, the opposition welcomes the report. Activities such as this are vitally important. The Territory, as a jurisdiction, is small in number but strategically located. Unless we work in a very intelligent way, we will be unable to capitalise on these strategic benefits that we have by virtue of our geographic location. It is reports like this that would not be criticised in any way by the Territory opposition. In fact, they should and must have full support because of the very important nature of the business conducted in these exchanges.
I urge the Chief Minister to continue to provide detailed updates on the progress of such meetings. The role of the senior political office of Chief Minister is critical in opening those doors, whereby the central objectives of Asian relations and trade and utilising our own advantages can only be realised with the sustained effort that goes on behind the initial encounter.
For the sake of the record, I recall, when the Chief Minister was in opposition, there were often calls for a detailed itinerary to be provided by the minister. There were also calls for detailed costings and so on to be revealed. Those are positions that were held quite dear by the Chief Minister in opposition. However, I notice that there is no detailed itinerary provided, nor detailed costings. I notice that the media accompanies to ensure the message goes out. I also noticed in times past – not that I am touting for a trip, I have too much on anyway – that the opposition were, in fact, included on such trips to reinforce …
Ms Martin: Once.
Mr MILLS: … the bipartisan nature of these activities.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Blain, your time has expired.
Asian Green Mussel Threat - Action
Mr NATT (Primary Industry and Fisheries): Madam Speaker, today I report on the government’s response to the latest threat to our biosecurity – the detection of the Asian green mussel in Darwin harbour. Members will recall that Darwin’s marinas were quarantined following the detection of the highly invasive black striped mussel on 1 April 1999. The lockdown at the marinas lasted for almost four weeks and stranded pleasure vessels, fishing charters and tourist boats alike. An extensive chemical treatment was necessary to eradicate the black striped mussel at a cost of more than $2.2m.
We take these marine pests very seriously, as they have the capacity to populate areas in large numbers, clogging water inlet pipes and valves, fouling the workings of marine equipment such as lock gates and pontoons and, generally, infesting large areas extremely quickly. It threatens our South Seas pearling and other aquaculture industries. That is why such a discovery is treated seriously and decisions made to deal with it urgently, be it through treatment, quarantine, or an order to leave these waters.
The most recent incident again shows the benefits of remaining vigilant. It involved the rig tender, Ostertor, which arrived in Darwin Harbour on Wednesday morning, 3 October 2007. During a maintenance survey of the vessel’s hull and sea water intakes by commercial divers on Thursday afternoon, 4 October 2007, Asian green mussels were discovered.
Asian green mussels are a recognised marine pest species with invasive characteristics similar to those of the black striped mussels. Allowing the Ostertor to remain berthed would put Darwin Harbour at great risk so, with the cooperation of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, the vessel left the Port of Darwin on Thursday evening and anchored in the vicinity of the No 5 buoy.
As no marine pest species appear on the Commonwealth’s Quarantine Act list of proclaimable species, AQIS did not have the legislative powers to order the vessel to leave Australian waters. However, on 5 October, my Director of Fisheries, under the relevant sections of the Fisheries Act, served the vessel’s Master with an order to leave Australian waters.
Ensuing discussions with the ship’s agents and owners highlighted that a lack of fuel on board the vessel and an appropriately qualified Master prevented the ship from complying with the order. Following consequent negotiations between my department and the vessel’s owners, the vessel moved to a location further out to sea, approximately 60 nautical miles from Darwin Harbour and 30 nautical miles from the nearest land. There, in water of at least 60 m depth, the risk of infection was minimised and the vessel was permitted to remain until arrangements could be made to refuel at sea.
On Saturday, 6 October, the vessel’s owners advised that arrangements had been made to refuel the Ostertor at sea outside Australian territorial waters, and the Ostertor would be under way to Singapore on Monday, 8 October.
The Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, in liaison with the relevant departments, will continue to explore ways to ensure that international vessels operating in Territory waters address biofouling and marine pest issues to minimise the risk of introducing invasive species. In addition to current marine pest monitoring activities, Fisheries will be implementing more intensive monitoring in the East Arm Wharf area over the coming months.
The vessel Ostertor had been contracted by ConocoPhillips to operate in Bayu-Undan area. I should point out that the Ostertor was not associated with the heavy-lift vessel Blue Marlin or the drilling rig West Atlas, which were both in Darwin Harbour at the same time as the Ostertor.
Madam Speaker, I ask that the Assembly take note of this report.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, I am sure the Assembly does take note of the report. These matters must be responded to with vigilance, and it was good to hear that report. I hope that we also hear reports on how the primary industry sector, generally, is going to maintain its research capacity. I would like an assurance. The question has been asked in the Chamber before. If I may digress - and I will probably be howled down because I am saying things that are not directly related to Asian green mussels - but it is the issue of maintaining our research capacity. I have asked this question before. We have had no commitment from this government that our research capacity in agriculture and primary industry is going to be maintained.
It was asked during estimates and it was shunted from one to the other. ‘Bad luck, opposition; you have asked the wrong minister and so on, and we do not have the answer’. We need the answer. I would like to have some response to something really important about Ord River Stage 2. Where is this government at with Ord River Stage 2? Let us talk about those sorts of things.
I am glad we are on to the Asian green mussels and they have been sent to another place. I am sure that the department - or I hope it is - is adequately resourced to ensure that we do not have an outbreak of Asian green mussels.
There are, however, other significant issues related to the future of primary industry and fisheries in the Northern Territory that need to be spoken about in this Chamber. Some leadership needs to be taken by this government on those matters.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I suppose next time I see an advertisement in the paper publicising an AGM, I will ensure it is not the Asian green mussel we are talking about.
Minister, the issue you reported today is important. The question that needs to be asked is: how come AQIS does not have the power to send a ship back out to sea? If there is the possibility of a pest being introduced into our waters, you would surely think that AQIS have some power, in that case, to send that ship back to sea to ensure the risk is not something that will cause problems in Northern Territory waters.
In relation to the issue of pests on ships, I would like to know what checks are done in our marinas. You mentioned the black striped mussel. Is there, for instance, a requirement to empty the water in those marinas at some time? I believe that one of the reasons the black striped mussel was able to propagate so quickly is because there were ideal conditions for growth in those marinas. What regulations do we have regarding those marinas to ensure that the chances of other pests, like the Asian green mussel and the black striped mussel, will not develop in those areas? Are there regular checks? Are the areas flushed out? What conditions are imposed on people who regulate those marinas?
I welcome the report. It is very important we remain vigilant in the area of pests coming in from overseas. We cannot let up on this, and I hope that the government is putting in the resources that are needed to ensure we are not affected by these potentially disastrous pests which could cause us millions of dollars in trying to control if we do not get on top of them straightaway.
Mr NATT (Primary Industry and Fisheries): Madam Speaker, I thank both members for their comments. In relation to the marina situation, I understand that the department’s Aquatic Pest Management Unit works very closely with the Darwin Port Corporation to run tests within those marinas to ensure that there is not a recurrence of the black striped mussel or any other invasive pest. Those checks and balances remain in place.
I acknowledge the work of all the government officers, in particular the Museum and the Aquatic Pest Management Unit, for the work they have undertaken in this particular situation, and Tidewater Marine Australia, the owners of the vessel, who took prompt action in removing the vessel from the harbour once they realised that there was an invasive pest under the hull of the ship. They have been very proactive in ensuring that this does not occur again and it has been a costly exercise for them. Once again, if the public remains vigilant we would be pleased to know if there is anything like this in the future.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
World War II Heritage Listing
Ms LAWRIE (Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage): Madam Speaker, as we know, Darwin was Australia’s frontline in World War II and our capital city has a rich wartime history. As part of Creating Darwin’s Future, last month the Chief Minister outlined the government’s plans for a heritage trail highlighting the city’s military history.
Today, I have announced that an additional four significant World War II heritage sites in the Top End will be heritage-listed by this government. The 17 Mile camp; the RAAF C-47 Dakota wreck in Darwin Harbour; the Strauss antiaircraft gun emplacement; and the Pell Airfield RAAF engineering workshop will be added to the Northern Territory Heritage List. These sites have significant historical significance to the Northern Territory and Australia.
Heritage listing will help raise awareness of the considerable contribution and sacrifice made by many Territorians and allied forces based in Darwin during the war. While the rest of Australia was assured the country was safe, at the 17 Mile camp, fortifications were built to fight off waves of Japanese soldiers that, in those days, were expected to attack in a land assault. The physical landscape and remains of the site show from which direction an attack was expected, and shows evidence of just how real the threat to Darwin was. Few people in Australia know that these fortifications exist, yet it is an important part of our nation’s history. This site will become a heritage-listed recreation park in the hope that people will visit and appreciate just how vulnerable Darwin became during World War II.
In Darwin Harbour, the RAAF C-47 Dakota discovered last year will be heritage-listed in recognition of the contribution the aircraft and its crew made during World War II and in the immediate post-war years. The C-47 was part of the RAAF 36 Squadron. It participated in the defence of Australia during World War II. After the war, it was carrying supplies to allied troops stationed in Japan and on the many islands in between when it experienced mechanical failure and was deliberately downed in Darwin Harbour near Fannie Bay. All five aboard were injured but managed to escape. This wreck has been used by the public for recreational fishing and diving. To ensure that this use can continue without damage from anchors, we have worked with the Harbourmaster to install a mooring buoy at the site.
The Strauss antiaircraft gun emplacement was developed in 1942 to provide heavy antiaircraft defences for Strauss and Livingstone airstrips. The emplacement is located on the side of the Stuart Highway south of Noonamah and is essentially intact. It is a significant example of a site that provided important defences in the area during World War II.
North of Adelaide River is the fourth site to be heritage-listed, the Pell Airfield RAAF engineering workshop. Pell was established as an RAAF aircraft Repair and Salvage Unit facility. The airstrip was named in honour of Major Floyd J Pell, who was killed during the first Japanese attack on Darwin on 19 February 1942. Today, the remaining camp, workshop areas and taxiways are relatively intact, and combine to present a significant representation of the activities of the unit that saw none of the glamour of the operational flying unit but was instrumental in the salvage, repair and return to operational service of a range of allied aircraft involved in the defence of Australia.
Darwin is unique. No other part of Australia played such a significant role in World War II. No other part of Australia suffered the deaths and destruction that Darwin did. Heritage listing these sites will ensure our history and our appreciation of those who served is both recognised and preserved.
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): Madam Speaker, I thank the minister for her report this morning. It is extremely important to ensure World War II sites throughout the Northern Territory are maintained. They attract much attention from tourists. There are many people who have come back to check on those World War II sites and to be reminded or reflect on their family members who served here.
There may be something that the minister might like to take on board. There were huge posters done of World War II military sites. They were massive posters with a lot of description on both sides. I have a couple of very faded ones which I have laminated and placed in the window of my electorate office. I can assure you they attract much attention. I cannot believe the number of tourists who have come in and asked me where they can buy them. It is really important that we make those available for our tourists and for those people who want to keep a record of the World War II heritage sites. I am reminded of many of those sites on my drive from Katherine to Darwin.
I am also disappointed that the new military museum is not going to be located at East Point. I believe that was the perfect opportunity to have it strategically placed in an area that is so clearly identified as very important to the Top End. It is also the first place struck by bombs during the war. I am disappointed that that has not been taken on board.
The Bombing of Darwin commemoration ceremony each year certainly brings back to us just how close Darwin was to World War II activities. I welcome the minister’s report and hope that you get some of those posters done, because they would be really welcomed and very much appreciated.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I welcome the minister’s report on the World War II sites. It is also important to emphasise that it is not just Darwin; it is really the Northern Territory because there are World War II sites from one end to the other. There needs to be an emphasis that it is not just about Darwin, it is about further down the track.
I welcome the inclusion of the 17 Mile camp site. I presume that is the camp near the bow hunters’ area. There is quite substantial development in that area and most people would not know it is there. It is overgrown, but it is a significant site. I also am pleased about the antiaircraft establishment at the Strauss Airstrip. It is not actually close to the airstrip; it is on private land. The minister may, in her reply, say what problems that may create for people accessing that site since it is on private land.
I have spoken here many times before about the importance that these World War II sites have, from an economic, tourism, and historic point of view, and also educational for all Australians, especially young Australians learning about their history.
I also want to comment on the World War II museum. Chief Minister, you said the other day on Top-FM radio that you had decided that the World War II museum would be placed adjacent to this building. I believed there would be public discussion in relation to that. I do not believe it is the appropriate site; not because I am against the World War II museum, but because it will destroy the balance and symmetry of this building along with the Supreme Court. There are other options. I hope that the government would be good enough to not make this site a definite site. There are options for East Point and also at the end of Mitchell Street on the old hospital site where you could look down Mitchell Street and look at the museum, which would be close to Larrakeyah Barracks. It would still be part of the World War II trail. However, to put it near Parliament House would destroy the beauty of this building ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, your time has expired.
Scientists in Schools Initiatives
Mr VATSKALIS (Business and Economic Development): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to report on the implementation in the Northern Territory of a new initiative inspiring primary and secondary school students to pursue careers in science and engineering. The initiative is sponsored by the Australian government’s Department of Education, Science and Training and the Canberra-based CSIRO Education Group, which is managing the national roll-out of the program. The aim is to get scientists to form partnerships with schools and to inspire students through fun and information activities.
The Northern Territory was informed at the end of July 2007 of the new initiative in a letter from Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Jim Peacock, to my Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development and the Department of Employment, Education and Training, plus the Chair of the Northern Territory Research and Innovation Board, Charles Darwin University, and a range of other organisations.
The letter requested the recipients in each jurisdiction circulate the website address for Scientists in Schools and make a personal approach to particularly dynamic and passionate scientists, engineers and teachers to encourage registrations on the National Scientists in Schools website. This way, hopefully, at least 100 scientists nationwide will be partnered with 100 schools in the three weeks leading up to the 2007 National Science Week from 18 to 26 August.
To meet this goal, the Department of Education, Science and Training had hoped that the Northern Territory could establish at least three partnerships between scientists and schools. However, one week out from National Science Week, only one partnership had been established in the Northern Territory. This prompted Dr Peacock to contact my department and ask for assistance and, within one week, my department was able to get three more scientists and one engineer to come on board.
Ecologists from the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts and CSIRO gave presentations to a Year 8 science class at Taminmin High School, Humpty Doo, about their research and how they got into science as a career. Marine Ecologists from DBERD, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and Northern Australia Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance gave presentations to two Year 11 marine biology classes at Taminmin High School. An ex-Marine Ecologist from DBERD ran a marine biology activity in a Year 6/7 class at Parap Primary School involving a short lecture on squid, octopuses, mussels and molluscs followed by a series of student dissections of mollusc seafood specimens acquired from a local fish shop. CDU provided dissection equipment, models, museum specimens and microscopes.
In short, this very successful activity has been sponsored by the Department of Education, Science and Training to participate in a symposium at the end of October in Newcastle. At the end of September, six scientists and 13 teachers from 11 Territory schools were registered with the program. All 11 schools are Northern Territory government schools with one in Alice Springs, one at Alyangula, four in the Darwin or outer Darwin region, one in Jabiru, two in Katherine, one at Maningrida, and one in Tennant Creek.
I would like to mention the Maningrida Community Education Centre in particular because the science teacher at that school, Mr Mason Scholes, recently took out one of the most prestigious national awards offered to science teachers, the 2007 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Science Teaching. Mr Scholes received a $10 000 prize in recognition of his very successful Year 11 and 12 Contemporary Issues in Science program which combines traditional knowledge with more traditional Western science to tackle critical issues. Congratulations to Mr Scholes on his Eureka Prize.
From all the registrations, four teachers and scientists have been partnered with teachers at school. However, we still have seven schools registered which have not been matched with scientists and two registered scientists who have not been matched with a school, because schools decided they have to have common interests. DBERD, DEET and CDU are working hard to establish more partnerships and matches. DBERD has an active interest in this initiative, because growing our own Northern Territory-based scientists will help grow the Northern Territory knowledge economy. Other Northern Territory government agencies, such as CDU and DEET, also stand to benefit from having homegrown scientists to take up employment with them. DBERD will continue to liaise with the Northern Territory government agencies to continue and expand this program in the Northern Territory.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, we welcome the report.
Reports noted pursuant to standing orders.
BAIL AMENDMENT BILL
(Serial 107)
(Serial 107)
Continued from 23 August 2007.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, this legislation is supported for obvious reasons. The opposition has spoken about the need for this, not just in this term, but in the last term, if my memory serves me correctly. There are, however, a couple of issues that I would like the Attorney-General to address in his reply. I asked the Clerk to provide me with a copy of the Criminal Code because my computer was down and I could not access it. I came back into the Chamber to see that it is unplugged, so I am not sure what is happening with it.
In any event, I preface my comments by saying that I have a hard copy of the Criminal Code but, on the basis of a phone call I have just made, I am not sure that it is entirely up to date. I refer you, Attorney-General, to section 132 of the Code. In the copy I have, it provides for imprisonment for five years. It may be - and I am unable to check - that this has been amended so that the five-year term of imprisonment no longer exists. If that is the case, can you confirm that? If it is not the case, then it appears that there will be offences of a sexual nature which do not satisfy the seven-year threshold contained in the bill. If that is the case, then I am really compelled to ask: why is section 132 of the Code not contemplated or provided for in the Bail Amendment Act? I am sure you will appreciate where I am coming from. Both in the bill and in the second reading speech, there are references to ‘a serious sexual offence’. On the basis of this hard copy I have of the Criminal Code, for indecent dealing with child under 16 years - which people would be hard pressed to argue is anything other than serious - it does not appear to be covered by the bill.
Having dealt with that, I refer you to section 188, the common assault provision. Section 188(2)(k), again in my hard copy, refers to an indecent assault. Some would say that an indecent assault should fall within a definition of a serious sexual offence. The Attorney-General may well take the view that this amounts to a small ‘p’ political discussion, or perhaps a philosophical discussion about what is a serious sexual offence. In any event, I make the point that in relation to this copy of section 188 of the Criminal Code, the term of imprisonment is five years. That, again, does not satisfy the seven-year threshold that is provided for in the bill. If that is the case, can the Attorney-General say on the Parliamentary Record whether he regards indecent assaults as serious sexual offences? I am very interested to hear the Attorney-General’s response to that question.
Third, I would be grateful if he would advise whether matters that can be dealt with summarily are provided for in this bill. It follows that, where the bill prescribes that in relation to various offences where there is a seven years or more penalty, it speaks for itself so that if, as is the case in various sections of the Criminal Code, it provides a penalty - let us say seven years - then there will be a comma and it will say: ‘or two years if dealt with summarily’.
Can the Attorney-General say, for the sake of the Parliamentary Record, whether matters that can be dealt with summarily can still fall within the provisions of this bill? I am sure that he would not like to see a situation where, for instance, a sexual offence has a prescribed period of imprisonment of seven years, but it can be dealt with summarily, thereby having a period of imprisonment of two years and, therefore, it does not fall within the act, therefore, the intention of the act will not apply if a defendant, through his lawyer, will say: ‘I am happy for the matter to be dealt with in the Magistrates Court’.
There is one other additional point. I was not able to find a reference- and if there is one and I have missed it then I would be happy for him to refer to it. The bill, as I understand it, is silent on subsequent offences. Clearly, there are a number of matters prescribed in the assessment of risk that magistrates will take into account. For instance, it refers to: risk of violence or intimidation, the risk of harassment, the court will take into account the child’s age, the age of the accused, and so on. I wondered why a specific reference to an offender who has come back to the court - in other words, is there on a subsequent offence – should be something that is deserving of a specific reference in the bill. Put simply, we would all hate to see a situation where a persistent offender commits offences for which the period of imprisonment is less than seven years, and goes to court again and again. In that situation, this bill will not apply to him. I would grateful for his response to that issue.
Finally, in relation to clause 7(6) of the bill, it states:
- If an alleged victim expresses concern to the prosecutor that the release of the accused person on bail could lead to a risk to the alleged victim’s safety or welfare, the prosecutor must, wherever practicable, inform the authorised member or court about that concern and the reasons for it.
Can the Attorney-General advise whether it is contemplated that one of two things might occur as a result of that subsection? First, a written statement from a victim based on, let us say, a victim impact statement, dealing specifically with the victim’s views to be taken into account. Second, whether it is foreseeable that, whereas it seems to be the intention that a victim says to the prosecutor, ‘Here are my views’, and the prosecutor from the Bar Table puts them forward, might it be the case that the defence might say: ‘We are not happy about accepting that submission from the Bar Table. We want the victim to be put in the witness box and to be examined and cross-examined as to what that victim alleges regarding his or her safety or welfare’. If that is an effect of this clause, then I do not believe it is a very good one. I would like to think that it was not contemplated by those drafting the bill.
Having said that, the bill is supportable and is worthy of support, notwithstanding those matters I have raised. With those comments I will conclude and I look forward to your response.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Madam Speaker, the Attorney-General knows that I support this bill, particularly because reflects very much the amendment I introduced in November last year, which the government said they supported in principle but, in fact, preferred to go it alone and draft their own amendment and make it broader than what I had actually introduced.
In saying that, I am pleased that the Attorney-General has introduced this amendment because I believe it does make sense, even though there are a couple of queries I have with it. I certainly recall the Attorney-General saying in response to my bill:
- In short, while we will not support this particular bill, we certainly support its intent and the government recognises the work of the member for Braitling in sponsoring it. I look forward to her support when government introduces its own planned amendments bill to the Bail Act.
It was interesting, in February this year, when the Attorney-General wrote to me and provided me with a response on statistics. His letter stated 70% of persons accused with selected sexual offences were granted bail in 2004 compared to 58% in 2006. Although there was an indication that there was a drop in the particular bail allowed, it is still not good enough, in my opinion. The provisions that are set out in this act are much stronger than we have at the moment, and I am pleased to see that.
Attorney-General, there are some queries that I would like to raise with you. Clause 4 states that a definition of ‘child’ means a person under the age of 18 years and, yet, in clause 5, which inserts proposed new section 3A(2)(a) and (b), it refers to a child under the age of 16. It says:
- (2) The following offences are also serious sexual offences (even though a lesser maximum penalty may be prescribed):
Attorney-General, why do we have that inconsistency in age? If you, in your definitions, say a child is someone under the age 18 why, then, in proposed section 3A are you talking about a child under the age of 16? Surely, a child who is 16 or 17 should be given just as much protection as defined. Perhaps you can clarify for me why there is that inconsistency in age and why it should not apply in section 3A as well.
Proposed section 3A(1) also states that a serious sexual offence is a Territory sexual offence or a Commonwealth sexual offence for which a maximum penalty of imprisonment for seven years or more is prescribed. Yet, proposed section 3A(2) refers to a lesser maximum penalty being prescribed. Again, why the inconsistency? Surely, the maximum penalties should apply on all occasions. As far as I am concerned, a serious sexual offence as defined in this act is a serious sexual offence. Perhaps you could explain to me why there is that variation in penalty. I would like you to clarify those two points.
Also, my bill inserted a new section on transitional matters, if you recall. I refer you to what I said:
- … the bill inserts a new section of transitional matters. The presumption against bail for serious sexual offences will apply retrospectively for an alleged serious sexual offence committed before the commencement of the new act. This will not apply to the accused person who is granted bail for such an offence prior to the commencement of the new act. However, it will apply if that person’s bail is up for review after the commencement date, as new provisions will apply.
Could you explain to me exactly why you have not put in that transitional section? Would it not make sense that someone whose bail is to be reviewed after this act commences should come under this act? There is no reference at all to offences committed prior to the commencement of this act. Is there any reason you have not made this transitional provision? Please feel free to adopt or incorporate my provision into your act. I am more than happy for you to take it on.
The Attorney-General acknowledged that not everyone in the legal profession supported this change and, likewise, I had similar feedback. The Attorney-General said in the second reading speech:
- I acknowledge that the policy decisions reflected in the bill are contentious and do not have the support of everyone within the legal profession. It is not a step I take lightly, but the government has made a deliberate decision to put the protection of women and children first.
That probably sums it up very well, but I also have received objections from sections of the legal profession. The dilemma for me is to understand why people in the legal profession would not see that victims have priority over alleged offenders. However, I guess that is part of their job.
There is also support in the broader community for what I had introduced, and I will be getting back to those people who wrote to me. Just to give you an example of some of the letters that came to me, I cannot forget this one because it is very relevant:
- … I am a 29-year-old mother of three who struggles with life every day due to the effects of sexual abuse. I am one of the many victims whose life will never recover from the trauma of a shattered childhood. Not only do I live with memories, the shame, the effects of my abuse, but I also have to deal with the fact that my offender was never made to face trial due to him being granted bail. He was granted bail to another state, never to return for trial - never to answer for anything he did to me. I pay every day, not him!
That was a handwritten letter from a victim. Most of all, we feel as though we should be protecting victims as much as we can. I notice that you do have many conditions for the bail to be given, and it is important that we understand that.
It is interesting to note that, with the intervention from the federal government - and I do not know whether it is true but there seems to be rumours out there that, so far, there have been no new cases of child abuse reported since the intervention. I would like to know whether that is true, Attorney-General. I know it has nothing to do with your bill but it is something that we need to know: what is actually coming out of this intervention and are there fewer cases of child abuse? It would be gratifying to know if that is so. I believe we would all be very pleased to know but I am unsure of that.
Attorney-General, I thank you for introducing this bill. Politically, from my point of view, it is an indication that Independents can influence government, and that is good. It is something that we need to ensure that people in the community understand. I take heart in that this is not a political stunt. It is not even a party stunt; it is, in fact, a people-driven amendment. I say that not lightly. It is not political, not party, but people-driven, and that is what is most important for the people, the victims, and young children in the Territory.
Madam Speaker, there is much more I could say. However, I have great satisfaction in knowing that you have introduced this amendment, knowing that it was something that may have been inspired by the fact that I introduced it to this House. Sometimes, Independents get a little frustrated that they have the good ideas and they are not always accepted by government. In this case, although you knocked back what I did, you have given us a better amendment in the long run. That is what is important for the victims within our community.
Attorney-General, I ask you to clarify those questions I asked about the age, inconsistency in maximum penalties, and whether you have considered the transitional matters that I put into my bill.
Madam Speaker, I support the bill.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Family and Community Services): Madam Speaker, I strongly support passage of the Bail Amendment Bill. In supporting this bill, I am well aware that some legal commentators would have misgivings as it is believed the removal of the presumption of bail might lead to the erosion of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. This is an important concern, one which we take seriously and one which I will discuss shortly.
However, I take as a basic precept that the most vulnerable members of society deserve the full protection of the law. The introduction of the conditions reversing the current presumption of bail in relation to a person charged with a serious sexual offence will provide a clear message that society will not accept violence against the vulnerable in our communities.
The Little Children Are Sacred report of the Northern Territory’s Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse recommended that the Bail Act be amended to include a new subsection which provides that, where the alleged offence is a sexual offence against a child, the court take into consideration the protection and welfare of the child when considering bail.
Sexual abuse against women and children in remote communities is often left unreported or is grossly under-reported. This may be for many reasons. However, once an alleged offender has been charged and bail is set, if the person returns to the community, there is potential for the women and children to be at risk of further harm and violence. Not granting the alleged offender bail will reinforce the abhorrence felt by society in relation to sexual offending, and provide safety to the abused persons from the actions of their alleged abuser. If women and children are aware that a person charged with committing violent sexual crimes against them has not been released on bail, it may encourage more people to make reports. In addition, if an alleged offender knows that they might not be released on bail, this may inhibit any further offending behaviour.
It is important to note that removing the presumption of bail does not mean that bail cannot be granted where a judge feels it is appropriate. To put it simply, the amendments proposed remove the presumption of bail, but they do not remove discretion from the judiciary. The amendments do not threaten the presumption of innocence. Presumptions against bail already exist under section 7A. Today’s amendments to the bill extend that section to include serious sexual offences. There is no evidence that the existing elements in section 7A have eroded the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, nor will it be the case under these amendments.
Amendments to section 24 of the act specifically require the court to consider the risk to the safety or welfare of the alleged victim, his or her close relative, and any other person who could be at risk given the circumstances of the case. Where the victim is a child, the court is also required to consider the risk posed to any care giver where that person is not the child’s close relative. This extends power under current legislation which does not specifically define serious sexual offences to mean those committed on children. Recommendation 35 of the Little Children Are Sacred report was drawn from submissions made to amend the Bail Act to be explicit in the mention of serious sexual offences against children. The report notes that the presumption against bail for certain offences is contained in section 7A of the Bail Act. Specified offences include murder and some other serious offences. They do not necessarily include serious sexual offences against children, although they may do if other criteria are satisfied. The report went on to mention that while incarceration may not be a preferred option for some, the message to offenders in the community needs to reflect the seriousness of the offence and the community’s view of this type of offending.
Amendments to section 24 require the court or authorised member to take into account, amongst other things, the age of the child and the accused person, the proposed living arrangements for the child and the accused person, and the desirability of preserving the child’s living arrangements and family and community relationships.
In many instances, the court is unable to convict an accused sexual offender owing to lack of evidence. Often the victim’s and witness testimony is not forthcoming once a court appearance date arrives. It is believed to be in many instances as a result of the accused and the accused family’s influence on the victim and the witnesses in the period leading up to court hearings.
Although this is not a complete solution to this issue, amendment to section 24 will require the court to consider the risk of the accused person interfering with evidence, witnesses or jurors. Where it is evident that this has occurred in the past, a judge will be able to remand the accused in custody to reduce the risk of tampering occurring.
However, I point out that the potential removal of bail is not the only intention required to protect and support the victims of sexual assault. The impact of sexual violence on survivors is the most traumatic and life-altering experience. It is, therefore, essential that interventions and programs be implemented to assist survivors and their families. Some of those interventions and changes will have short-term impact. Others must be generational changes, as outlined in this government’s Closing the Gap initiative.
Over the next five years, this will include the establishment of a Children’s Commissioner from January 2008 at a cost of $1.6m. The Children’s Commissioner will be able to monitor the operations and administration of the Care and Protection of Children Act; review and monitor the child protection and out-of-home care systems in the Northern Territory; advocate for and advise about services to children in the child protection system; investigate complaints regarding protected children; promote a child-safe environment; monitor the implementation of the child protection actions in Closing the Gap; and response to the inquiry.
Other initiatives which will flow from this year’s passing of the new Care and Protection of Children Act will include: recruitment of 10 additional child protection and family support workers at a cost of $6.8m; provision of a residential care unit for young people at risk, and establishment of a specialist therapeutic service team at a cost of $10.2m, provision of additional care and case management for children in care at a cost of $8.8m, and the establishment of a network of Aboriginal child protection and care services at a cost of $10.15m. This network will operate in partnership with FACS in responding to child abuse and neglect, and will provide advice on investigating child abuse and neglect, and on caring for children in ways that respect cultural authority.
We also intend extending the sexual assault referral centres to provide crisis support to victims of sexual abuse at a cost of $6.3m. The focus is on providing an integrated medical and counselling response to child and adult victims of sexual assault, with an emphasis on requirements of remote indigenous communities. This will include expanding the Darwin, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek Sexual Assault Referral Centres; establishing, for the first time, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Katherine; providing 12 additional counsellors, including some Aboriginal sexual assault workers; coordinating integrated responses to counselling, medical intervention and immediate therapy; providing ongoing advice and support to Family and Children’s Services health centres and police; and providing community education and professional consultation services.
Crucially, we will expand the child abuse task force, including an additional 23 FACS staff, 24 police and specialist child interviewers, to investigate the most serious and complex cases of child sexual abuse at a cost of $29.04m. The Building Healthier Communities framework 2004 to 2009 identified the need to strengthen families in communities. It is recognised that strong families in communities are better able to face and overcome many of the challenges facing them, including substance abuse, sexual abuse, domestic and family violence, and a lack of education. For families in communities to be strong, they must be able to grow and develop in an environment that is safe, strong and free from violence and crime.
Madam Speaker, giving kids a good start in life identifies the need to assist families facing serious problems such as violence, substance abuse, homelessness and crime. To meet this goal, FACS, in partnership with other government and non-government partners, has initiated programs and strategies aimed at preventing and protecting families and children from violence and abuse. It is critical that we ensure that the community is protected against serious sexual violence. The proposed amendments to the Bail Act will go part way to assist government in achieving this goal by providing a clear message that serious sexual violence will not be tolerated and the law will protect the victim. I support the amendment.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I also support the bill. I do so for two reasons. One is that it is a very important bill that protects people who, possibly, could be the victims of more serious crime, especially in relation to sexual offences. I also support it because the member for Braitling brought this forward some time ago after doing a lot of hard work and investigation into what solutions we could find for this issue. She should be mentioned during the debate in this bill. I noticed in the second reading of this bill that the member for Braitling’s name was not mentioned. However, there is no doubt that, when the member for Braitling presented this bill originally, it prompted the government to do something about this issue. She should be thanked for the hard work that she has done in bringing this matter to the parliament.
My words on this bill will, basically, be the same as I said when the member for Braitling presented her bill. This bill does not presume someone is guilty or innocent, but it does allow a court to take into account the wishes of this parliament. It gives the court the opportunity, in the context of the act, to weigh up the possible effects of the accused being allowed back into his or her community or the wider community. It will allow the court to weigh this against the fear and violence that some in the community may have to endure if the accused is allowed out on bail. It will allow time for the community to have some breathing space and, of course, it gives the court the right to grant bail.
As the member for Braitling said, and the minister in the second reading, they acknowledge that policy decisions reflected in this bill are contentious and do not have the support of everyone within the legal profession. My comment on that is I ask those who oppose the bill: is the crime of murder not much different from these serious sexual offences? Presently, the offences of murder, treason, and an offence against the Misuse of Drugs Act are punishable by a term of imprisonment for 10 years and, in some other offences, there is a presumption against bail in relation to those matters. Is the crime of murder not much different from these serious sexual offences? At least in the crime of murder the victim has no more pain to bear although, of course, there are other victims. The victims of sexual offences bear these scars for the rest of their lives. For that reason, is that not at least on a par with murder?
Once again, I thank the minister for presenting this legislation. I thank the member for Braitling for presenting it earlier. I know that she said that people may sometimes wonder about the influence of Independents; we may not get what we want immediately. However, I believe that we persevere and will nibble away at the government for as long as it takes, sometimes, to achieve outcomes, even if it is not under our name ...
Mr Stirling: Loraine still makes more sense than you do.
Mr WOOD: However, I still think it is important that Independents put forward these proposals to government, and I thank the member for Braitling for doing so. If the minister is a bit worried about the influence of Independents, then you only have to look at this bill of his because, basically, it is nearly a replica of what the member for Braitling presented some months ago.
Mr STIRLING (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I thank Leader of the Opposition, the member for Nelson, the member for Braitling particularly, and the member for Arafura for their contributions to debate and, most importantly, their support of the intention of this legislation.
The member for Nelson rightly pointed out that the member for Braitling is due acknowledgment, and I am not shy of making that acknowledgment clear. I have done publicly and I do so on the public record today. She was quick to put a version of legislation in and around the objectives of this legislation from which the government, I think, took the essence of the idea but, in turn, strengthened it and had a stronger outcome than, in fact, the federal government was seeking to achieve with similar legislation in their emergency package of legislation some time ago.
There are a number of points I want to raise before I get to the issues raised by members in debate. The reforms demonstrate again our ongoing commitment to protecting those most vulnerable members of our society from violence, particularly sexual crimes.
The bill amends the Bail Act to reverse the current presumption in favour of bail for a person charged with a serious sexual offence; requires the court to consider additional criteria, such as the protection of an alleged victim in deciding whether to grant bail and, in that sense, gives direct effect to Recommendation 35 of the Little Children are Sacred report. It is a practical measure in itself that will limit potential intimidation, harassment or further offences being committed against victims once they have found the courage to report a serious sexual crime. It complements government action to address domestic violence and alcohol-related crime in order to create safer communities for all Territorians no matter where they live.
The Little Children are Sacred report examined this issue of bail for serious sexual offences in detail, and it found widespread concern in the communities about the effect on a child victim of an alleged perpetrator being released back into the community. I agree with the report’s recommendation that courts require increased guidance in exercising their discretion under section 24, as to whether to grant or refuse bail.
We believed the government needed to go further to reverse the usual presumption in favour of bail where an accused is charged with a serious sexual offence. Put simply, under these amendments, the onus will be on the accused to demonstrate why he or she should be entitled to bail, and that the alleged victim will not be at risk of any harm.
There was extensive consultation with the legal profession, the judiciary, wider community groups, and I thank those who provided comment on the proposed amendments, including members of the judiciary, NAAJA, Legal Aid Commission, Law Society, Criminal Lawyers Association and Victims of Crime Northern Territory. I do not pretend that there was universal consensus agreement among all of those groups. In fact, some of those groups strongly opposed these proposed reforms. Others remain opposed; they have expressed concern that the reforms will lead to more accused people on remand, unfairly restrict an accused’s liberty and, in fact, that the amendments tip the balance too much in favour of the alleged victim.
Government has had to consider all of those views carefully but, ultimately, decided that when dealing with serious sexual offences the rights of victims have to be protected. I believe the legal system always has to balance the rights of the accused against the rights of the complainant. However, it is essential that a victim has the right to report a serious offence without being subject to potential harassment, intimidation or further offences.
We are conscious that reversing presumption of bail potentially increases the number of accused held on remand until trial. It is necessary for both victim and accused that these matters be finalised as quickly as possible. In 2005, government introduced time frames for the prosecution of sexual offences to fast-track these matters through the courts. An evaluation of this process shows in some areas they are working well, but there is still room for improvement. Our time frames are broadly in line with other jurisdictions: 45% to 50% of the matters are resolved in less than six months; 75% to 80% in under a year; 20% to 25% take longer than one year to finalise. However, adherence to these time frames is a priority for the Crime Victims Advisory Committee. I understand the committee has requested its DPP representative to raise the matter and, in turn, report to the next meeting on how to further streamline these trial processes. I commend the committee’s efforts in this area and will work to implement any recommendations coming forward.
I acknowledge, and do so again, the member for Braitling’s strong advocacy for reform in this area. Her private member’s bill demonstrated quite a similar goal to government’s priorities: to provide the best possible legal protection for victims of sexual and violent crimes. I thank her for her contribution to this process. I recognise her work in the bill before us today, and I believe she will be pleased with the outcome in legislation. She nods, which suggests that she welcomes this legislation in the form it is before us today.
Government considered that, because of the difficult considerations involved in reforming the bail law, it was first necessary to undertake extensive consultation with key legal stakeholders. It was also necessary to research interstate bail systems and take into account as well particularly Recommendation 35 of the Little Children are Sacred report. Because of that wider scope, I am confident the bill will prove to be comprehensive and effective. As well as simply reversing the presumption for bail, the bill alters section 24 to provide quite strong guidance to the bail authority. It applies to a broader range of serious sexual offences, and also even when the alleged offender has no previous convictions.
In relation to the Little Children are Sacred report, we have welcomed the findings of that report. We have used it as a basis to launch a much broader package of reforms to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Territorians. Of course, the Closing the Gap package itself provides a great deal of planning for new programs, support and protection - $286m over five years. The introduction of this bill was delayed to allow time to consider the report and recommendations. As a result, we amended the bill to give effect to Recommendation 35. We are committed to improving the way the justice system supports and protects the most vulnerable members of our community, and we will keep that foremost in our legislative responses in these areas.
Madam Speaker, I want to pick up each of the issues raised by members opposite, which were coming thick and fast. I believe, between us, we managed to get them all. The Leader of the Opposition was asking about section 132 of the Criminal Code and the five-year clause. I am advised, member for Araluen, the penalty of five years that you were reading in the Criminal Code is 10 to 14 years, depending on the age of the child. Therefore, it is clearly picked up in the bill with that penalty.
In relation to section 188, indecent assault not being covered, it is, in fact, covered. The indecent assault of a child under the age of 16 is picked up by the definition of serious sexual offence at proposed new section 3A(2)(b).
On the issue of matters dealt with summarily not being covered, it does apply to those offences in that the new clear considerations of section 24 have to be taken into account by the court. However, a summary offence itself is not subject to automatic reversal of presumption for bail. We believe that is the appropriate course; it is not something we do lightly or want to do in all cases. With the member for Araluen’s study of section 24 and the whole range of criteria under different headings that have to be taken into account in considering bail applications, they certainly present, I would have thought, a fairly steep hurdle over which to get in order to secure bail in charges of this nature.
In relation to serial offending not falling within the serious sexual offence, the courts now and in the future will take into account the likelihood or risk of future offending. It is specifically provided for in the current section 24 of the Bail Act. It is provided for in our proposed amendments to that section in this bill.
The member for Araluen was asking, further on from that, about a desire for the victim to be cross-examined in relation to these areas. Of course, the vulnerable witness legislation was passed at the previous sitting. Not exclusively, I would not think but, generally, people in this situation are going to fall into those vulnerable witness provisions. There is a great deal of protection offered for a vulnerable witness when it comes to whether they ought be cross-examined or there is opportunity to cross-examine.
The member for Braitling raised a couple of issues in relation to section 3A with the definition of child as 18 in the first place, and then defining the offence in section 3A as applying to children under 16. In relation to the area of under 16, they are those offences that attract a penalty of less than seven years under the current Criminal Code, therefore, it was necessary to pull them out and have them in this bill. When you look at the nature of those offences, you have to ask yourself, whether the under seven years is appropriate. In fact, ought they not command at least seven years, and perhaps even greater? It is a body of work that we do - ongoing revision of the Criminal Code - and when you make changes in some areas, of course, you have to look back at the effect of the balance of the weight of the sentence against a particular crime across the whole Criminal Code. That is work I believe will continue to be picked up. However, given that they do not rate seven years, it was necessary to list those in that under 16 section 3.
The definition of child under 18 is a standard one. It is contained in most legislation. Where it, in fact, is not there, this government has taken the opportunity to put that in legislation where relevant. Therefore, those offences in section 3A only apply in specific circumstances to children under 16, so we made that clear in defining the offences that they involve a child under 16.
As I said, it is our view that these offences are ones that the community, and certainly I - and I believe the member for Braitling would agree - would consider to be very serious and to occur in circumstances in which an alleged victim might seek the protection offered by this legislation. In relation to those penalties, I make the comment that we will be asking, and have asked, the department to review, in consideration of further reforms to the Criminal Code, those very penalties, and whether, in fact, under seven years is sufficient.
In relation to transitional provisions – again raised by the member for Braitling – it is our intention that any alleged offender who comes before the court on an application for bail will fall within the scope of this legislation. It will be the case, regardless of when that offence was alleged to have been committed. Therefore, in that sense, once this is in, it does not matter when the offence was committed, when it gets to court these provisions will apply - four weeks, five weeks from passage of this legislation.
With those comments, I believe I have rounded up each of the issues. Bear with me one minute. I have a couple of comments to make, which have been prepared for me, as I wait for further advice in relation to a point raised by the member for Araluen.
I also read in the Weekend Australian, member for Braitling, an update – The Australian has been very good in following the federal intervention in the Northern Territory. I assume you read the same article that no charges had yet been laid. It dealt with a pretty comprehensive interview with the Commissioner for Police saying that these things do not necessarily drop out on the first visit or the first round of contact and interaction. Sometimes, there needs to be further work for the visits in order to, I guess, gain the trust, understanding and confidence of the people - particularly children in this case - before some of that evidence might come forward. I do not know whether I am surprised that no charges have been laid yet. I understand that you have to patient.
I believe the strengthening of the Sexual Abuse Task Force will, in time, produce results. I certainly do not take any joy or comfort from the fact that, just because no charges are being laid yet, that does not mean there has not been, or there is not, abuse occurring in some of our communities. It is a body of work ongoing and an area that we need to stay tuned to.
I understand much preliminary work and time and effort went into Western Australia, particularly in the north, and we have seen a range of charges laid in and around Kalumburu and other communities over the last weeks and months. That did not happen just because police went there and started investigating; they were long-running investigations taking a great deal of effort and time. Why would we be any different, particularly when you are dealing with remote indigenous communities? It will be some time before we see the results of that work.
In relation to the cross-examination of the alleged victim, which I think the member for Araluen was seeking information on, and the new obligation on the DPP, the provision was borrowed from interstate. It was not that jurisdictions experienced that victims where placed on the stand. However, we have picked that up from interstate legislation.
Madam Speaker, with those comments, I thank members for their contributions and welcome their support of the bill and move that the bill be now read a second time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
Mr STIRLING (Justice and Attorney-General)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
MOTION
Note Statement – Tourism
Note Statement – Tourism
Continued from 30 August 2007.
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): Madam Speaker, I respond to the minister’s statement on tourism delivered during the August sittings. As you well know, tourism has been one of my great interests for many years, having been involved in the industry in various capacities in Katherine. I certainly recognise the value of tourism to the Territory and to the regional areas where economic benefit is so obvious during our peak tourist time, the Dry Season. It is of such value that, for as long as I have been aware, there have been all sorts of efforts through marketing campaigns and promotions trying to extend the shoulders of the Dry Season to encourage visitors to experience the Wet Season - or the green season, whatever it happens to be called at the time.
It has been a real challenge, and it will continue to be so. I personally love the Wet Season, except the humidity in the build-up, as it is one of the best times of the year. I love the rain, the electrical storms and the spectular display they put on in our skies. Mind you, I prefer being home or in a secure and comfortable place inside a building when the electrical storms are happening, and not out driving on the roads. However, I still enjoy the tropical Wet Season in the Top End.
Another phrase that is still heard amongst industry providers is ‘getting the visitors to stay one more day’. Getting them to stay one more day in regional areas in the Northern Territory makes such a difference. It is an ongoing challenge for everyone involved trying to come up with something that will deliver that magical longer stay. One of the challenges that I had when involved in the tourism industry, which we were with Red Gum Tourist Park in Katherine for 11 years, was getting the recognition for regional areas like Katherine, Tennant Creek and Borroloola. It seems to me that the focus is always on Darwin and, to a much lesser extent, Alice Springs.
There will be the argument from government that they love the regions and that they support them. However, when you look at what is actually being done in the regions throughout the Territory to promote this, it is in stark contrast to what has been promoted for Darwin. It is obvious to all that the magical Berrimah Line is still well and truly alive. It is pretty hard for the minister to deny this when you look at the statement he presented in the August sittings.
There is not one mention in that whole statement, minister, of the magical words Katherine or Tennant Creek - or Borroloola for that matter - or anything that is occurring outside of Darwin. With the exception of a vague mention of the Alice Springs Convention Centre and aviation activity involving, hopefully, Alice Springs as well - absolutely nothing for the other main regional towns. There is a vague mention of The Ghan which travels through the Northern Territory and brings many tourists, and those tourists are always extremely welcome.
This statement spent seven pages talking about the waterfront. As for aviation, the minister talked about regional airports and only discussed Alice Springs. That tells me loud and clear that airports other than Darwin and Alice Springs are not even considered regional now; they must come under the classification of remote. The airports I am referring to are Katherine, Tennant Creek and Borroloola. They are getting a good upgrade at Borroloola thanks to McArthur River Mine. The airports of Katherine and Tennant Creek do not even come into consideration.
Clearly, the minister lives in suburban Darwin and has no comprehension of what it is like to live without any available passenger air services within close proximity. You have a subheading in the statement, minister, under ‘Challenges and Future Outlook’. So what about the future? You talk about the successful Share our Story marketing campaigns. Can you tell me, minister, in your response, how has this benefited the regional towns of the Northern Territory outside of the major regional town which is Alice Springs? Have you marketed that Katherine, for instance, is centrally located to more parks than any other location in the Territory, including the fantastic Nitmiluk National Park, Gregory National Park, Keep River, and the Flora National Park, just to begin with.
In your statement, you said there was a focus on attracting more UK and European visitors to the Territory, who, and I quote: ‘… have a greater propensity to travel to a number of Territory regions and spend up big while they are here’. How will that happen? What marketing campaigns do you have in place to address ‘travel to a number of Territory regions’ and, more importantly, which regions are you referring to, or were you just making a general motherhood statement? I am interested to hear in your reply if there is any reference to regional areas outside of Darwin and Alice Springs being seriously promoted in this campaign.
Twice recently, when I have been talking to people interstate - and this happened to be in South Australia with young people in their 20s. When they asked me where I was from and I said Katherine in the Northern Territory, both of these young people asked me if there were any trees there or is there just red dirt? They were shocked to learn that Katherine is nowhere near the desert. That tells me that there is much more work to be done promoting the Northern Territory, and not just through tourism, but through the schools and education. I wonder what has happened to good old geography classes where kids did learn where the locations were throughout Australia and what was there? For these people in their 20s, born in Australia, to ask me if there are any trees, I was absolutely aghast. I had to remind them that we were actually above the level of Port Douglas, so what did they think we might have at Katherine and the Top End? We have millions of trees and it is as green as green. It gave them a bit of incentive to come and have a look. But it is something that is really bothering me; that kids are not learning the make-up of Australia.
Minister, you also included in your statement the well-known fact that tourism is a significant contributor to our economy, and it is important that we ensure it is sustainable over the longer term. The only way it is sustainable in regional areas is through the sheer guts and determination of the operators who have committed their all to their businesses in those areas. They work extremely long hours and go to extraordinary lengths to promote their business because they want to provide a great tourism experience and for their business to be profitable at the end of the day. They certainly do the hard yards and, in most cases, reap the rewards. Your statement has told Territorians, minister, that tourism growth is well and truly supported by government in Darwin, especially through the waterfront that the minister talked about for pages, and that regional Northern Territory can continue to struggle along itself, supported by the loyal operators who have committed financially to their businesses and who will, no doubt, continue to do their best to provide an experience that will leave tourists wanting to come back for more.
A good example of this occurred this last week with Maud Creek Country Lodge, which is located near Nitmiluk Gorge in Katherine. It is a great little place; it is a beautiful place for rest and recreation - quiet, with beautiful bird life; it is a beautiful place to visit. Some time ago, a gentleman made a brief visit to Katherine and liked what he saw and he wanted to bring his partner back to visit. He and his partner went into a travel agent in Ballarat, Victoria, to do the booking, which was for three nights at Maud Creek Country Lodge. The travel agent actively tried to discourage them from staying in Katherine for three nights. She could not see why they would want to do that. What on earth were they going to do for three nights in Katherine? This travel agent has highly likely never been to the Katherine region and was making a recommendation about something she knew nothing about. It was a perception that could have cost not only Maud Creek Country Lodge the additional nights, but the flow-on of tourist dollars to other attractions in and around Katherine.
It is just as well this couple were insistent that they wanted to stay three nights, and that is exactly what they did. They had a great time in a really lovely location with wonderful hosts, Jennie and Willem. They will go back to Ballarat and spread positive comments about their stay in Katherine. However, it bothers me that there are agents who are willingly and knowingly trying to discourage people from coming to the Northern Territory. I will make an effort to find out exactly where and who that agent was. We need to give them a little briefing and send them some information on what the Northern Territory is about, especially Katherine and the regional areas.
This brings me to another very concerning development in the tourism industry across the Northern Territory which, again, affects the regions. The Northern Territory Tourism Industry Strategic Plan 2008 - 2012 was released to the regional tourism associations about one week ago. The report provides recommendations of the AEC Group and is 117 pages long. The minister has said that industry has until 19 October to provide any final feedback on the report.
I read the report in a big hurry because I have only had it a few days myself. My first impression was that this is a typical report written by a consultant group out of the Territory who are unaware of what our conditions and challenges are within the Territory. My first impression of the report was that these people usually do consultancies in an area that is densely populated where there are not the same challenges that we have. Therefore, I believe their recommendations have been made along those lines.
There is no doubt that, for several years, plans have been in place to remove the marketing of the regional tourism associations, especially from Katherine to Darwin and Tennant Creek to Alice Springs. Having only two RTAs has been on this government’s agenda for the years that it has been in government. The handing over of Tourist Information Services in Katherine two years ago to the Katherine Town Council with marketing operating independently was the beginning of the changes that this government wants to implement, especially for Katherine and Tennant Creek. The merging of Tourism NT under the DBERD banner was also a pretty good indicator that the two smaller RTAs were going to have to fight to retain their identity. That is exactly what this report is suggesting – get rid of them. One of the recommendations is that the super RTAs of Darwin and Alice Springs taking on the responsibility for marketing the whole of the regional areas throughout the Northern Territory.
Please excuse my scepticism. I have been involved in the industry for too long and know how little happens for the likes of Katherine unless we are out there pushing the region ourselves. Sceptical I am, with the millions of additional dollars that have been pumped into tourism over the past couple of years – and I welcome that injection and support it - can the minister honestly tell me how much of that was spent on the Katherine region and the Barkly region? The figure will be interesting in context of the additional funding government has injected for marketing. I know that Katherine did not get any additional funding.
In addition to that, you are now considering taking away the only tourism marketing that is based locally in Katherine - another typical example of centralising above that darned Berrimah Line. And you can sit in this House and say that your government truly supports regional development? This report suggests, under the heading of alternative RTA models, and I quote from page 93:
- Far greater economies of scale can be achieved through the amalgamation of the RTAs or, ideally, the establishment of one membership driven tourism body to undertake regional marketing activities and work professionally with government to identify and resolve issues facing the tourism industry.
I am again asking the minister: how can you possibly support an even bigger department located in Darwin and Alice Springs, or if you accept Option 3 to transfer all marketing responsibilities to Tourism NT - a super department in Darwin, employing more people to carry out the work, to the detriment of the smaller regional areas. It is another slap in the face for employment and for families located in Katherine.
Also, Option 1 of this report suggested:
- Provide funding to one new tourism body to undertake regional marketing.
It went on to say:
- To effectively represent the diversity of the Territory, this body would need to employ staff in key regional areas.
Well, guess where they will be based? You can bet your bottom dollar they will not be in Katherine or Tennant Creek. I have not identified anywhere in this report where either of those two regional areas are considered key to this plan. We will have another layer of bureaucracy, but it will not be located below the Berrimah Line – you can bet your bottom dollar!
As this report says, ‘… to attract appropriately skilled senior personnel …’, you can also bet your bottom dollar they will come at a high cost. I can only be cynical to suggest that this will be cost shifting from RTAs to another newly-formed tourism body. Why would you take that recommendation on board when you already make the necessary changes to the RTAs as they stand now? I know why; because you just want to get rid of them.
Operators in regional areas give up their time to be part of the decision-making on RTA executives, and it is important they continue to have a say in how their businesses should be promoted. You do not think for a minute that any of them would do anything that is detrimental to their investment, do you? Or to the detriment of the region? Hardly. It is not in their best interests, so they would not do it.
Other comments in the report referring to attendance at travel and consumer shows may be reduced, certainly needs a response. How many people sitting in this Assembly today have been to an interstate trade and consumer show and have actually stood there - thank you very much, member for Johnston, you have been there, and I do believe the advisor may have been there, and I certainly have. It is darn hard work. It is really hard work. I have been to these on several occasions when I was in the tourism industry, and when I was Chairman of the KRTA. I love talking to people about the Territory, but it is an exhausting experience. You start early in the morning and you are likely not to have a break, as there may be only one or two of you on the stand.
You start getting wound up and you just cannot talk about your own location; you have to talk about every aspect of arriving in the Territory. Then, you lead the consumer who has come to your stand through the Territory. By the time you get home at night, you are absolutely exhausted with feet and legs aching, and you know that you have done your absolute best to promote the Territory. Only people with passion should go to the trade and consumer shows. People with a sincere passion about the region and about what they are talking about, need to go to those shows because there is nothing worse than a deadpan-faced person at a stand talking to their mate about what happened last night, and where they are going to have dinner tomorrow night. People will be attracted to a person who is smiling and enthusiastic about their product. That has been proven over and over again. Fortunately, over the time I was involved in the Katherine region, we always had passionate staff attending these shows. I am very much against that being reduced - very much. It will be a sad and sorry day if the minister makes a decision to cut back on the support staff attending these shows. I am referring to the shows where tens of thousands of people visit. I daresay there always will need to be a person who has absolute passion for it.
I also note that Visitor Information Services is slowly being handed to local government, which we have already seen in Katherine. It is becoming increasingly evident that local government is shouldering more and more responsibility as time goes by. Page 95 of the report has strategies …
Mr Henderson: You are going really well at the moment. They have doubled the bookings. Doubled - 100% increase in bookings. Doing a great job.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mrs MILLER: You have your turn in a minute. … listed to achieve the partnership outcomes with page 96 of the report heading, ‘What does this mean for the operator on the ground?’ I have more questions than answers to that. How will there be less duplication of services? How will there be better relationships with local groups and councils? Funding for the promotion of the RTAs and Visitor Information Services still have to be administered by someone somewhere. Believe me, it cannot be absorbed, so to speak, by the departments that are there now. It will require additional staff to do that.
As I said before, you can bet your bottom dollar that there is no intent to support the smaller operators in the regional areas. It is all about the big end of the market in the Top End …
Mr Henderson: Rubbish!
Mrs MILLER: … as your statement has clearly identified, minister, and that is Darwin.
Madam Speaker, I found the minister’s statement frustratingly barren for regional Northern Territory, and that is now being compounded by the report by the AEC Group.
Dr BURNS (Racing, Gaming and Licensing): Madam Speaker, I support the minister’s statement and I do so as Minister for Alcohol Policy and Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing. Those are key supporting elements of our tourism industry. As most members know, I was formerly Tourism Minister and fought hard for extra funding to go into tourism, particularly into marketing. There were particularly tough times in the tourism industry following 11 September and the downturn in the number of international tourists. Of course, the Territory, as a proportionate basis at that stage, enjoyed more international tourists visiting than other states and territories. It was pretty tough.
Basically, the extra marketing money, along with other factors was a crucial element in turning it around. I am glad to say that extra money is still being invested into our marketing – some extra $10m per year, which is very good. It has been wisely invested.
We have to acknowledge that we are living in a different era now. The Daryl Somers’ television ads were fantastic when they were on. It was all top of mind – ‘You will never, never know if you never, ever go’. People had that as top of mind. It was a very popular campaign and looked at with a lot of nostalgia by people in the tourism industry.
Now we have to compete against Internet marketing techniques. More and more, not only for international tourists, but also for the self-drive tourist market and all parts of the tourist market, the Internet is a crucial area. I was very interested to hear the member for Katherine talk about the importance of regional marketing. This brochure, Adventure NT, is dedicated to the Katherine region. I believe that quite a considerable number of these have been printed, some 60 000, covering the Katherine region right across to the Daly River, Victoria River, in and around the Katherine area, with some lovely stories about what you can do and see in the Katherine area.
Like the member for Katherine, I am aghast that an advisor would tell someone in country Victoria that there is not enough to do in the Katherine region for three days. I reckon there is plenty to do, and the Katherine region is a fantastic region for tourists. I have spent much time there with my family, not just as the former Tourism Minister or as a minister in other portfolio areas, but quality time with my family enjoying what the Katherine region has to offer. I know many Darwin people do the same. This is something that is put in to the self-drive market through magazines, etcetera, and also on the Internet.
The government is very keen on marketing our regions but it has to be done strategically and in new ways. It is my understanding, just talking to people in the Katherine - probably not as much as the member for Katherine – with the very strong feedback I get, is that the last season was a bumper season and people did very well. In fact, the couple of times I was in Katherine, everything was full and people were even having trouble getting fuel. There were great lines of cars and caravans waiting to get fuel, and all the caravan parks and other accommodation were full. Katherine has been doing well and that is due to a whole range of factors, not least of which is the marketing campaign the government has been investing in.
I know the member for Katherine was critical of some elements of the minister’s statement. She believed it was not focused enough on regional marketing, and she named some specifics. However, his statement was an overall strategic look at our marketing campaign. I am sure the minister will reply to many of the issues raised by the member for Katherine.
Given the Territory’s array of natural attractions, our wonderful warm climate, and the friendly, outgoing nature of Territorians, I believe we can all appreciate why tourism is such a growth industry. This government’s support for not only the national and international marketing of the Territory’s attractions but our major investment in infrastructure continues to play a vital role in the growth of the industry - and recent growth has been spectacular. As the Tourism Minister has already told the House, in the year to March 2007 we enjoyed a substantial increase in the number of nights domestic visitors spent in the Territory. Interstate visitors spent a total of 3.3 million nights in the Territory in the year to March 2007. This was a staggering increase of 25%.
Tourism was worth more that $1.5m to the Territory economy in the last year and was a leading contributor to the Territory’s jobs market. The health of the jobs market in the hospitality industry is directly affected by the health of the tourism market. In short, a healthy tourism market is good for the Territory.
The Carlton Draught Darwin Cup continues to be a major tourist draw card. There was a record crowd this year - about 20 000 in attendance - in August, with thousands of interstate visitors rubbing shoulders with the locals on the lawns of the Darwin Turf Club for the Territory’s biggest day of racing for the year. Obviously, the Darwin Cup has come a long way since it was first run in October 1956, when just four horses battled it out for the ₤260 purse on offer. Nowadays, the month-long carnival injects millions of dollars into our local economy. The carnival is a real winner for restaurateurs, hoteliers, transport companies, airlines and all those involved with the hospitality industry in the Top End in particular.
The government continues its strong support of the thoroughbred racing industry with $7.8m in direct support this financial year. Again, the government backed cup day through the provision of a free bus service. Something like 5500 people were bussed from the track at the end of the day, which is a great effort. Apart from the record crowd, TAB turnover on the day was up 9.3% and 1% on the cup itself. For the first time, total TAB turnover on Darwin races throughout the UNiTAB network exceeded $2m.
Apart from the interstate visitors who came to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Darwin Cup, the event attracts a significant number of visitors involved in the racing industry. This year, Licensing and Regulations issued bookmakers’ permits to 25 interstate bookmakers to stand at this year’s cup. The interstate bookmakers complemented the eight local bookmakers to ensure the large crowd was well catered for. Television coverage of the event, which this year extended to New Zealand, was a great promotion in itself for the event, but also for the Territory as a whole.
Another great attraction associated with the cup is the gala ball, which is held on the lawns of SKYCITY casino on the Saturday night before the big race. The ball continues to lure committed partygoers from interstate, many of whom are regulars at the event. I was there this year as part of the crowd to see Leo Sayer. I was there, along with 2900 other people, and it was a great night. I know why so many people continue returning to Darwin for the cup ball.
Darwin-based Sportingbet Australia brought in something like 260 clients to Darwin for the cup weekend. It is obvious why the Darwin Cup Carnival is such an important contributor to Territory tourism. As I said, the Darwin Cup Carnival provides a wonderful boost for the hospitality industry.
I recently attended the industry’s major awards event, the Restaurant and Catering Harbottle On-Premise Awards for Excellence, which celebrates the people and businesses that are moving the industry ahead across the Territory. The quality of our hospitality industry plays an important role in tourism, helping to raise the Territory’s profile across the nation. The awards night again confirmed to me that the Territory enjoys remarkably high-quality venues in our hospitality industry.
The industry is also a key employer. Of the almost 13 000 Territorians employed in the tourism industry overall, more than 3000 work in the tourism, hotel and hospitality industries. These people play a vital role in ensuring that our visitors’ stay is a memorable one. More than 340 000 Australians and more than 335 000 international visitors have come to the Territory in the year to March 2007, and many of these enjoy the hospitality on offer at establishments right across the Territory. Given the quality of our industry, I am confident that most will have had their stays enhanced by the experience.
To confirm the high standing of the local industry, last year, Cullen Bay’s La Beach restaurant won Best Speciality Cuisine at the national awards. Given the hugely competitive nature of the industry, that is an incredible achievement. Not only did the award ensure national exposure for the restaurant, but it was another reminder of the quality visitors can expect when they come to the Territory.
As the member for a Darwin seat, there are two projects currently evolving that genuinely excite me because I believe they will benefit the city of Darwin and the Territory tourism industry. The first of these projects is the waterfront development. This is a landmark development which will …
A member interjecting.
Mr Wood: Oh, come on.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, here we go. The opposition again! They just do not like the waterfront development.
Mr Henderson: They hate it.
Dr BURNS: They hate it!
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mrs Miller: Really sensitive ears!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Please continue, minister.
Dr BURNS: It is like a cross to a vampire, Madam Speaker.
Despite the criticism of this project we have heard in this House from members opposite, and is continuing today, it is heartening to see the waterfront development taking shape.
I took a trip down there not long ago. It is taking great shape and I have had feedback on it. When I go to the markets, people come up to me and say this is a fantastic development and they are really excited about it. It is a project that means real jobs during its construction phase and real jobs once it becomes operational.
This is a project which will have genuine and lasting benefits for tourism. The convention centre alone should generate nearly $200m in tourism revenue for the Territory in 20 years. It is a development that will do much to reinvigorate Darwin’s CBD. The waterfront precinct will be directly linked by a pedestrian walkway to the heart of downtown Darwin. With 800 new hotel rooms plus apartment-style accommodation, it will mean a real shot in the arm for our CBD. These 800 extra hotel rooms are going to be great news during our peak tourist season when events like the Darwin Cup Carnival and the V8s mean, at times, it is virtually impossible to get a room in the city.
It is not just businesses in the city that stand to benefit from the waterfront, as the hotels, restaurants and cafs will all need to be supplied. They will certainly benefit from this particular development. The prospect of more dining options on Darwin Harbour can only boost the city and the Territory’s tourism industry. As a local, I am certainly looking forward to spending time at the new restaurants and cafs and in the area in general.
The new cruise ship terminal associated with the development will also help elevate Darwin’s standing as a tourist destination. Darwin has hosted more than 30 large cruise ships, plus another 13 smaller cruise ships this year, and having a modern, dedicated arrival terminal will help attract even more vessels to the city in future.
The second project that I believe will be great news for locals and tourists alike is the world-class World War II museum, which has been earmarked in the area between Parliament House and Herbert Street. I noted the comments earlier today by some members questioning its location. My own personal view is it is a great location. By having it in the city, it will be more accessible to a greater number of people, and provide further support for those other wartime features and attractions such as the East Point Museum. For those who are interested to extend their knowledge and what there is to see, it will be a good starting point. It will boost numbers of visitors to venues such as the East Point and the Aviation Heritage Museum on the highway, as well as our own museum. I believe it is a great location; it will attract a lot of people. It will be a showcase. It will certainly complement State Square and areas surrounding, and also be an adjunct to the waterfront. I welcome its construction on that particular site.
Darwin has the potential to offer something unique in an Australian context with the World War II museum and associated Heritage Trail. There is no other city in Australia with a wartime heritage to match that of Darwin, and we should be moving to take greater advantage of that fact. There are so many tourists already travelling to Darwin who want to get a greater appreciation of the wartime history. What we have at present is good; however, I believe that many tourists are leaving the Top End feeling they did not get the World War II experience they were hoping for. Quite a few more are completely unaware, because it is not showcased as it should be. Most of Australia does not fully appreciate the vital role Darwin played in the defence of this nation during the World War II, and this museum will go a long way to filling in that detail.
I am very proud to support the minister’s statement on tourism. It is a vital industry for the Northern Territory, both in terms of our economy, and also employment. This is a government that has invested significant money in tourism. There has been restructuring of Tourism NT. There have been different ways of marketing. However, I also assure the member for Katherine that, when I was minister - and I am certain the current minister also knows - that the smaller operators in the Northern Territory are an important part of our tourism industry, and we certainly support them. We have supported them, we will continue to support them; I am sure they give many tourists a great experience. We have an industry with many parts, with many players. There are some fantastic people in the industry. I certainly agree with the member for Katherine; these are people that go the extra step and have done the hard yards. These are very sound business people with a great love of the Territory, a great love of its attractions, and a great love of the people of the Northern Territory.
Madam Speaker, I commend the statement to the House.
Debate suspended.
MOTION
Note Statement – Tourism
Note Statement – Tourism
Continued from earlier this day.
Mr WARREN (Goyder): Madam Speaker, the Martin Labor government believes that tourism is integral to our economic growth and prosperity. Unlike the CLP’s history of letting the tourism industry down, we believe that it is the future. Tourism currently contributes around 5% to our gross state product. In monetary terms, that is worth over $1.5bn to the NT economy. However, because it is a low input into the GSP, there is potential to increase that. I believe the Martin Labor government’s investment in tourism is most worthwhile, and we expect to take considerable dividends.
Historically, in the Territory, we have relied on our economic base, pretty much tied to the industrial sector. By increasing industries like tourism and other industry across the board, we can broaden our economic base and help continue the development of the Territory. That is the approach that the government has systematically taken across the board in its help for industry. This is part of it and I commend the minister for his most worthwhile speech on that element.
Our successful destination marketing campaigns are working. The successful Tourism NT brand name is hitting the target and it is very well recognised nationally and internationally. When I was in Brisbane last year, people were commenting on it, and mentioned it by name rather than just the NT tourism. Tourism NT is a brand name which is hitting the mark, and people recognise it. It is very simple but it clearly identifies the Territory.
The Tourism NT campaign is expanding, particularly for the shoulder season market, through our Share Our Story banner and promotions, which have been an across the board promotion, particularly in recent times. There is an area there called the shoulder market, which is the beginning and the end of the traditional tourism season. That is an area that we can expand into and extend that time so that we can capitalise on that. That is a nice place to start looking at new potential markets, and it is working. My understanding is that, over the two years that the Share Our Story strategy has been working, despite people from the opposition who have lambasted it, and some industry sectors were less than enthusiastic about it, it actually worked and has shown very high returns on investment. With the promotion of the shoulder season markets, I believe that helps to promote the industry in a competitive world.
Marketing is only one element of helping to develop our tourism industry. Equally as important is to deliver what visitors are expecting when they arrive. In other words, when they come here, they are expecting service levels, infrastructure and products, and they are critical to the whole package.
With service levels, people expect to have trained personnel here. When you look at what the NT Martin Labor government is doing in a whole raft of areas, one is encouraging people with the skills to the Territory. Not only that, it is looking at homegrown people, investing in their training through our VET and hospitality programs. We are bringing the service people up to the levels that are required for the tourism industry.
Infrastructure and products, as I mentioned before, are elements that are critical. It is no use bringing people here unless you have the facilities to house them, and facilities such as the convention centre where they can run their programs for the business sector, for example. Also, The Ghan itself is able to get people here, along with the airlines. The whole thing is an integrated package, and government can play a vital part in the whole aspect of that by not just promoting the marketing side of it, but also ensuring that we invest and help promote the infrastructure and service levels.
Of course, attracting investment in tourism is a key factor. I am led to believe that industry evidence shows that investment confidence in the Territory is strong and solid. You only have to look at the skyline around Darwin and Alice Springs at the moment, and you can see that investment is here. Of course, that is partly tied into the tourism industry. The private sector is showing confidence in the lead given by the government and is investing strongly in the Territory.
The Northern Territory’s competitive advantage lies, of course, in its natural and cultural assets. Most importantly, these occur on indigenous land, in jointly managed parks. Therefore, we need to ensure that we continue to foster the engagement of indigenous Territorians in our burgeoning tourism industry. An important aspect of this is that it offers indigenous Territorians and their communities the opportunities for sustainable employment and will, undoubtedly, be the cornerstone to creating a brighter future for indigenous communities and indigenous children.
We cannot emphasise too much the partnership potential of working with indigenous people throughout the Territory because, as I said, it creates sustainable and long-term employment. It creates employment in an area where they have the natural ability to promote, but they also have the understanding. We should not forget that people come to the Territory, not just to catch a barramundi – that is about second or third down the line. The real reason they come to the Territory is to experience the unique natural environment here but, more so, to go to a part of the world where you can engage with the indigenous community and get a cultural experience with indigenous Territorians. That is fantastic and we should be plugging that more and more.
Of course, today’s travellers use the Internet. I am told about 75% of NT business records they use the Internet when planning a holiday. That shows the sea change in the way people think about taking their holidays and the way they approach it is more sophisticated. We need to continue to bolster our online marketing capacity through our national website, travelnt.com, and our international visitor website, australianoutback.com. I believe the number of hits these sites are getting is far exceeding expectations and augurs well. We need to continue developing those sites and adding new aspects to them and keeping them updated; the Northern Territory government is very much on top of that. That is great news - people overseas do not have to go through a tourist travel agent. They can go online, like they are shopping online. They can go online and find out about the Territory. They can find it directly from us; they are not getting it second and third-hand. I believe the Internet is the way of the future, and I commend the government for looking at advancing that, nationally and internationally.
We need to continue to keep abreast of the highly competitive business tourism market. The waterfront development’s fabulous world-class convention centre and the new cruise ship terminal are excellent examples of how the Martin Labor government is committed to investing in tourism infrastructure.
The business market is very competitive, but we certainly have some natural advantages here, particularly, as I said before, with the engagement with natural aspects of our Territory lifestyle - the environment and the indigenous cultural aspects. After they have finished their business conventions, many people want to stay on for some time, so we can take advantage of that. You can include that in the packages of these business conventions. Also, once we have the convention centre open, what a fabulous place to be able to broadcast to the world, and how proud Territorians will be to be able to say: ‘You can come up here to our convention centre and, then, when you finish with Darwin, you can go to Alice Springs which has an equally fabulous convention centre’. We are really holistically marketing the Territory.
We can maintain our competitive advantage by using our uniqueness, and also the value-for-money experience for tourists. Let us not forget that there are many budget conscious backpackers and grey nomads who continually come to the Territory. We should be fostering their experiences as well. That is absolutely essential.
I am very proud of my electorate of Goyder and our outer Darwin rural area, which is well placed to take advantage of tourism in the Top End. My electorate of Goyder is the gateway - and I do not say that lightly - to Kakadu and Litchfield parks. The rural area has many places of interest. The rural area could be marketed, and I am sure will be marketed in future, as an accommodation destination for visitors to our parks. It has the potential to be a base for the budget conscious travellers, especially the grey nomads, because it is centrally located for Kakadu, Litchfield, Dundee, the Cox Peninsula, and the Pine Creek goldfields. It is only a very short drive from Palmerston, Darwin and the city’s highlights. It is quite central for those particular areas.
For people coming to the Territory, it is a long trip from Darwin to Kakadu, Pine Creek and Litchfield but, if you base yourself around the rural area, then you can be quite central. You can have quite interesting day trips and not have your whole day involved in travelling somewhere. One of the unfortunate things for the Territory is that we do have such a vast territory and there is a lot of time involved in travel. By basing yourselves around places like the rural area, you can facilitate access to many of other areas quite significantly. Getting around the rural area is made much easier because the roads are nice, easy driving roads for self-drive travellers and caravaners. They are quite easy to get around as most of them are sealed, so it is quite good to base yourself in that area.
We have a fantastic rural bus service servicing our rural area. On the new buses that come out there, particularly in the middle of the day, you can travel all the way out to Noonamah and Humpty Doo. It is just a connection with the Palmerston bus routes into Darwin for an absolutely fantastic day out. You can see the rural area and go and visit some of the hotels there.
With the self-drive car hire visitors, you do not have to drive very far to get to the rural area. If you want to visit some of the highlights there, it is not too far from Darwin and it is an easy drive.
Accommodation in the rural area is growing all the time. We have the traditional areas such as the Humpty Doo Hotel, the Noonamah Hotel, and the Litchfield Hotel. These are great places to rock up in the traditional Aussie style and have a counter lunch, a counter dinner, and a drink there – in moderation, of course – and share a story with the locals. There are plenty of locals who are only too willing to tell you some great stories; some of them true, some of them maybe garnished with a bit of local identity. You will certainly enjoy your time out there. Tourists are starting to find that out and are enjoying it. It is a traditional Australian, rural atmosphere.
We have a number of homestays; they are quite numerous now. More are coming before the DCA all the time. That is just local people and small businesses getting involved in the tourism industry. They are a great idea as people can enjoy some rural home hospitality.
We have several caravan parks and more at various stages of planning. There is one proposed that is near development stage at Humpty Doo. That will be a great facility, a really top line caravan park with cabins, very much well like The Palms just before you get to Palmerston ...
Ms Lawrie: FreeSpirit.
Mr WARREN: They changed that to FreeSpirit? Okay, FreeSpirit. That sounds a fantastic name change.
Historically, some places of interest in the rural area are the Southport township, which is one of the original townships in the rural area. It has a lot of history. There are some signs which tell you a little about the place, so you can read about the history. It was the original gateway to the goldfields and part of the early development of the greater Darwin region.
We have the fabulously named Humpty Doo. Everyone likes the name Humpty Doo. I will digress and tell an anecdotal story about an American chap who was coming to his retirement age and decided that he needed somewhere to live for the rest of his days. He looked through the Internet and called up all the exotic names he could find and he came across this place called Humpty Doo. In his American style, he said: ‘I have to live in this place called Humpty Doo’. He promptly sold up and moved to Humpty Doo. Unfortunately for him, the part of Humpty Doo he chose was about to be renamed Herbert, which is an historical name in the region. He had only been there six months and they renamed the part of Humpty Doo Herbert, because Humpty Doo was growing and you need to get the separate identity for that region. His reaction was: ‘God damn it! I travelled halfway around the world to come to this place called Humpty Doo and I am no sooner here and they change the name of it to Herbert’. He was little miffed at all that, but he gets on with life. He goes over to Humpty Doo and does his shopping, so he is proud of that.
We have the historical aspects of the Humpty Doo rice project and the Fogg Dam and things associated with that. That is just a handful. There are plenty more historical sites. There are World War II airstrips preserved along the Stuart Highway. We ensured that they are being preserved and there is more work going on. The minister this morning announced that there is more preservation of these sites, and the public have been urged to come forward and advise of more of these World War II heritage sites.
Just down the road from us at Adelaide River, we have the war cemetery. The proposed World War II museum adjacent to Parliament House is going to be great for the CBD. We are very conscious of our World War II history. This government is doing a lot towards promoting that because there is a particular section of tourists who are interested in that.
We have parks at Kakadu and Litchfield and the Litchfield loop road, which the government has invested highly in and significant dollars have been spent on. These areas have been opened up all the time to more tourists, which is great. The roads have been improved. Facilities out there are being improved all the time and the government is promoting that.
We have the Berry Springs Wildlife Park in my electorate which is a fantastic facility. Associated with that, but separate, is Window on the Wetlands and the Fogg Dam Nature Park. They are both fantastic places. Window on the Wetlands is a great facility. I took a group of politicians, as part of the Environment committee, out there a couple of weeks ago to have a look as a part of their trip to the Northern Territory. They were absolutely overwhelmed by the facility at Window on the Wetlands. Even in the Dry Season, it looks great. They got to experience a little of the presentation by the local Kenyon family as part of their engagement in Window on the Wetlands. They were really blown away by the presentation and were impressed by the style of presentation and the facility they went away with some great ideas. Some of them are planning to come back with their families after their business is finished.
Fogg Dam Nature Park is a very important research centre for amphibians, reptiles and monitoring the cane toad invasion into the Territory. A lot of research is done there, and the wildlife there is absolutely fantastic, particularly during the Dry Season. The sunsets are great and well known. That is an area we are investing in and it is certainly paying dividends as well. It is all within a very close proximity.
The Howard Springs and Berry Springs Nature Reserves in the rural area are well known to the locals, and used often by the locals. They are also becoming tourist attractions in their own right, and people are starting to enjoy them.
We have many tourism businesses in the rural area. The Didgeridoo Hut at the turn-off to the Arnhem Highway has traditional indigenous artists working on didgeridoos, paintings, and a whole range of cultural aspects and artifacts. They are selling them and making good money. It is developing a joint venture partnership. The Crocodile Farm on the Stuart Highway is great for tourism - everyone wants to see a crocodile when they come here. The Lakes Resort at Berry Springs is always quite popular, particularly with the locals. There are the Jumping Crocodile and Adelaide River Tours on the Adelaide River, and the Goat Island Resort on the Adelaide River is being developed quite nicely. I hear tourists are looking forward to getting out there as much as they can, and I have good reports from that.
We have always prided ourselves in improving our access to some of the best fishing in the Top End, and I believe it is important we acknowledge that. We are improving the boat ramps and access roads to them. It really does auger well that we have worked on these fishing facilities, because fishing is a big part of the Territory. It is a very strong point that I would like to talk some more about, but …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Goyder, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I move an extension of time of 10 minutes, pursuant to Standing Order 77, for the member for Goyder to conclude his remarks.
Motion agreed to.
Mr WARREN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The tourism story in the Northern Territory is a continuing and evolving story of growth and sustainable development. Thankfully, we have moved beyond the CLP days of picking winners. In those sad days, of course, we all remember the Dalway style of business investment. From listening to the input from the other side of the House, that mentality really has not changed. It is not about picking winners; it is about investing in the future of the industry.
I was listening to the member for Katherine and I was quite disappointed by her mish mash of CLP carping and whingeing that we have come to expect here. You would think there could be some reasonable input here. She mentioned the Berrimah Line, but gave scant regard to the south of the Berrimah Line. I happen to be a member for south of the Berrimah Line. I read and listened to the minister’s speech quite differently to what the member for Katherine said - and I am glad she has come back in the room because I do like to address a person personally. I was really disappointed, because it is not just about the Berrimah Line. What you have to understand is that Darwin is at the forefront of entry into the Northern Territory. People do come here and, as part of the whole package, we have to attract people to Darwin. It is not just about the rest of the Territory. It is a whole package we are going to sell. We are not about picking winners in Katherine, Darwin, Alice Springs, or anywhere. It is about the whole package and that is what Tourism NT is about - the whole package of developing the Territory.
For the minister to talk at length about Darwin is quite appropriate. I would like to think people come to the Territory just to see Goyder, but that is not the truth. As much as I am very proud of that area, I know that people come to the Territory for a whole raft of reasons. To promote Darwin as an entry point is quite appropriate when you are developing the whole industry as a package. Once they are here, hopefully, they will then visit places like Goyder and Katherine and other areas.
I was also a little disappointed that the member for Katherine mentioned the natural beauty of the Katherine region. It is absolutely brilliant and I am looking forward to walking from Katherine up to Edith Falls next year. It certainly is a beautiful region, but there is more to the region than just that. I get …
Mrs Miller: You better not say any more; you might have foot in mouth.
Mr WARREN: The indigenous aspects to tourism in the Katherine region are important but the member for Katherine failed to even mention that. She talked about business, and business is an important part of tourism. However, tourism business relies on the product you are actually trying to sell. It is not just about the natural beauty which is great, but it is also about the indigenous and cultural aspects of it. It is important that we try to promote that. I know that you are concerned about the parks which you carped on and whinged about, but the real answer for the future is with joint venture projects in these particular regions. That is the way forward, and I have heard that consistently.
I was at a conference last week and people were promoting the indigenous engagement and the indigenous future employment opportunities but, also, the greatness of indigenous aspects for the Katherine region which, unfortunately, the CLP has failed to acknowledge and neglected for many years.
In conclusion, the Martin Labor government has adopted sustainable and economically sound government involvement in tourism. It is what the general public and private investors expect of good governance. We emphasise promotion rather than regulation - across the board promotion and strategic strategies that supports our burgeoning tourism industry and helps us keep abreast of our major competitors. The minister, in his important statement, outlined the sound and sensible approach that the Martin Labor government has taken to support our unique and special tourism industry. I commend him on his statement.
Mr HAMPTON (Stuart): Madam Speaker, I support the minister’s statement on tourism and acknowledge the contributions of previous speakers. I thank the minister for bringing it to the House, and particularly thank his agency, Tourism NT, under its CEO, Maree Tetlow. I acknowledge the efforts of the staff members of Tourism NT throughout the Territory and in regions, particularly Jo-Anne Harkin and her staff in Alice Springs who do a great job. I also thank the previous Minister for Tourism, the Chief Minister, for her work in this important portfolio.
As we have heard from other speakers, tourism is probably the largest contributor to our economy in what it brings into the Territory. Also, the jobs and the $1.5bn it brings into the economy speaks volumes for that contribution. It directly employs, as we have heard, 12 845 Territorians, or 13.5% of the Northern Territory workforce. Those statistics speak volumes for the tourism industry and the impact it has on the Northern Territory.
With that large contribution, there are also the jobs, and there is the flow-on effect throughout the regions and in Darwin as well as the bush. The flow-on effects in the communities are the need for shops, services, retail and other small businesses. The contribution and the flow-on effect that tourism has on small business is significant and we should not under-value that contribution.
I acknowledge two significant steps taken by this government; the first being legislating the NT Tourist Commission as Tourism NT in 2006 and bringing it under the umbrella of the Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development. This was a significant change. It provided the Tourism NT people with more focus, particularly regarding major projects which are happening throughout the Territory. It also provided additional resources to develop tourism in regional areas with indigenous people.
The other significant step that this government has undertaken is in the budget. In Budget 2006, we saw the Northern Territory government increase Tourism NT’s annual base funding on a permanent basis to the sum of $10m. Once again, another significant step by this government in supporting the tourism industry and all those smaller businesses that benefit from the flow-on effects of such a significant industry. This also ensures that tourism is properly resourced to carry out marketing and development activities and remains competitive into the future, particularly against other states in the country, but also internationally. It is important that our operators and our marketing and campaigns remain competitive against an increasingly demanding industry.
I acknowledge the summary report done by AEC into the next tourism strategy for the Northern Territory. The AEC Group is an independent consultant group. The report was released last week and is there to inform the development of the Northern Territory Tourism Industry Strategic Plan 2008 - 2012. This strategic plan is due to be released in December 2007. I encourage people in my electorate of Stuart to provide feedback. Read the consultant’s report and summary report, but also provide feedback of the report to Tourism NT about what they see are the issues and a way forward, I suppose, for their operations or their businesses. It is an opportunity for people throughout the rest of the Territory to have a say before the strategic plan is released in December.
The other important part of the report is that of indigenous tourism, which continues to be one of our key points of difference. This is highlighted through the Northern Territory Indigenous Tourism Strategy which sets out the guiding principles for a sustainable indigenous tourism industry. The Indigenous Tourism Strategy recognises the fact that indigenous tourism enterprises can only be sustainable if the community wants these projects and are aware of the work involved in getting them up and running. Many indigenous communities and individuals are getting involved in areas like touring, accommodation, retail, art and specialised cultural experiences.
At this point, I acknowledge some of those smaller operators who have existed in Central Australia over many years and have been the quiet achievers. People like Robert Le Rossignol from the Oak Valley Tours. I am not sure if that operation is still going, but Robert was one of the first small indigenous tourism operators in the Centre many years ago. Also, Paul Ah Chee and his business at the Aboriginal Australia Art and Cultural Centre, based in Todd Street, is doing great things with his tours and the art centre. Another small operator who is coming up on the horizon is Jungala Kriss and his small tour guide business operating from out of Alice Springs. As we heard today in Question Time, Gunya Titjikala, in my colleague’s electorate of Macdonnell, is facing challenges just becoming successful, but are now having to face more challenges through the intervention and the removal of CDEP. These are small but significant players in the tourism industry in Central Australia, and they can really benefit from the Indigenous Tourism Strategy which this government has put together.
As my colleague, the member for Goyder, mentioned, the Internet marketing campaign is a very relevant one for all of us. This time of year I am on the ‘Net as well looking at holiday destinations or places of interest where I could be going over the Christmas break. I acknowledge that there are quite a few websites that support Tourism NT, including the travelnt.com and australianoutback.com websites and Tourism NT’s corporate website, tourismnt.com.au. Having looked on those, particularly the travelnt.com website, it is very user friendly and I can see how it is going to benefit many people. No matter where you are in the world, you can get onto the web and find out more about the Territory and what it offers in tourism experiences.
Regarding Alice Springs and surrounds, obviously being my home town, I am very proud of the things that have developed in Alice Springs, particularly in the tourism industry. There are plenty of reasons why it has been successful and will continue to be. The great outback experience is strongly promoted in our campaigns, with the fantastic landscapes of the Western Macs and even the Eastern Macdonnell Ranges, and our national parks such as Rainbow Valley. If you have not been to some of those places, as a Territorian I certainly encourage everyone here to get out there and experience it for themselves. The Western Macs with its waterholes such as Ellery right out to Glen Helen and even to Gosses Bluff, is a fantastic experience, particularly at this time of the year before it gets too hot. The Larapinta Trail is another fantastic asset and a jewel in the crown of the Northern Territory.
We should not underestimate the sporting tourism area. Alice Springs is fast becoming renowned for some fantastic sporting events that attract people from all over the country and overseas. We have events like the Finke Desert Race. I normally camp there every year, along with 12 000 other people. It certainly brings many tourist dollars into Alice Springs. The Masters Games is another significant event which attracts thousands of people into Central Australia and is going from strength to strength every two years. Another one is the Imparja Cup Cricket Carnival we have every February/March, an indigenous cricket carnival that brings participants with families and partners to Alice Springs for that experience. If you get tired of watching the cricket, you find many people are visiting our national parks, the Western Macs. These sporting events are just fantastic. Sorry?
Ms Carney: It is not possible for things to get boring in the cricket.
Mr HAMPTON: No, it is not possible, but partners and families take that opportunity to get out through the Western Macs or the businesses and tourism operators in Alice Springs.
The AFL and NRL challenge matches that we have in Alice Springs have been regular events over the past few years. They bring in people from all over the region, but also from the capital cities. If you are a Port Power supporter and Port happens to play in Alice again next year, then obviously you will get a bit of a crowd from Alberton Oval into Alice Springs. Sporting tourism cannot be undervalued, and I am sure people in the Top End agree with that.
The other area that we should not undervalue is cultural events and festivals tourism sector. Once again, putting my hand up for Alice Springs, is the Beanie Festival. I know the member for Macdonnell opened it this year. It is a fantastic festival that brings in a totally different crowd of tourists, along with the different events of the Desert Mob Festival recently held in Alice Springs. I am sure the minister for Arts can attest that it offers a totally different experience for tourists besides visiting the Western Macs or the art centres around the place. Yes, sporting tourism, the cultural events and festivals tourism sector are significant areas of tourism. They are worthy of putting on the public record, particularly for Central Australia.
For my electorate of Stuart, programs such as the Stepping Stones program that has been marketed in the regions is successfully being rolled out through the Territory to assist indigenous individuals, businesses and communities wanting to become involved in tourism. One of the programs in my electorate is the Black Tank community, a small outstation about 40 km or 50 km north of Alice Springs. Stepping Stones has been a great program for them to access, and it has supported them in getting their small family business up and running. They are having some challenges at the moment, but I am sure, with the support of this program, they can continue to provide opportunities for their family in that particular industry.
The Aboriginal Art Trails is another new initiative developed earlier this year by Tourism NT. In my electorate - and I want to raise this with the minister - are the opportunities through the Tanami region. The experience of travelling on a four-wheel drive route from Tilmouth Well, turning left and experiencing the country through Mount Wedge, Newhaven Bird Sanctuary, and on to Nyirripi, a small community in my electorate, and then driving back through the four-wheel drive route to Yuendumu to the famous Warlukurlangu art centre, and then moving back through to Tilmouth Wells. The Aboriginal Art Trail is an exciting one, and one that I wish to raise with the minister. These trails add to the traveller’s level of understanding of Aboriginal culture, and stories, beliefs and law unfold while they learn more about traditional art.
These exciting new networks of niche experiences have full endorsement and encouragement of the Aboriginal people, the traditional owners of the land who want to share and develop these experiences and become more actively involved in tourism. An important element of the Aboriginal Art Trails is that of the TLC Tourism Development Officer funded by the Northern Territory government. The lady in Alice Springs is Maree Meredith. I have talked to Maree on quite a few occasions, particularly about the Mount Wedge Newhaven Bird Sanctuary and Nyirripi experience. Maree is out and about there. That position is vitally important in getting traditional owners involved in potential tourism opportunities on their land. It is a very good position, funded by this government, and one worthy of noting as well.
Obviously, the art centres and galleries, as I have mentioned, are something that I experience and visit all the time when I am out in my electorate, whether it is at Yarralin, or through Ampilatwatja, Utopia, along the Sandover Highway, but also up the Stuart Highway at Ti Tree, where Peter King has his art gallery. These are important centres for the drive tourists, and cannot be underestimated.
There is much discussion and controversy about the shire councils, particularly from the opposition. However, I can see the value in tourism with strong local governance in some of these regions. It is important that it is seen as a good move, because strong local government council shires provide communities and developers - whether they are tourism operators, miners, horticulturalists or whoever – with opening the doors for these types of economic opportunities. I believe that is an important element that cannot be forgotten in the whole shire debate. I know in my electorate, I can see the value of larger shires working together to maximise the opportunities that tourism offers the bush. I would also like to place on the public record my support for the stronger, larger shires, particularly in creating jobs for people in the bush.
There is no limit to the challenges out there for the tourism industry, but also in my electorate, as I said. Today in Question Time, we heard the minister answer questions from my colleague about Gunya Titjikala. The Commonwealth intervention is certainly bringing its challenges to the bush regarding creating real jobs. I am sure all of us in this House want to see real jobs created. Tourism provides that opportunity, but let us do it in a sensible way. Let us sit down with people - whether it is in the creek bed or under a tree - and talk about the real opportunities. Where are they now? Let us not put barriers that intervene and stop these opportunities that we are seeing at the moment, with Gunya, for example. The intervention is providing its fair share of challenges for my electorate in tourism and economic development. Let us get some commonsense into this whole process.
In response to other members’ contributions, the member for Greatorex raised a good issue about the grey nomads. In my travels up and down the Stuart Highway, I come across them all the time. I was interested in reading today there is actually a driver’s guide that was launched by the minister this year particularly targeting the drive market. That driver’s guide is something I am interested in finding out a bit more about regarding things up and down the highway. All of us here, particularly in seats outside of Darwin in the regional centres but also members in Darwin, are interested in ways of promoting the regions, whether it is in Tennant Creek, Katherine, Alice Springs or in Ti Tree. I was very interested in coming across that today, and it is something that I will be looking at a bit further.
Regarding the waterfront development, there are arguments on both sides. For me, as someone living outside of Darwin, I can see the benefits of investing in infrastructure such as the waterfront. For me, the challenge is how we maximise the opportunities for the regions. A big project like the waterfront is going to attract more visitors to Darwin. What we need to do now is work with Tourism NT and those regional tourism organisations …
Mr HENDERSON: Mr Deputy Speaker, I move an extension of time for 10 minutes to allow my colleague to conclude his remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr HAMPTON: Thanks. The challenge is: how do we get regional tourism organisations such as CATIA to reap the benefits of such big infrastructure and projects such as the waterfront? That is the question we should be focused on; not being caught up in the debate about the amount of money that is put into it. Sure, it is a lot of money, but with that investment in this infrastructure comes opportunities. It is important that organisations like CATIA and tourism operators down the track work out campaigns or strategies to benefit from this big investment.
Our best asset in all of this - we can talk about millions of dollars put into the waterfront - is the people of the Territory, whether you are at Yuendumu, Alice Springs or here in Darwin. If you do not invest in the people, then all the money you can put into bricks and mortar or into marketing campaigns and strategies is not really worth anything. We need to invest in the people of the Territory, regardless of where they live, because they are the ones who will make something succeed or fail. We should not forget that we need to invest in people, in education, so we have indigenous people coming through the system who can read and write, who can participate in economic development, whether it be tourism, mining or whatever. Our best asset, for me, is the people of the Territory, and we should keep a focus on that within this tourism strategy.
I congratulate the minister and Tourism NT for the fantastic year that they have had to date, and also all those tourism operators in Alice Springs, throughout Central Australia, and in my electorate of Stuart.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Mr Deputy Speaker, I also speak on the matter of tourism to correct the record. I was of the view, which I expressed during estimates, that much of the signage that I had seen in recent times left a lot to be desired. I had seen programs that had been promoted by a former government and those signs, particularly around the World War II period, are fading. They have faded significantly. I had not seen a number of the other signs and I thought that, perhaps, that would be the case across the board. At the outset, I will say that, as a result of an extended trip during the July break to Alice Springs and back and, then, just recently across to Pigeon Hole for the field day, I took a detour through Gregory National Park. I am pleased to report that some new signage that I had not seen before, are up and down that highway and are very good. There is nothing worse than having a magnificent product and finding some of the signage fading away and sending out the wrong message. So, it was good to see those signs.
Tourism is, undoubtedly, a very important industry. I have just come back from a CPA conference. When you listen to delegates from the South Pacific, and hear of their economy in all its spread, you realise that some economies, particularly in the Pacific Islands, have nothing left to trade, other than one jurisdiction which said that pawpaws was all they had. They were having difficulties selling the pawpaws because big markets like Australia were making it increasingly difficult. Of course, they have one industry that they can then promote, and that is tourism. It was clear in that context, when there was nothing much else left to trade, that the strategies for tourism became critically important. It has the same effect on the Northern Territory.
It is fascinating aspect of the economy that the industry of tourism reaches so many so widely. The honourable member who spoke just prior to me made reference to education, and how important it is to bolstering our capacity in tourism. There is nothing better to go on, say, a tour of Katherine Gorge and have a local indigenous lad telling you great stories about the Gorge and the background and so on, and entertaining people and being confident to do so. That comes as a result of a good-quality education. We need to see a lot more of that because people who come to the Territory want to engage with the indigenous aspect of the Northern Territory. That is why education is important.
I know that this is probably shocking for the member for Goyder to hear me speaking of things in a favourable light that would pertain to the current government. The way that the member for Goyder couches his terms is, generally, you draw a line in the sand and everything that happened prior to the election of the great illustrious Labor Party to office in the Territory - a whole new golden era dawned on the Territory – was in darkness, terror and fear, and no good thing emanated. I have to alert the member who spoke just prior to me who inadvertently made comment about the Masters Games and a few other things regarding tourism development in Central Australia. Sadly, as he is new to the Chamber, he probably did not realise that those things actually emanated from a time before the great golden era dawned in the Territory with the Labor Party and set everything straight. Prior to that time, it is barely worth mentioning. It just makes you shudder to think how terrible things were.
I find it a bit discouraging sometimes when you have these sorts of talks in here; that we can take a sensible approach - so sensible, in fact, that I am forced to bring forward an issue that will probably offend the member for Goyder. It does not directly relate to the Territory government; it is another tier of government. It is the Palmerston City Council, and it relates to a park. There is a park not far from my home within walking distance. It is the only sizable park that is not far from my home. In fact, most people in Palmerston make good use of Marlow Lagoon. It happened a couple of years ago - and this is just to illustrate some of the strange thinking that goes on, on the other side - when my son left me with a kelpie that I needed to look after, so I had to take the kelpie for a walk. Where would l walk it? Marlow Lagoon. I happened to find a few cane toads whilst I was at Marlow Lagoon. This disturbed the member for Goyder deeply because it was in his electorate. He thought that I may be making moves into his electorate by walking my dog in his park, so much so that there was this strategic leak to the other arm that operates in support of many of the members of the other side, the NT News: wonder what the member for Blain is doing wandering around Marlow Lagoon in Goyder electorate? Is he making a move on Goyder? No, I am just walking my dog in the park. That is the major park in Palmerston and is within walking distance for me. It takes me three minutes to jog there. So I do not mind wandering in other areas.
I do not mind talking about things that have happened right here that are under this government that are okay, as long as we can just be intellectually flexible enough to think that before the great and golden era of the Labor Party came to set everything straight in the Northern Territory, member for Goyder, some nice things did happen. We have a wonderful Territory and, as we move along, there will come a time - I know it is probably almost unbearable to consider - that there will be no Labor Party in office in the Northern Territory, and there will come another government.
Anyway, we have an excellent place. Whether I drove around the Northern Territory when the Labor Party was in government or the CLP, Uluru looked fantastic. It looked the same. The sun was shining just the same, and Central Australia was a magnificent place before the Labor Party came to office. It still is. Good things are happening now and good things happened before. Let us get over that part of the silly nonsense and look at what we have to deal with today.
I will put something on the agenda. I am not having a slight at anyone here. I may put something on the table as a member of parliament. I know I am in opposition and it must be a rubbish idea because it does not come from the great and illustrious crew who are in government, but it is an issue. If properly developed, approached, supported and led, it will promote a significant boost to the Territory economy. That is a strategic aspect of tourism. Other jurisdictions have done so. The Territory has tried in the past under another government - how dare he criticise the CLP! They had a shot at it - it is pretty hard stuff; it is still being attempted today. It is the issue of full-fee-paying students and finding a way to get more students to come and study in the Northern Territory from other places, particularly overseas. That is, without a doubt, a significant industry that could be very well exploited in the Northern Territory if we approached it in the right way. Other jurisdictions have done so and have gained the benefits.
I may well be quoting something that is incorrect because I heard it some time ago, but in one place - and I think it might be Albury/Wodonga area - the university focused on full-fee-paying students and recognised the economic benefit that could contribute to the local economy. At one point, the contribution made by full-fee-paying students coming into that jurisdiction exceeded their major export, which was fruit production. When you track the benefits of tourism that flow from a full-fee-paying student, they are colossal. My goodness! There is something going on at the other side, guys. Did you get a tip off? There is a mood afoot; big changes that results from these underlying issues ...
Members interjecting.
Mr MILLS: There seems to be some tension in this room, I have to say, and it is nothing to do with the opposition. There are four of us causing you so much grief. Obviously, you had a bad weekend or something. There is a bit of housekeeping. You are sitting around the table and having a meal, but people are not putting out the right vibes. I have that feeling in this room today. I hope we can deal with it.
That aside, full-fee-paying students is an industry the Territory, strategically located, could really make a go of. I have had a number of meetings with the Vice-Chancellor. There have been some moves made. Much more could be made. There are some challenges. The Territory may not be as attractive a place as Sydney for those who want to have a student come and study in Australia, but we do have something quite special; that we are not far from Indonesia and the climate is very similar. There are ways of marketing this, in a niche way. That is where you need these very close and carefully developed and maintained relationships with key people.
Some gains have been made in this area; a lot more could be. If you are looking at it from a tourism point of view, the flow-on benefit from a full-fee-paying student is colossal. Second, that full-fee-paying student often has their family visit. They go back and tell stories about the place where their child lives and much more flows from that. I have come from Perth where I worked in this area for a time. Numbers of families who have come to visit their children who have gone through primary school, secondary school to university, have now taken up investments in Perth as a result of their connection to that place. We have seen a little of it in the Territory, but more could come.
Finally, I would like to touch on another matter which does cause me some concern, and I ask the minister to respond to this. There have been a number of media releases and earnest statements made during this parliament and the previous parliament relating to parks and reserves. There were some major changes to the way that our parks estate was administered. In all of that, many arguments were had in this Chamber and it was a quite complicated business. However, the result of those changes brought about on every utterance from government, the smiling faces on media releases, that a core principle would be when the parks estate is changed, that they will remain accessible to all Territorians and visitors on a no-fee/no-permit basis. That was established in a ministerial statement in 2002. A media release in 2005 reaffirmed that core principle.
This is a press release dated 17 February 2005, with the Chief Minister’s face up in the corner smiling nicely, where she said: ‘All Territory parks and reserves will remain accessible to all Territorians and visitors on a no-fee/no-permit basis’. That was the same words in 2002 and 2005.
However, then we have some correspondence flowing through. Some of it was recently to minister Henderson. It is correspondence that goes to a tour operator. The tour operator has been asked to fill out his permit form so that he can access Territory parks and reserves - that are remaining accessible to all Territorians - on a fee for permit basis, which is contrary to the two clear principles which were clearly expressed by the Chief Minister, on both occasions, in fact. Perhaps the Tourism Minister did not know about that. Anyway, what flowed from this is that, in 2007, in pursuing this matter of an application fee, a permit fee of $100 needs to be paid if this tour operator needs to go into the park. Less than four times, it will be $100 …
Ms Carney: It is a shame - absolutely outrageous.
Mr MILLS: If you want to take more than four tours per annum, the fee will be $500. That needs an explanation, as it was announced this is something that would not be changed, and the words were at the top of the list of the principles that are behind this new world-class national parks system getting the go ahead. Please explain, minister, how this has occurred then? How is it that there is, in fact, a fee and a charge for someone who wants to access a park?
It is completely contrary to the statements that have been made again and again in the debate in this Chamber to reassure Territorians. It went into everyone’s letterboxes with a beautiful little piece of paper with smiling faces, and told that to be a fact, because it was a principle upon which this whole negotiation was based. Now, we have something that is quite the opposite. We do not get a flashy brochure in the letterbox explaining this. We do not get a big announcement, or a media release. We do not have something organised out the front there: ‘Let me explain, we are going to levy some fees now’. Oh no, you hear nothing.
You just have some poor tourism operator saying: ‘I thought I heard that there would be no fees, no charges for any visitor visiting any of our parks’. Oh, now it is going to be $500. He makes his way to the Territory opposition, has a shot at the Territory government, and is not satisfied. He was led to believe - as all of us were - that that was a principle upon which this was based.
Please explain, Minister for Tourism. You may need to see the Chief Minister, because the Chief Minister clearly made that statement. There must be some explanation, and that explanation must have the same intent to communicate with the community as you had when you were telling the other story. Go and tell them all. Tell them all you changed your mind, or it was not quite the case. Spin your words whatever way you like, but why do you not put the same advertising money, which we pay for, behind this change of plan? Explain it to us please, Chief Minister and Minister for Tourism.
Ms SACILOTTO (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I support the minister’s statement on tourism. There are many exciting things happening in the Port Darwin electorate. It is natural that the entertainment hub, business hub, accommodation hub, and restaurant hub should also be the tourism hub. The waterfront project is good news for the Territory as a whole. It is good for jobs, the economy, business, and it is definitely good for tourism. It is all smack bang in the middle of my electorate - the great electorate of Port Darwin. It is also fantastic in amenity which will be enjoyed by residents close by in the CBD, Larrakeyah, Cullen Bay, Tipperary Waters, and Stuart Park areas, which encompass my electorate.
The Martin Labor government is committed to nurturing the economy of the Territory, and this includes capital infrastructure projects such as the waterfront development. It is a fantastic project which will provide stimulation to our economy for many years in areas such as construction, retail and tourism. Our waterfront development, which incorporates a fabulous 1500-seat convention centre, is professionally managed by Malu Barrios, who has already booked many conventions, with interest coming in daily from around Australia and the world.
The wave pool will be a small part of the tourist experience. We must remember, in Darwin it is beautiful but also hot. Having this asset will encourage families to stay a bit longer, and I am sure it will be a great hit with mums, dads and kids. Think about this scenario: mum at a conference, dad up in the CBD shopping, and the kids having a ball in the wave pool. Then mum finishes the conference and the family go off to Kakadu, Uluru or Nitmiluk, and then back for a couple of days to enjoy the historical areas of our city, shopping, markets and a few dips in the wave pool. With the two hotels that are under way, it will be the utmost in convenience and a great base for any holiday throughout the Territory.
Our cruise ship terminal is going to be another important tool in encouraging increases in tourism. Considerable work has already been started at the future home of the cruise ship terminal, with the project’s expenditure to reach approximately $4.5m, and improvements planned to international security and a much-improved entry statement to Darwin. First impressions do count, as does comfort. The importance of this project is evident when we look at the 2007 cruise ship year. This year, we will play host to 35 large cruise ships and 13 smaller vessels. This is a huge achievement for Darwin to attract this number of cruise ships, and is only set to increase each year as our facilities improve and we continue to tell our story.
I direct you to the websites, as other members have, such as tourismnt.com.au and travelnt.com. They have fantastic tools to plan the perfect Territory holiday. This is one example of a tool to plan a sample itinerary, which I will read for you. A five-day Darwin itinerary:
- A week in Darwin gives you time to visit the city attractions, before heading down the track to Litchfield National Park for an overnight adventure, then spend a day learning about Aboriginal culture on the Tiwi Islands.
Day 1
Spend the day exploring some of Darwin’s natural attractions. Visit Aquascene, in the heart of the city, where hundreds of fish can be hand-fed at high tide. Take a self-guided walk through the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens. The gardens contain many species of tropical plans including orchids, bromeliads, cycads and palms. End the day at the Deckchair Cinema, an outdoor cinema where movies are watched in deckchairs under the stars.
Day 2
Spend the next two days following the Litchfield Loop tourism drive. On the way, stop at the Adelaide River and visit the Adelaide River Railway Station and the Adelaide River War Cemetery to learn about the local history. On arrival in the park explore Wangi Falls and enjoy an easy walk around the falls. For the energetic, travel to Tolmer Falls for a bush trek. Spend the night camping in the park or stay in accommodation in Batchelor.
Day 3
This morning continue exploring the Litchfield National Park. Start the day with a refreshing swim at Buley Rockhole or the spring-fed Florence Falls. For the adventurous, head into four-wheel drive country and discover Tiaynera Falls, the historic Blythe Homestead ruins, and the weathered sandstone columns of the Lost City. In the afternoon continue the loop back to Darwin.
Day 4
Spend the morning relaxing and enjoy brunch at one of our many cafs or restaurants along Mitchell Street or at Cullen Bay Marina. Spend the day walking around town and taking in the sights. In Darwin city, follow the Historical Walk to discover the city’s history and see Parliament House and Survivors Lookout for a view across the wharf precinct. Just out of town take a scenic walk along the coast of Darwin Harbour, past Mindil Beach and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
Day 5
Take a light aircraft or jump on a ferry to the Tiwi Islands. Melville and Bathurst Islands, known collectively as the Tiwi Islands, are located 80 km north of Darwin in the Timor Sea. The Tiwi Aboriginal people are known for their distinctive fabric prints, pottery, sculptures, carvings, and a love of Australian Football. Spend a day on Bathurst Island and share their culture. This is just one example of the things that can happen in Darwin.
In quite a short period of time you can get quite a distance and experience all sorts of different things. In my own back yard, and in the electorate of Port Darwin, one such business is Arafura Sailing Adventures, based in the Cullen Bay Marina. Their lead vessel is the Sundancer which is a fantastic 50 ft sailing catamaran first launched in June 2005. The Sundancer sleeps four couples in luxury and comfort and takes these lucky couples on fantastic adventures around our magnificent Territory, such as their seven days Cobourg/Tiwi Island Eco Tours. They also host a great three-day tour of Bare Sand Island in Bynoe Harbour. If you are a really keen sailor, the crew welcome any volunteers to assist with sailing the vessel, from hauling the mainsail in the morning, trimming the sails, or steering a course during the day.
The diversity of this business is such that Peter Herden, the business owner and operator, Skipper Ben and Relief Skipper Ian also cater for corporate and group charters, weddings, functions, and are also available for breakfast and sunset cruises. I cannot imagine a more beautiful place to enjoy sunrise or sunset than on our fantastic Darwin Harbour. Peter Herden has lived in the Territory since 1972 and knows the Top End waters and the environment very well, as he has sailed extensively in the area. Peter’s background encompasses fisheries management, indigenous community development and the Australian Army. Peter is a real asset to the Territory’s tourism industry as he truly loves his work and really enjoys showing off our Territory. Peter always wants to show our important tourists a good time, and share with them his extensive knowledge and understanding of the Territory’s lifestyle and rich history. I believe Peter works under the same principle as I did when I was in business; that is, your business is only as good as your most inexperienced staff member’s worst day.
Peter and his staff are always having a great day and enjoying their jobs, so they are great advocates and great people to be taking tourists up close and personal around to areas that we would not normally get to see. A highlight of Arafura Sailing Adventures is a perfect example of one of our local people wanting to share our great Territory with visitors from around the world and having the confidence in our economy to start a unique service business.
I commend Tourism NT and, in particular, the fantastic and vibrant Share our Story campaign. It is becoming well known by people in the southern states, and that means that we are doing our job properly in promoting our great Territory. Well done, also, to the brilliant tourism businesses in the Darwin area. Feedback has been very positive in relation to the friendliness and the assistance provided by the CBD shopkeepers, restaurants, including our beautiful restaurants at Cullen Bay such as Yots Greek Taverna, which is owner operated by Evan Papadonakis. I was having lunch there the other day and it was fantastic. It is a beautiful spot; the weather is lovely at the moment, and it was certainly a fantastic meal and a really authentic Greek/Australian experience with fantastic food.
I encourage all Territorians, shopkeepers and people working in retail, when seeing tourists walking around the city area, to go out of their way to be friendly to them and make the Territory a very friendly place and a very positive tourist experience. That type of campaign cannot have a dollar figure put on it. It means that we are as proud as punch of our Territory, ensuring that we are providing the best possible service to our tourists and locals alike.
Mr HENDERSON (Tourism): Madam Speaker, I thank all honourable members for their contributions to this statement which I presented to the House in last month’s sitting.
Tourism is everyone’s business. It is worth about $1.5bn to our economy and directly employs around $14 000 Territorians. When tourism is hit by global events that are outside our control, whether they be terrorism, economic events or industry associated catastrophes like the collapse of Ansett Airlines, our tourism industry is much more vulnerable to the shocks of those events. It has taken time to rebuild tourist numbers to around what they were in 2001 prior to the demise of Ansett, the 11 September attacks, SARS and the HIH collapse that really impacted on public liability insurance premiums that hit a lot of tourism operators really hard. Many tourism operators in the Territory could not get insurance at all.
It has been a long road back for the industry, but it is certainly an industry that is very buoyant. We are very optimistic about the future. We are seeing investment right across the Northern Territory in new product. There are 800 new hotel rooms coming on line in Darwin over the next 18 months. There is significantly increased aviation capacity, both domestically and internationally. The convention centre will be complete by July next year. There is much optimism around people in the tourism industry.
I commend the staff of Tourism NT who do an absolutely fantastic job. Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, our tourism agency in the Territory is the best in Australia. I do not say that lightly. With the money we have, the marketing that we are doing, the niches that we are developing, our statistics show that we are swimming against the tide. We have tourism increasing out of proportion with the rest of Australia, and that very much is down to the good staff in Tourism NT and the great marketing campaigns that they are developing in conjunction with our operators - and to whom I pay tribute - in the industry who work very cooperatively with Tourism NT.
When we introduced the Share our Story marketing strategy just over two years ago, there was an almighty hue and cry about it. Many people were saying it would not work, it could not work, it was a terrible strategy, these people did not know what they are talking about. Virtually all of the people who declared at the time that it was the worse marketing campaign that the Territory had ever seen and would be a total failure, have turned around and said: ‘I was wrong. It certainly has hit the mark and is working very well’.
A number of members commented on the proposed strategic plan that AEC Consultants delivered to me last week with 63, I think it is, recommendations in it. This is a consultant’s report. The consultants were engaged by the agency. They have had many discussions and consulted widely across the Northern Territory for input. Certainly, feedback is called for. I have written to operators, tourism associations, people in the industry, to get across this report and these recommendations. It is a strategic plan for the next five years. It is a plan that I hope individual operators will be able to own, and to use to guide their business strategies over the next five years. The consultants would like feedback by 19 October 2007 on those recommendations. They will then report to me, as minister, and I will take a proposal to Cabinet for consideration as to government’s response to the recommendations in the report.
All operators have now been written to and e-mailed. The report is on the Internet. It makes a number of significant recommendations regarding the real opportunities to continue to drive growth in the tourism industry in the Northern Territory. It is really further building our reputation as the destination of choice for nature and culture-based adventure. We are not a mass market destination. We are a niche destination based around our landscapes, our flora, our fauna and our unique indigenous culture.
Further building our reputation are the recommendations from the consultant targeting emerging tourism markets such as China - a very important market as more and more Chinese are travelling overseas. A Chinese television documentary crew was here just a few months ago. With the launch of a major documentary series in China towards the end of this year, with a market reach of up to 300 million people, it will certainly put the Territory on the map. We could not cope with tens of thousands of Chinese travellers coming here on package tours; however, what we can do is to work to really focus on the unique nature and cultural aspects for those tourists.
An important recommendation that is growing awareness for me, as minister - and rapid awareness - but not part of much discussion in our tourism industry at the moment, is the debate around climate change and where tourism fits into that debate. Also, the emergence, very rapidly, of tourists, particularly out of Europe and our core markets in central Europe, who are making decisions about where they go, who they stay with, who they tour with, based on leaving a carbon neutral footprint regarding those purchasing decisions. It is a rapidly evolving point of difference; that increasing numbers of tourists, who want to travel, but want to travel environmentally aware and responsibly, are making decisions about how they get to destinations, who they stay with, who they tour with. Our industry has to quickly get to grips with this demand from the market and position themselves as accommodation providers, tour operators, for that market and introduce carbon offset programs to their particular tour or their particular accommodation. That is going to be an emerging debate on which we are going to have to focus.
Regarding the issue about regional tourism associations, I believe the report is very clear, out of surveys, that we have to start thinking and acting differently about how we disperse tourists through our regions, how we promote our regions, and how we ensure that, when tourists come and fly in - and the reality is, in spite of the carry-on from the member for Katherine, people either fly to the Territory to Darwin or Alice Springs, or they drive through the Territory. There are no direct commercial flights to Katherine or Tennant Creek anymore. Much as we wish there were, the fact is, there are not. As a minister, as an agency, as a government, you can only deal with the cards that you are dealt with. The reality is that Katherine Airport is not, in the immediate future, going to see direct services from the likes of Qantas, Tiger Airways or Jetstar.
We have to focus on the reality that most people are going to enter the Northern Territory through Darwin or Alice Springs Airports. We need to work out how we disperse those travellers through our regions to the best of our abilities. Other figures coming through are showing a very steady, but continuing, evolving decline in the self-drive market. It is still very important but, with the advent of discount carriers and airfares we just saw yesterday - $39.95 one way from Melbourne to Sydney, Melbourne to Alice Springs - many people, instead of doing the once-in-a-lifetime big drive trip to the Northern Territory are going to hop on a plane, take the flight to Alice Springs or Darwin, and then hire a car for the weekend or for the week, and do the trip. These are the trends that are emerging in the marketplace.
As I said to members of the Katherine Region Tourist Association last week and the Tennant Creek tourism association - I think it was Thursday last week; Thursday, Friday I was in Katherine and Tennant Creek - we really have to rethink what we do and how we do it. Nostalgia is not an entrepreneurial strategy that I would endorse, either as a minister or as a business operator. We can all wish back to how things were 15 or 20 years ago, but the fact is the market is changing, and the way people arrive and are dispersed through the Northern Territory is changing. We can be nostalgic about days of old, but that is not going to get us there in a very cutthroat and competitive industry. We have to rethink the way things are done. I urge people, as I did in Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Darwin, to look at this report, not from a defensive position but at the opportunities that are outlined in this report, and how we grasp those opportunities. One thing that is absolutely clear for me is that if we stand still in tourism we will go backwards. We will certainly go backwards.
All I say to people in the industry is read the report with an open mind, and not from a defensive position, and put your point of view forward. My commitment is to do whatever we can to better disperse tourists throughout the Northern Territory, to better target tourists to stay longer in the Northern Territory and spend more money in the Northern Territory. That would be to the benefit of the entire industry.
The member for Katherine talked about how terrible the marketing is; that we are not spending any money in marketing the regions, not spending any money marketing Katherine, and that the statement did not go to all of the regional tourism issues and opportunities. I would need hours of parliamentary time to talk about all aspects of the tourism industry and what is happening across the Northern Territory. The fact is I get 20 minutes. The reality of the statement was focusing on reporting to and updating the parliament and Territorians about the success of the Share Our Story marketing campaign, and about a very important aspect of our future tourism industry here in the Top End, which is the progress of the convention centre and the cruise ship facility.
I know the members of the opposition absolutely hate the waterfront development; they do not think that the convention centre should be there. They campaign on the convention centre being in Darwin next to their mates’ hotel here in Darwin. However, I advise the House that already we have over 17 conventions booked for the convention centre in Darwin over the next few years, with an additional 10 000 people already booked to attend a convention in Darwin. That is 10 000 people who are going to be coming to this great capital city of ours and spending time at a business convention here, who would not have come here before. Whilst they are here, they are not just going to spend all their time and money at Stokes Hill Wharf. They will be exploring Darwin, they will be hiring cars, they will be travelling through the region, they will be spending money regionally, they will experience the Northern Territory, they will tell their friends and relatives what a great place it is - and so it goes on ...
Mrs Miller: Send them to Katherine; we will look after them
Mr HENDERSON: We will try to send them to Katherine, Madam Speaker. Absolutely, we will try to send them to Katherine. There are 10 000 people who are coming to Darwin who would not have come to Darwin unless we had built the convention centre. It has only been in the market for a short space of time.
The member for Katherine talked about nothing is being done for Katherine and we are not marketing Katherine. Well, she really needs to get out and talk to operators a bit more because …
Mrs Miller: I am out there all the time.
Mr HENDERSON: Well, we talked about the visitors centre and how terrible it was that the government, with approval from the Katherine Region Tourist Association - and I am sure the Chief Minister remembers this at the time - contracted Katherine Town Council to run the Visitor Information Centre. I have some numbers here that shows it is going gang busters ...
Mrs Miller: No, I did not say it is terrible.
Mr HENDERSON: It is going gang busters and the member for Katherine talks it down. Here are some figures. Just in bookings at the Visitor Information Centre, in comparison to the same period in 2006, May, June and July: May 2006 there was $57 000 worth of bookings taken for operators in the Katherine region ...
Mrs Miller: Interesting one.
Mr HENDERSON: Listen, member for Katherine ...
Mrs Miller: I know them, I have them.
Mr HENDERSON: $57 000 in 2006, and $97 000 in 2007. That is nearly double the number of bookings taken in June …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: It gets better, member for Nhulunbuy. June 2006, $64 000 worth of bookings. In June 2007, $143 000 …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Katherine wants to go backwards - wants to go back to the good old days, Madam Speaker.
In July 2006, it gets even better again. In July 2006, $76 000 worth of bookings; 2007 $196 000 - nearly three times the number of bookings. I will send this to the member for Katherine. Every single month was an increase …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister is quoting from a document. I wonder if he would be good enough to table it.
Mr HENDERSON: Absolutely.
Ms CARNEY: Thank you.
Mr HENDERSON: Absolutely, Madam Speaker. I will send a copy to everybody - in fact, I did give copies to the Katherine Region Tourist Association when I was there on Thursday.
In the last 12 months, $691 000 has been spent marketing Katherine by Tourism NT, which is $691 000 more than when the CLP were in government. Sixty thousand of these brochures went to the drive market. It is a fabulous production. I urge the member for Katherine to get online to the travelnt.com website and see the fantastic promotion of the Katherine region and all of our regions in the Northern Territory. This website would be the best state government tourism website in Australia by far. It is translated into seven international languages and there are more to come.
The member for Katherine said we do nothing to support small operators. We are working with Territory Discoveries which hosts these small operators, with facilities for people locally, interstate, overseas to be able to book product online through Territory Discoveries. That is how we are supporting operators.
The member for Katherine talked about we are not promoting people staying in Katherine. Well, if you go to the travelnt.com website you will see maps and itineraries for the Katherine region including itineraries for day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5. There are itineraries that are promoted to travellers to spend five days and longer in the Katherine region. You do not have to look very far, member for Katherine, to see how we are promoting the Katherine region.
I want to read a letter sent to the Sunday Magazine from the Sydney Morning Herald, titled ‘A beautiful country’ from a gentleman - I presume it is a gentleman - by the name of Vic Mazzone in regards to the terrible job that Tourism NT is doing promoting the Katherine region:
- Rather than focusing on your great articles, my letter uncommonly relates to an NT ad promoting the Nitmiluk National Park in Katherine that appeared in your last week’s edition. Having returned from a party the night before debating the virtues of travelling abroad and visiting the usual suspect South-East Asian countries, the ad could not have been better received in a more timely manner.
The question posed by the NT ad was very simple: why go overseas when your back yard is so beautiful? I am at saturation point of having to hear about how lovely Phuket, Bali or some other exotic destination across our shores is. Wake up Australia, you don’t have to go far, it’s in your back yard. The best and safest landscape Mother Mature has ever come up with, it’s called Australia.
So, member for Katherine, we are promoting the Katherine region. We love the Katherine region. The Visitor Information Centre in Katherine …
Mr NATT: Madam Speaker, I move an extension of time of 10 minutes for my colleague to conclude his remarks pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will not be much longer. We are promoting the Katherine region. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, with double the number of bookings coming through the Visitor Information Centre. The results are there that Tourism NT is doing a great job supporting the region and the great operators in the Katherine region.
The member for Blain talked about full-fee-paying foreign students. That is an area on which Charles Darwin University continues to work to build numbers. I believe numbers are increasing at CDU, from my memory of the last Charles Darwin University Annual Report. The member for Blain mentioned that he had met with the Vice-Chancellor on a couple of occasions to speak about this. The Vice-Chancellor just went to Vietnam with the Chief Minister to promote study at the university.
I suppose, in a lot of things, we could always put more resources in and work harder and try harder, but it is not an area that is being neglected by the university. I know, as minister for Education, that a number of our high schools across the Northern Territory are developing very good links with schools in China and Japan in particular. I agree with the member for Blain that full-fee-paying international students and student exchanges are an important part of growing our tourism industry.
He mentioned the issue of fees for our national parks. I think he acknowledged that the changes that the Territory government had put in place in joint management of our parks in the Northern Territory were probably the way to go. I think he had almost got to that point. It must have been the former member for Greatorex who held the whip hand in the CLP party room - as the chief said: ‘Fight them to the death. Let us whip up fear and hatred and get these petitions going and tell a pack of porkies about what the Territory government was doing in giving our parks away’. It was real scaremongering.
That is not the point. The point is that we want to continue to develop our parks estate jointly with traditional owners, and having traditional owners on boards of management. As Minister for Tourism, I am well aware that there are significant investment opportunities in our parks from companies which are seeking to invest in indigenous enterprises and new destinations in our parks estate. That is going to be done sensitively, over time and with consultation. Nitmiluk is the prime example of what can be done. I know that Nitmiluk and the traditional owners are looking at significant investment and upgrading infrastructure, facilities and accommodation in the park. We, as a government, work with all Territorians to develop opportunities for investment and jobs. There seemed to be a bit of a thaw from the member for Blain in whether the CLP are going to continue to oppose and knock the decision for joint management. I hope that they will come on board and be constructive.
The Territory government said, at the time, there would be no fees, no charges for our parks. Our consultants, AEC, have identified that it could be an opportunity for increased revenue that would go to infrastructure in our parks estates. This is a consultant’s report that has made a suggestion and a recommendation. I have spoken to my colleague, the minister for Parks, who has carriage of this issue, and it is still government policy that we do not support fees for parks. That is the current position.
I thank my colleagues on this side of the House who contributed to the debate. Members all have tourism operators in their electorates. It is great to hear, right across the Northern Territory from the Top End to the Centre, what communities and entrepreneurs are doing in developing our tourism industry. It certainly is an industry that employs people right across the full spectrum of the Territory’s population.
Finally, Madam Speaker, the advent in Central Australia of Tiger Airways flying to Alice Springs in the first week in December goes to show that you have to work long and hard to encourage increased air access to the Northern Territory. When you do get those extra seats, it certainly drives competition, and competition provides cheaper airfares and that is going to bring more tourists to Alice Springs and Darwin. That is an opportunity then to disperse those tourists through the region. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the debate. I look forward to giving the House further updates of our tourism industry across the Northern Territory.
Motion agreed to; statement noted.
MOTION
Note Paper - Auditor-General’s August 2007 Report to the Legislative Assembly
Note Paper - Auditor-General’s August 2007 Report to the Legislative Assembly
Continued from 28 August 2007.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, this afternoon I move acceptance of the Auditor-General’s August 2007 Report. In his opening remarks, the Auditor-General has expressed his pleasure at the improvements made to his budget, which has improved his capacity to do his job and increase the level of scrutiny he can provide. The government welcomes this scrutiny.
The role of the Auditor-General is a critical one in any functioning democratic polity. The government believes in open government and transparent processes; a strong Auditor-General is part of that. The role of the Auditor-General is, in particular, evidenced in this report. In the last six months of last financial year, the Auditor-General conducted a series of agency compliance audits to test the capacity of a broad sweep of agencies in discharging their accountability requirements. The results are listed, without reference to individual agencies, and provide a guide for performance of agencies against a suite of accountability rules and responsibilities.
Weaknesses were shown in a range of agencies across a range of performance areas. This is of concern to everyone and is being acted on by agencies. These weaknesses include procurement process issues; weak documentation, in some cases; a lack of internal auditing capacity; and other issues. The Auditor-General has, through his compliance process, highlighted matters that could be very problematic if they are not dealt with. In each of the identified cases, the agency is on notice to work through procedures and actions to rectify the problems identified. The Auditor-General has made the point that some of these weaknesses have been identified in the past and appear to recur. These matters are being taken seriously by chief executives, and I am confident they will ensure these problems are properly attended to.
I believe this has been a very successful exercise conducted by the Auditor-General, doing exactly what he is in place to do. The result of the exercise will be strengthened government procedures and processes. For those who believe that this exercise has revealed some great issue in our public service, let me just point out that there are 16 000-plus public sector employees in the Territory government. Each one works hard in the best interests of the Territory and with the Territory’s future at heart. The turnover of the public sector, by the very nature of the community we live in, is around 25%, probably the highest in Australia. The job of training and retraining people is constant and large.
It would be a miracle if some procedural weaknesses were not found. In fact, I would have thought the Auditor-General was not doing his job. So, while I take very seriously the concerns raised by the Auditor-General, I am also satisfied that the Auditor-General did not find corruption or widespread maladministration. From all the posturing from the opposition in Question Time last sittings, you would have thought his report reveals this problem – it did not - or this level of problem - it did not.
I am very proud of our public sector and the work they do. I am equally happy to ensure that auditing is in place to ensure we have the correct mechanisms and procedures so the public sector and government continues to be above reproach.
In addition to these compliance audits, the Auditor-General provided 11 separate reports, and these will be commented on by the relevant minister. Again, in each case these have been responded to by agencies and the issues raised by the Auditor-General taken on board.
In closing, Madam Speaker, I thank Mr McGuiness for his work. He is a first-class Auditor-General who, I believe, has the interests of open, transparent and accountable government at heart.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, the Chief Minister’s response was, with respect, less than satisfactory. I make this point very clear: we do not allege, nor have we ever alleged, corruption in relation to matters arising from the Auditor-General’s report. What we assert is that the Treasurer and other government ministers are not doing their jobs properly because of the matters found and identified by the Auditor-General.
Whereas the Chief Minister preferred not to outline what those matters were, I, on the other hand – and perhaps not surprisingly – wish to outline them. I am referring to matters contained or listed in the Auditor-General’s August 2007 report commencing at page 38. I will quote from the issues that he has highlighted in relation to particular agencies:
- Failure to adhere to the Agency’s own policies for the approval of hospitality expenditure.
Another one:
- Raising of purchase orders following the receipt of invoices from suppliers.
Next one – I will just list them. I am sure Hansard does not need me to separately quote them:
- Deficiencies in the recording the fixed assets.
Lack of evidence of the receipt of goods and services not withstanding that payment had been made.
Another one:
- Inadequate documentation to support the reimbursement of telephone costs for official business.
Another one:
- Lack of documentation to support official travel.
Here we go again. I would have thought Territorians would be interested in this stuff:
- Lack of evidence of approval for purchases using corporate credit card.
That is at page 41:
- Lack of internal audit capacity as required by the Financial Management Act.
I will come back to that. Another one at page 42:
- Inadequate procedures for the collection of public money in that appointment of officers performing the collection function had not been officially appointed and no cash register was maintained.
Another one:
- Lack of regular reconciliations between work in progress and land asset balances.
The Auditor-General raised these, as he is obliged to do. These are serious matters. These are not just one-off instances that are popping up in the report. Indeed, the Treasurer in the Parliamentary Record on 29 August 2007 referred to it as a ‘trend’; that the Auditor-General noted a trend in relation to these matters. The Attorney-General referred to it, in addition, as ‘a theme of a weakness creeping into internal controls across a number of areas’. Let us be very clear about this. On 29 August 2007, in an answer to a question asked by the opposition, the Attorney-General and Treasurer - the same person - said that the Auditor-General was talking about ‘an emerging theme of a weakness creeping into internal controls across a number of areas’. Even the Treasurer, who has a number of responsibilities under the Financial Management Act, said, yes, there are a number of problems.
The Treasurer did not do terribly well when he was asked about this report on 29 August 2007 and sought to correct, or at least vastly improve, on the answer the following day; that is, on 29 August, the Treasurer seemed to, in the first instance, resent the question being asked, but then he said that the Auditor-General, did not qualify an amount next to the comments he made in relation to agencies, and that there would have been a response from the responsible agency in the Auditor-General’s report. The Treasurer, obviously, forgot or was not aware when he got to his feet that, in fact, there was a response from each agency in relation to the matters raised. He sought, if my memory serves me correctly, to remedy that the next day.
The point I make is this: what the Treasurer said on 29 August, and his approach generally given his responsibilities under the Financial Management Act, clearly demonstrate that he has taken his eye off the ball. Indeed, the fact that the Auditor-General refers to the Financial Management Act might have even encouraged the Treasurer, on 29 August, to address this issue. You would have thought that it would have alerted him to these problems. In fact, the Treasurer said, when answering a question on 29 August:
- I will be seeking a very early meeting with both Treasury and with the Auditor-General to go across the issues.
That sounded impressive. What it suggests is that, prior to the release of the Auditor-General’s report, he had no idea in relation to any agency - no idea …
Mr Stirling: How would I? Do you think he comes and gives me a copy before it is tabled in here?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms CARNEY: You have no idea, no idea …
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Madam Speaker! She is accusing me ...
Ms Carney: Listen, listen, there is no point of order and you know it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: The Leader of the Opposition is accusing me of gross impropriety in the sense that the Auditor-General comes along to my office, gives me a copy of the report, and says: ‘Syd, some bad things here; I have to give you the heads up’. It does not happen like that, you idiot.
Ms Carney: I assert no such thing, Sydney. I do not …
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr STIRLING: It is tabled in this House; I see it the same time as everyone else.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, resume your seat. I ask you to withdraw the word ‘idiot’ please.
Mr STIRLING: I withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: No, I have decided on this point of order.
Ms LAWRIE: It is a separate point of order.
Madam SPEAKER: I will handle this one first. Leader of the Opposition, you are aware that reports from the Auditor-General come to the parliament to me, before they go to members …
Ms Carney: I am very much aware of that, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: I would like you to withdraw any comments relating to that.
Ms CARNEY: I withdraw the comments. If the Treasurer misinterpreted what I said …
Mr Stirling: No, I did not.
Ms CARNEY: … then I apologise. But I made no such assertion.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, cease interjecting. You have withdrawn.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, my point of order is to request that the Leader of the Opposition withdraw the foul language she just used in the Chamber directed at the Attorney-General. I heard her very clearly.
Madam SPEAKER: I am sorry, I actually did not.
Ms CARNEY: It may have been offensive, Madam Speaker. I withdraw the word ‘deadhead’.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you. Please resume.
Ms CARNEY: Madam Speaker, let us be very clear about this. Not for a moment do I assert - nor would I, because it would be absurd to do so - that the Auditor-General slips it under your door. What I assert is that as the Auditor-General was going through the departments coming up with what are regarded, on any objective analysis, significant issues and significant failings within a range of departments. Given the Treasurer’s responsibility under the Financial Management Act, he had no idea about any of these issues before he saw them in the Auditor-General’s report which is, obviously, tabled in the parliament and then we all have a look at it.
I resent the assertion that the Treasurer, who ought to know better, is of the view that I suggested that the Auditor-General slips it under his door. My point is that the bloke who is meant to have responsibilities for agencies and what they are doing with Territory money had, apparently, no idea of this failure before he read it in the Auditor-General’s report. You have to ask: what does that tell you about the Treasurer? It tells that he, like his colleagues, has become so drunk on power he sails through his day and does not think that he needs to do his job. He does not think that he needs to be responsible for the way agencies administer public money.
It is noteworthy that the Auditor-General says: that these difficulties, which were outlined at the beginning, were encountered at more than one agency. Therefore, the Treasurer cannot say: ‘Oh, well, it was one or two agencies’. Although the Auditor-General made no reference to it, we understand that, predominantly, the areas of concern were in Education and Health, but we also understand that it ranged across a number of agencies.
The Auditor-General said at page 42 as a result of all of these failings:
- This suggests that the need for sound internal controls, intended to ensure that public moneys are properly accounted for and spent only in accordance with legal requirements and that if value for money is achieved, may not always be appreciated by management
So be it. The point I make in respect of this is that the Auditor-General fully understands - as does everyone in this House except, apparently, the Treasurer - the importance of the effective and transparent administration of public monies. The Treasurer feigned interest on 29 August and said he would be seeking a Treasury explanation. He, obviously, knows absolutely nothing about these failings. The Treasurer knows nothing about agencies’ lack of documentation to support official travel. He knows nothing in relation to an agency or agencies’ lack of evidence for approval of purchases using corporate credit cards. He knows nothing, apparently, about an agency’s or a number of agencies’ failure to adhere to their own policies for the approval of hospitality expenditure. He knows nothing, apparently, of deficiencies in the recording of fixed assets.
At budget time, the Treasurer bounced in here and talked about lots of money and assets and all that sort of thing, giving the impression that he actually knows what he is talking about. You cannot come in here and go through the motions and then say: ‘I do not want to have anything else to do with it for the rest of the year’.
I thank the Auditor-General for his report. I am concerned that the Chief Minister, in her response, said - if I heard it correctly - that the problems are being taken seriously by CEOs. I am concerned for this reason: I do not remember the Chief Minister saying: ‘We, as ministers of the Crown, we as responsible ministers for each agency, or even my colleague, the Treasurer, are mightily concerned about this’. There was nothing about where the buck stops. She simply said: ‘Oh, yes, CEOs are concerned’. I am sure they are. They should be concerned because it is public money that we are dealing with.
No corruption is alleged. What is alleged is that the Treasurer of the Northern Territory is not across the issue. He clearly knew nothing about what can be regarded as quite damning failings within a number of agencies. I find it astonishing that the Treasurer, given the wonderful Financial Management Act and everything this Treasurer has said since he has been Treasurer about transparency and the responsibility of government and what happens with the money, is not across a number of failings in respect of public monies.
For the most part, that represents the opposition’s concerns in relation to the Auditor-General’s report. I note that on page 5 he gave a reasonably short history of some financial resourcing problems he has experienced within his agency, and makes the point that the decline was corrected during 2006 and 2007. The opposition is very pleased to hear that because we know about the great work the Auditor-General does. I agree with the Chief Minister when she praised our Auditor-General. I believe the Territory is very lucky to have him. The opposition speaks with the Auditor-General frequently, and we are very grateful for the professional assistance he provides to us.
However, Madam Speaker, we do not believe it is appropriate for a Treasurer to duck his responsibilities. We do not believe it is appropriate for a Treasurer to, apparently, have absolutely no idea about what could be described as systemic failings within a number of agencies when it comes to the spending and subsequent accountability of public monies. That is an issue that we regard seriously.
If the shoe was on the other foot, the member for Nhulunbuy would, presumably, be standing here, having had for lunch whatever Mr Wood had for lunch, screaming at the top of his voice at these findings. I appreciate that the Treasurer will have a go after this, but you cannot actually attack this report. You do, Treasurer, have nowhere to go with it. What I would like to hear from you, through you, Madam Speaker, is what you have done since 29 August 2007 in relation to putting in place processes or directions to senior public servants - you know I am talking about those at the executive level - to ensure that the next Auditor-General’s report does not include some of these failings.
He did say, at page 42, that this area ‘will be the subject of continuing attention’. I look forward to hearing from the Treasurer about what he has done and, perhaps, what he proposes to do, and whether there are any time lines that he has implemented. He did say that he would have a briefing; I assume that has occurred. We look forward very much, as usual, Madam Speaker, to hearing from the member for Nhulunbuy.
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I do not know whether I will entertain or dignify the comments made by the member for Araluen with a response, except to say that I can remember when you talked about ineptitude, incompetence and flaws. There was one CEO of a Health department, under a CLP government, running up many thousands of dollars in bottle shops against a credit card - bottle shops against a credit card. One may well have wondered about the diligence of a particular Treasurer at the time or, indeed, the minister for Health, or, indeed, a whole lot of people in government at that time. My goodness! We have come a long way from the days when DBIRD loans went to people, when the Treasurer of the day, one Barry Coulter, stood in this Chamber and said ‘yachts to the Caribbean’. I do not know what happened to that loan. We think it finished up in a yacht that disappeared to the Caribbean. This government has come a long way, indeed.
I did hear the member for Araluen state and claim that she meets with the Auditor-General on a regular basis. I do hope that is the case, and I hope that she takes the opportunity to meet the Auditor-General regarding this report. Presumably, she has not yet. She would not have let go with that diatribe that she did in the last 20 minutes if she had met with Frank McGuiness on this very subject.
I acknowledge Frank’s role as Auditor-General, Madam Speaker. He does a terrific job for the Northern Territory. It gives me great confidence that our books and our responsibilities are in good shape.
The other point I want to pick up from the member for Araluen is that she has a strange idea of the Westminster system of individual ministerial responsibility and collective responsibility at the end of the day. If she thinks the Treasurer sits on the back, on the shoulder, of every CEO of every agency in this government, and sits at the shoulder of every minister, and watches what they do every day, I can tell you, as Treasurer, Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, I have plenty to keep me busy without visiting every minister and every CEO’s office every day to ensure that they are doing their job according to every piece of legislation that they are empowered to implement. It does not work like that. Sure, there is end responsibility; however, the matters of government are very much in the hands of the minister and the CEO of their respective agency.
We are well served by Frank McGuiness. His work enables this government and the legislature to examine how the public service operates and, most importantly, how we can improve financial performance of government and efficiency across the board - again evident in this Auditor-General’s August 2007 report which provides independent analysis on the results of audits completed in the six months ended 30 June 2007.
This period did see increased focus on internal agency control systems and audit functions, and the report offers a summary of findings for agencies, while more detailed findings were issued to chief executive officers following the completion of each audit. The Auditor-General makes it clear in his report - and he reiterated to me when the Under Treasurer and I met with him to discuss these findings - his intent was to offer a general thrust of areas and issues that need a closer focus and look across agencies. As he noted, while individual issues may not be considered to be material in themselves, that is, they are not tens of thousand of dollars in bottle shops, they are not yachts to the Caribbean and DBERD – DIB it used to be – loans. They do need to be identified to ensure agencies focus on potential weaknesses, strengthen management controls and, ultimately, reduce the risk of any loss of assets or fraud.
I have raised these areas of concern, of course, with the heads of my portfolio agencies. I have requested other ministers do the same to ensure that the Auditor-General’s priorities are automatically agency priorities. Generally, that is the case without even requesting that attention to it. These issues always needs to be under the microscope, particularly aspects such as hospitality expenditure, receipts of goods and services, documentation supporting official travel and, importantly, improving evidence of approval for purchases using corporate credit cards.
The Auditor-General stated quite clearly he intends to examine the adequacy of the internal audit function in agencies in the coming months to ensure they are effective. This demonstrates, as I pointed out last sittings, he is an Auditor-General who does not randomly throw audit hand grenades, but wants to fix any weaknesses he finds in any system. He knows the best way to do that is to push agencies in the right direction, give them a wake-up call, and then check, and check again, to ensure they have put the best systems and controls in place to overcome those weaknesses and mitigate against any chance of fraud or loss of assets.
Madam Speaker, I commend the Auditor-General for his report, and my portfolio agencies for working hard to ensure they meet the Auditor-General’s necessarily high standards. I encourage the member for Araluen to undertake and continue to have the regular meetings she claims to have with the Auditor-General. I urge her to have one with him as soon as possible regarding this report. She might then have a less strident attitude and approach to it in this Chamber once she has had an opportunity to speak directly with him.
Ms LAWRIE (Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage): Madam Speaker, I join with the Attorney-General in thanking the Auditor-General for his report.
Both the Department of Planning and Infrastructure, and the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, were included in the whole-of-government issues which the Treasurer has already responded to. The Auditor-General also looked at a couple of additional issues in agencies for which I have ministerial responsibility.
In relation to Darwin Port Corporation, the report looked at the financial management systems. This is detailed in pages 18 to 20 in the report. The audit found that the IT controls over the Finance 1 system which the Darwin Port Corporation uses for financial management were considered unsatisfactory. The response of the port is outlined in the Auditor-General’s report. These are very detailed comments. I will not repeat them, but suffice to say the port acknowledges the deficiencies and has put in place a range of measures to deal with each individual concern the audit raised.
In the Department of Planning and Infrastructure, the Auditor-General issued qualified audit opinions in relation to four or five acquittals of grants prepared by the department in respect of road funding grants received from the Commonwealth. The Oznet 1 - that is, the Oznet National Network Program - is currently worth $186.1m over five years from 2004-05 to 2008-09. It should be noted that the qualified opinions issued by the Auditor-General relate to the timing of the reporting and audit only, and no anomalies in the receipt or expenditure of Commonwealth funds have been identified by the Auditor-General. In the 2006–07 financial year, some delays occurred in the receipt of Commonwealth funding. The works on the AusLink network continued as planned with the Territory government funding the planned works until payments were received from the Commonwealth. Whilst annual variations to receipts and expenditure will occur, those variations will not impact on the total current value of the program to the Territory.
The Territory government was reimbursed and fully paid for all eligible works under the AusLink program to the end of the 2006-07 financial year. Delays in preparing financial reports for the 2005-06 financial year occurred due to a requirement to undertake a detail reconciliation of the previous five years of National Highways Program receipts and expenditure to confirm records between DOTARS and the Territory. The reporting and audit requirement was also increased as a result of changes to the Commonwealth funding levels under new programs, and also has contributed to the delays.
The Department of Planning and Infrastructure is confident that, having completed the whole of program life reporting required at the end of 2005-06, it will in future be in a position to meet the legislative reporting requirements for AusLink programs. I thank the Auditor-General for his report and my agencies for their responses to the issues raised.
Dr BURNS (Health): Madam Speaker, during the August sittings the Auditor-General tabled his report on audits conducted during the six months to 30 June 2007. The Auditor-General’s August Report summarised the results of statutory audits of financial statements, information technology audits, and compliance orders.
The Auditor-General’s compliance audits focused on assessing the extent to which agencies adhered to the legislative requirements and the extent to which their internal control environment was adequate. Compliance audits were performed in each of 10 government agencies including the Department of Health and Community Services. The report addressed a broad range of important governance issues. These include the financial reporting of tertiary institutions such as Charles Darwin University, Batchelor Institute and Menzies School of Health Research.
Also included in the Auditor-General’s report are reviews of the information and technology systems that support financial management processes of government agencies. Receiving particular attention from the Auditor-General was the Government Accounting System, GAS, and the Personnel Information and Payroll System or PIPS.
The Auditor-General’s information technology audits focused on the extent to which IT systems supported financial management processes. The report also included a significant number of compliance audits assessing the extent to which agencies have adhered to legislative requirements and the extent to which their internal control environments are adequate.
A number of general issues across government agencies were identified by the Auditor-General which caused a degree of concern, and which will require quick action by agencies to improve the effectiveness of their control environments. Some of these issues include failure of agencies to adhere to their own policies for the approval of hospitality expenditure; raising purchase orders following the receipt of invoices; lack of receipts for goods and services; inadequate documentation for the reimbursement of telephone and official travel expenses; and inadequate internal audit capacity.
The Department of Health and Community Services has acknowledged its need to improve its internal controls, and the financial and human resource management capacity of its staff. It has continued to invest heavily in this area. A wide range of training and development programs are being provided across the Territory. A total of 11 640 training activities were attended by 3618 individual staff members throughout 2006-07. This equates to 45 174 hours of training, an increase of 7.4% in total training hours compared with 2005-06. The department spent $2.99m on training and development activities for the 2006-07 financial year, including expenditure on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cadets, a 30% increase from the previous year.
Building on the success of the cost centre manager training, a new corporately sponsored professional development initiative, essential in leading people and managing procurement, was developed for extensive consultation to better satisfy the training needs of the department’s current and aspiring managers and leaders. A total of 469 Department of Health and Community Services employees attended the essential suite of training, with further sessions planned for 2007-08. A stage 2, which will concentrate on more advanced skills development, will be released in 2007-08.
The Department of Health and Community Services is actively recruiting to the positions of Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer. These positions will provide leadership and direction to further corporate governance within the department.
The Auditor-General’s statutory audits of financial reports included the Charles Darwin University and Menzies School of Health Research. In particular, the Menzies audit finding, including end-of-year accounting and control procedures, were found to be generally satisfactory; IT controls over the payroll and finance system were considered to be unsatisfactory; and there was no evidence of incident handling and response procedures to an attempt that was made by someone to gain unauthorised entry to the school’s computer network.
I am assured by the Menzies School of Health Research - and I have discussed this matter with Jonathan Carapetis, who heads the Menzies School of Health Research - that they have taken the Auditor-General’s comments on board and they will be remedying the issues that have been raised.
Similarly, with the Department of Health and Community Services, I am sure all the valid points that have been raised by the Auditor-General will be addressed by the department. I give an undertaking that, as minister, I will be asking questions as follow-up to ensure that the Auditor-General’s comments and issues raised have been taken on board, dealt with, and remedied.
Madam Speaker, I pay tribute to our Auditor-General. He does a fantastic job. He is someone with an eye for detail as well as the bigger picture. When the Auditor-General comes forward with issues, as a government we have always listened to that, and have encouraged our departments to properly respond to comments and issues raised by the Auditor-General.
Mr McADAM (Corporate and Information Services): Madam Speaker, I respond to Auditor-General’s August 2007 Report to the Legislative Assembly as it relates to comments made in relation to the Department of Corporate and Information Services.
First, on page 13 of the report, the Auditor-General made reference to the information technology controlled environment, and made two recommendations under that heading. Second, on pages 14 and 15, the Auditor-General discussed the Government Accounting System and the Personal Information and Payroll System. In relation to GAS and PIPS, the Auditor-General made a number of specific findings. I intend to address these recommendations and findings as they are related to the two headings in the report.
The first recommendation concerning the information technology controlled environment is that the process governing user access administration for GAS applications to be standardised. I am advised that the processes to administer system access for users for the Government Accounting System will be standardised and strengthened through an updated identity management system, known as ePASS 2 currently being developed for implementation across government. The ePASS 2 system will control the verification of user’s identity and access to GAS.
The second recommendation concerning the information technology controlled environment is that further attention be given by the department to implementing recommendations contained in a 2006 consultant’s report dealing with disaster recovery. I am advised that the consultancy review of disaster recovery options for the Chan data centre provided a number of recommendations to improve the centre’s capacity to withstand a disaster level event. These recommendations have been implemented. In addition, a planning for a disaster recovery exercise is under way to test the centre’s preparedness.
The review also recommended the investigation of options to provide a level of IT capacity which will enable the operation of business-critical systems in the event of the data centre being completely disabled. This could mean establishing a second data centre at another site, complete with IT requirement and data that could be used to run the government’s main IT systems - for example, the Health and Police systems - if the Chan data centre is unable to operate. The cost of creating and maintaining a second data centre with spare capacity is considerable. This investigation of options is progressing, with cost-benefit analysis being undertaken and a business case being developed.
From the outset, I should point out that the comments regarding DCIS on page 15 of the Auditor-General’s report contains a misprint. In the second sentence, DCIS advice to the Auditor-General was that the specific issues raised have been reviewed. The published DCIS comment is incorrect. The Auditor-General has been advised and will issue a corrigendum to its report.
The first issue arising from this matter relates to reconciliation of an internal clearing account for the Construction Division. The accounting treatment, for some specific transactions dating back four years, has resulted in the amounts for these transactions affecting ledger reconciliations. The Construction Division has more complex reconciliation requirements. This is due to the interaction of transactions processed through the Asset Information System, and a high volume of transactions with other agencies that are processed through a clearing account. This complexity led to a delay in completing the account reconciliation. The account was reconciled and cleared to a nil balance before the end of the financial year.
With regard to the treatment of the old transactions, the options for rectification are being assessed as these transactions cannot be processed in the usual manner. Resolution options are being discussed with the Auditor-General’s Office.
The second issue arising from GAS and PIPS, on page 14, is the need for enhanced controls over payment of accounts. I am advised that the current control processes to ensure payments are appropriate and accurate include provision of daily payment reports that are checked, both within DCIS and NT Treasury, to monitor payments to help avoid incorrect payments being made. To further strengthen payment monitoring processes, DCIS has developed a new report that focuses on higher value payments. This report allows specific monitoring of high-value payments to provide additional assurance that any significant payments made from the NT government account are correct.
Another specific finding on page 14 is the need to ensure that vendor records in GAS include Australian Business Numbers. A vendor record is kept for every entity to which the NT government makes payments. It provides a record of the entity’s details, including bank account details, to process payments electronically. For GST registered companies and businesses, the vendor record also includes the entity’s Australian Business Number. I am advised that DCIS undertakes a full review of vendor records semi-annually to check accuracy and completeness of records. The review originally scheduled for October 2006 was delayed due to the relocation of the unit that manages vendor records to DCIS’s Palmerston office, and other resourcing requirements. This review was completed later in that year. The tax treatment of payments made to vendors has been correctly applied, with tax deducted where required.
Another finding on page 14 is delays in reviewing the GAS security profile report. Agencies are advised monthly the schedules of all staff who have access to their ledgers are available for the agencies to review and verify their users with access to GAS to ensure current and appropriate practices. I am advised that DCIS has now implemented a regular three-monthly review of DCIS staff with access to GAS to ensure that only appropriate and properly authorised staff retain access to GAS.
This issue is linked to the GAS user access administration issue on page 13 of the Auditor-General’s report. Controls over staff access to GAS can be improved once ePASS System 2 becomes operational and has this functionality incorporated into the system.
Page 14 of the report also includes the finding of the need for improved monitoring of debtors. The audit issues relate to a lack of annotation of status on aged debtors reports. All debtors are reported and reports monitored, but staff are not handwriting notes on collection status and age of debts alongside some entries in the report. Information on the age of each debt is recorded in the debtor’s system, and is appropriately monitored. Overall, debt management controls are adequate, and the audit issue is relatively minor. Annotation of collection status has been improved and reports updated. Another report is being developed to highlight debtors with a collection status for regular review and update.
The report also raised the need for regular reviews of advanced accounts, and the review and follow-up of PIPS exception reports. The issue with advanced accounts relates to quite a few minor irregularities with forms; for example, electronic copies held as opposed to hard copies. Procedures have now been reinforced, including a requirement to review and sign hand-over take-over forms each time the holder of an advanced account changes.
In relations to PIPS exception reports, DCIS is addressing issues raised through an internal review of reporting, and audit processes covering responsibility of audit action areas, ownership of files, communication between business units, and standard operating procedures and staff training compliances with those procedures. Additionally, DCIS will continue targeted training programs for payroll services, particularly the detailed training for new staff which will be provided through the payroll school initiative.
Finally, in relation to PIPS, the Auditor-General’s report raised the issue of deviations from standard PIPS operating procedures with regard to recording the commencement and termination of employees, and controls over payroll disbursement. I am advised that DCIS is emphasising procedural requirements and staff training, and enforcing tighter adherence to standard operating procedures. In relation to recording the commencement and termination of employees, the main issues were unavailable personnel files and incomplete documentation on files, such as checklists and calculation reports. The files not found within DCIS were held by relevant agencies on agency instruction. DCIS will investigate options for establishing base records for personnel files not held by DCIS.
In regards to controls over payroll disbursement, the issue centres on salary processes for monitoring salary overpayments reports, and tax file number reports. DCIS will develop an audit report to evidence nil overpayments. DCIS has recently developed a salary overpayments database system, otherwise known as ePOD, to record, monitor, and automate some processes for dealing with overpayments. The audit requirements for recovery schedules is addressed to the new ePOD system which links to both the HR and accounting systems, PIPS and GAS. The recording and management of overpayments will be enhanced through the ePOD system.
In conclusion, Mr Deputy Speaker, I pay a sincere tribute to Mr Frank McGuiness, the Auditor-General, for his stringent oversight, transparent approach, and management controls as they apply to government. I, like other ministers in this House, seriously appreciate his stewardship of his role, and wish to make very clear that we will ensure all issues raised by the Auditor-General now, and into the future, will be addressed in a serious manner.
Mr VATSKALIS (Business and Economic Development): Mr Deputy Speaker, I speak in response to the Attorney-General’s response on the Auditor-General’s August 2007 Report.
As Minister for Essential Services, I am responsible for the Power and Water Corporation. The corporation was audited in this period, and the Auditor-General recommended eight changes for Power and Water, primarily to do with their IT systems. I report that Power and Water agreed with all eight findings, and has already corrected them prior to the report, since the report, or is going to correct them as soon as possible.
All eight findings were in relation to general computer controls, which are the IT systems that support the Financial Management System, Work Information Management System, and Retail Management System based on the criteria set out in the scope and objectives.
I will go through each finding to demonstrate how Power and Water has addressed the Auditor-General’s concerns.
Audit Finding 1 - formalise the project for the upgrade critical business system servers for the Financial Management System. Power and Water Corporation agreed with the recommendations and the project plan has now been developed, and incorporates the date, the milestones, resources, risk, and a scheduled go-live date. Progress is reported to the Power and Water Corporation.
Audit Finding 2 - review and implement improvements in the security in the UNIX operating system security environment. The Power and Water Corporation has agreed with all the recommendations and has been able to implement the recommendation for the Financial Management System and Work Information Management System servers security environment. The recommendations for the Retail Management System environment are currently being addressed.
Audit Finding 3 - improve security over network user account. Power and Water Corporation agreed with the recommendations and has already implemented active directory security policies to address this. In addition, further work has been undertaken with the outsource providers, Fujitsu, to reduce the number of network user accounts required. The corporation will continue to actively monitor Fujitsu domain administrator user accounts.
Audit Finding 4 - continue work on the development of a firewall that would give the corporation greater control of incoming traffic. The corporation will continue to work with DCIS and the outsourced service provider, Telstra, to develop a more appropriate firewall architecture.
Audit Finding 5 - review of all database account for FMS, WIMS and RMS to remove all opportunities for inappropriate access to the systems. Power and Water Corporation agreed with the recommendation and the specific accounts identified have been reviewed and were removed and/or amended as appropriate. An annual review process has been developed to ensure this will not recur.
Audit Finding 6 - introduce regular, forced changes to users’ passwords. Most systems already have forced changes to the users’ passwords, and Power and Water Corporation agreed with the recommendation to introduce this for the systems where this was not in place. This was implemented as a priority.
Audit Finding 7 - ensure that terminated users are removed from the system in a timely manner. All identified obsolete accounts have already been ceased, and the process to monitor user accounts has been redesigned to significantly reduce the possibility of the problem recurring.
Audit Finding 8 - implement access restrictions that limit users’ rights to update or delete jobs with the Financial Management System. Power and Water Corporation agreed with the recommendation and a review of the security environment of the Financial Management System is currently being undertaking, which will include access restriction over the scheduled task list to protect critical jobs.
I am pleased to say that Power and Water have responded in a timely and professional manner. I commend them on their prompt response.
The Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development, for which I am responsible, was not audited in the last six months. However, they have been proactive and have taken on board the recommendations from the Auditor-General. DBERD has implemented a number of new internal control processes to ensure procurement and contract legislation is being adhered to, which incorporates guarantees and indemnities.
DBERD has also introduced the electronic Travel Request Information Processing System. They have also recently reviewed and updated their Accounting and Property Manual along with delegations and travel guidelines.
I commend my department for the proactive approach to the Auditor-General’s findings.
Lastly, as Minister responsible for the Sport and Recreation portfolio of the Department of Local Government, Housing and Sport, I advise the department was subject to a routine compliance audit undertaken by the Auditor-General’s Office. On completion of the audit, the department has taken on board the recommendations from the Auditor-General and is currently reviewing its internal processes to ensure matters identified are properly addressed.
Since the audit, the department has introduced the electronic Travel Request Information Processing System. The department is also reviewing and updating its Accounting and Property Manual and internal procedures to ensure better compliance with procurement legislation.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I commend all three of my departments on their approach to these findings and their professional and prompt action to address any concerns that were raised.
Mr HENDERSON (Education, Employment and Training): Mr Deputy Speaker, I commend the Auditor-General on his report to the parliament.
I will be speaking in relation to my agencies of Employment, Education and Training, Tourism, Commissioner for Public Employment, and Multicultural Affairs. There were no specific points raised by the Auditor-General specific to those agencies. However, there were comments made in regards to Charles Darwin University, the Charles Darwin University Foundation Trust, and Batchelor Institute which, although I do not technically have responsibility for financial management, as the minister responsible for the legislation that established the university and Batchelor, I will make some comments.
In respect of the Department of Employment, Education and Training, there was no specific adverse mention of any agency in the general agency compliance audit that the Leader of the Opposition so theatrically and hysterically made comment about. The report made a number of recommendations involving findings from agency compliance audits in various agencies including DEET. DEET provided no comment for inclusion in the Auditor-General’s report. Of the issues that were identified by the Auditor-General across selected agencies, DEET will be looking at whether these specific comments related to controls within that agency. If the comments are in relation to controls or lack of controls, or controls that needed to be amended or upgraded, then DEET will take those issues on board.
The Leader of the Opposition went right over the top regarding this report. All of us take the Auditor-General’s periodic reports to the Assembly very seriously. It is an institution that has independent access to government agency accounts, and oversighting the expenditure of public money is an important part of the framework of accountability and transparency. The Auditor-General and his staff do a great job.
If you read the agency compliance audits and some of the issues that the Auditor-General commented on, with some sort of conspiracy theory and a degree of intensity in some of the words on the page - which the Leader of the Opposition tried to ascribe - they probably would be alarming. However, the Auditor-General has not identified, in regard to the scope of these issues, any significant - however you determine that word - financial exposures. His report has gone to controls that need to be implemented, amended or upgraded as part of the checks and balances for the receipt and expenditure of large amounts of public money.
Across the Northern Territory government across all agencies, the budget is something like $3.2bn, which is an extraordinary sum of money in anyone’s sphere of reference. As ministers, CEOs and Chief Financial Officers, we all have to be absolutely accountable for the expenditure as per legislation for that $3.2bn. I would have thought that, in reporting to this parliament, if the Auditor-General had significant concerns for that lack of controls that were leading to significant financial issues for agencies, he would have reported specifically in relation to that agency.
I believe he is just looking a general tightening of controls. He is looking at and making comments to CEOs and CFOs that there are very specific requirements under different legislation that require accountabilities and that, in some of those agencies, those accountabilities are not as transparent as they could or should be. He is making recommendations in that light. I would have thought if there were significant exposures in regards to an individual agency or across government, that very much would have been either (a) highlighted in his report or (b) independent findings provided to Treasury.
The Leader of the Opposition went right over the top. I certainly did not read, in any of the Auditor-General’s report, any allegations that there were significant and large exposures to the public account. If you are going to go to the theatrics and some of the hyperbole levied at my colleague, the Treasurer, regarding his accountabilities and performance in his role as Treasurer …
Ms Carney: Look at the way he treated me.
Mr HENDERSON: I will just make the point that it was the Leader of the Opposition who came in here, screaming like a banshee, and being totally theatrical …
Ms Lawrie: Swearing.
Mr HENDERSON: Yes, just really right over the top regarding the accountabilities for the Treasurer. I will make a point that, as the Treasurer said, we have come a long way as a parliament since self-government, from the history and the cavalier days of money in one hand and out the other, and do not ask too many questions, and the end justified the means. That was the mentality at self-government. There was a lot of easy Commonwealth money around, the boys were in town - and there were a lot of good things.
I agree with the member for Blain, there were a lot of good things done in those days but, over the years, through auditing standards, national standards, international standards, the evolving accountability and transparency requirements in the Westminster system, and also with the advent of the change of government in the Northern Territory, there is an enormous amount of accountability in the system that was not there just as little as seven or eight years ago. The Leader of the Opposition forgets that.
It was this government that inherited, in August 2001, a projected budget deficit of $126m, when the budget papers that were actually handed to this parliament, just eight weeks prior to the election, predicted a budget deficit for the 2001-02 financial year of $12m. That was the extent of the transparency and accountability that existed under the previous CLP governments’ regime. If you really want to talk about the capability of Treasurers, or whether the books have been somehow aligned for presentational purposes just prior to an election, we had a financial exposure of $114m that emerged in eight weeks, that the people of the Northern Territory were not aware of at the time they went to the election in 2001.
If the Leader of the Opposition wants to make all sorts of allegations about the competence or otherwise of the Treasurer, the member for Nhulunbuy, there was a very specific issue around the transparency and accountability of $114m that she seems to forget was the legacy of the last CLP government. Mr McGuiness and the Auditor-General’s department have not pointed to anything in the realms of that amount of money. He made comments about controls around hospitality expenditure; receipt of invoices from suppliers; the recording of fixed assets; receipts of goods and services; documentation to support reimbursement of phone costs for official business; lack of documentation to support official travel; and evidence of approval of purchases using corporate credit cards.
These are all important things that there need to be appropriate controls over in regard to the accountability for public money but, in themselves, they do not add up to huge exposures for the taxpayer, the likes of which used to exist under previous CLP government regimes. It was this government which introduced the Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Act, which requires the Treasurer, in presenting budgets into this House and, therefore, for the people of the Northern Territory, signed off by Treasury as an agency that those figures presented in the budget papers for the budget of that particular year, and two years out in forward estimates, are actually Treasury documents, Treasury projections, and not some work of fiction in the Treasurer’s office to be dished up for presentation purposes. Therefore, in regard to integrity and transparency around the budget, this government has moved a long way towards implementing transparency and accountability, the like of which was never even dreamed of by members opposite.
Obviously, in regard to a budget of some $3.2bn, there are always going to be areas of accountability and accounting that need to be tightened up. That is why the Auditor-General does the job that he does. He does a very important job for the people of the Northern Territory.
Mr Deputy Speaker, with those comments I thank the Auditor-General and his office for the work that they do. It is invaluable for us, as ministers in the parliament, that there is this oversight. The reports he provides to the House are taken very seriously by the ministers and this House, and should not be turned into some sort of theatrical political stunt such as the Leader of the Opposition did this evening in this Chamber.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank everyone for their contribution. As pretty well each speaker said today, we value very much the Audit-General overseeing the financial management across government. It was interesting to hear some of the different views of the debate.
Like the Leader of Government Business, I was disappointed to hear the Leader of the Opposition’s words. Being hysterical and yelling a lot does not produce good arguments, and being abusive of members on this side of the House does not actually support any argument either. It is disappointing that, rather than look at exactly what the Auditor-General was highlighting in the report, the Opposition Leader alleged a conspiracy somehow or other. I thought that was a very pathetic attempt at analysis and reflects on the Opposition Leader rather than any other speaker in this House.
The compliant audits of agencies which were are very important. Again, going back to that this was linked to corruption or some fundamental flaw in the system, is not what the Auditor-General is saying here. He is identifying, through his compliance orders, whether there are areas that we need to improve across a whole range of agencies. He identified those agencies in his report and, of course, we welcome that.
To say, as the Opposition Leader did, that somehow or other, the Treasurer knew the specifics of this and had somehow covered it up is a load of rubbish. That really demeans the Auditor-General. The Auditor-General, when he wants to identify an agency and some practice that has happened, let me say, he puts it in his report. He does not prevaricate, he does not take it softly - he is very direct when he wants to identify an issue, a procedure, or a lack of procedure that needs changing.
This compliance audit, very specifically, looks across a range of agencies at areas that need to be strengthened. This is a good thing and we welcome the oversight of the Auditor-General, because each and every agency can always take a closer look at what they are doing. As I said in my response to the Auditor-General’s report earlier, because we have such a high turnover in our public sector - something like 25% of our 16 000-plus public servants turn over each year - it is up to us, as a government and public sector, to continue that training and to be always vigilant about the practices in place.
Whether that is the way hospitality is run, deficiencies in the recording of fixed assets, or documentation of reimbursement, all that is important. They are small aspects of an agency’s financial management, but they are important. This kind of compliance audit from the Auditor-General is very important in highlighting those aspects.
We welcome it. I am very conscious that not just the CEOS of the agencies named but all CEOs and financial officers were looking very carefully at the recommendations made by the Auditor-General and had already responded.
I thank everyone for their contribution to this debate. I thank the Auditor-General for the important work he does in the Territory. We look forward to the February report he will deliver in a fearless and accountable way to this parliament.
Motion agreed to; paper noted.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
Primary Industry Market Indicator
Primary Industry Market Indicator
Mr NATT (Primary Industry and Fisheries): Mr Deputy Speaker, yesterday I had the pleasure of launching the Primary Industry Market Indicator, or PIMI as we call it. It is the culmination of work within my Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines that has taken place over the past two years. For the last few months, PIMI has been available on the department’s website as a consultation trial allowing stakeholders and users the opportunity to provide feedback.
Put simply, PIMI is a new Internet-based tool to analyse and identify market opportunities for different primary industry products for both the domestic and international market place. Its primary aim is to provide information to assist in maintaining and further developing existing markets, and to identify future market potential through strategic development programs. It brings together all available information on domestic and export markets in one place. As I will explain later, there is also the capacity for the model that has been developed for PIMI to be used for other industry sectors such as the education and health services industries.
Before discussing PIMI and the model that has been developed, it is important to provide a contextual background, an explanation of why we are interested in developing this new tool. The Northern Territory Economic Development Framework that was developed out of the Economic Summit held in 2005 identified five key objectives for building a prosperous, dynamic and sustainable economic future for the Northern Territory: regional growth; investment in the Territory; development of our workforce; improvements in productivity; and environmental sustainability. The framework also identifies the importance of broadening our economic base to protect the economy from the volatility associated with our dependence on industrial sectors such as mining. Whilst mining in the Territory is forecast to grow in the coming years and underpin strong growth across the economy, we still need to encourage diversification. The summit recognised that the volatility in the economy could be offset by achieving an increase in domestic demand for goods and services through population growth and by maximising business opportunities associated with our comparative export advantages.
The primary industry sector in the Territory is up to that challenge. Not only does the primary industry sector have a key role in improving the export performance of the economy, it can be a critical driver in regional development. The Economic Development Framework points out that excellent opportunities exist in regional communities for the development of pastoral, horticultural, fishing and aquaculture-based industries, which will not only build stronger regions and communities but also provide meaningful employment opportunities.
My department clearly has a pivotal role in promoting and assisting opportunities for economic development throughout the Territory. It is very important that we also note the fifth objective of the Economic Development Framework; that is, we integrate development with our environment, that there be a commitment from government to ensure that the environmental mistakes made in the rest of Australia are not repeated here.
Members would be aware that the Prime Minister has established a task force to look at the development of farming and agriculture across northern Australia which is headed with Senator Bill Heffernan. Given the controversial nature of Senator Heffernan, it does raise the question of how serious the Prime Minister is taking this task force. I must also report that, to date, there has been some disquiet at the apparent lack of any systematic and rational approach being developed by the task force. Whilst we have welcomed the establishment of the task force, and we recognise that it has some serious challenges before it, we are concerned with the level of engagement that the task force has had with governments and industry across northern Australia.
I can assure the House that this government will expect a thorough examination and scientific analysis of any plans proposed by Senator Heffernan’s task force. We will certainly not be allowing it to become a Trojan horse for the willy-nilly opening up of the Territory so that mistakes made in the southern part of our continent can be replicated here.
It is somewhat ironic that it was against the backdrop of moving agriculture to northern Australia that the federal government announced that it was relocating its strategic tropical horticultural research to the south. The decision to relocate CSIRO’s tropical horticulture research capacity from the Territory seems to be at odds with the Commonwealth government’s publicly stated position to put science ahead of bulldozers.
We welcome development, but not at any cost. We want development to be backed by sound science. With that in mind, the task of my department is to identify what it can do to foster and facilitate opportunities for further growth, and that is reflected in the DPIFM statement of purpose, which says:
- We will facilitate the optimal use of fisheries, primary industries, minerals and energy resources in the Northern Territory, and we will do this by innovatively facilitating industry development; having appropriate regulatory frameworks; encouraging the participation of indigenous and regional Territorians; and providing quality information. Our approach will reflect our commitment to optimising social, economic and environmental benefits.
In that endeavour, DPIFM is active on a number of fronts. Despite some recent criticisms from the horticultural sector, the fact is we continue to commit substantial resources to research, not just in horticulture, but across the board in all primary industries.
However, supporting primary industry in the Territory is more than just research and extension services. It is more than having the infrastructure in place to protect our biosecurity, and it is more than shop-front services that we provide across the Territory. The bottom line for all the sectors in our primary industries – that is, hoof, hort and hay - is that you need to have a market. There is no use producing or growing a product unless you have a willing buyer at the right price. That is where the importance of the Primary Industry Market Indicator, or PIMI, comes in. It is a tool to help primary producers determine whether there are market requirements that match their production plans, and where those market plans may be.
As members will be aware, primary industries, some old and some new, are an important part of the Territory’s economy. The horticultural sector has grown from a $96m industry in 2005 to a $145m industry in 2006. That is a significant increase. At the same time, the contribution of the Territory’s cattle industry to the NT gross state product in 2006 was estimated at about $180m or 1.5% of the total GSP.
Of course, with products such as live cattle and horticultural products such as mangoes, we have strong and established markets. Wherever possible, we need to be looking for opportunities to diversify our market efforts for those established sectors, as well as identifying potential markets for new products. It is a risk management strategy that we simply cannot leave to chance.
I know that the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association participated in the Chief Minister’s recent trade delegation to Vietnam. Conversations that I have had recently with the Cattlemen’s Association indicate that they are aware of the need to explore and exploit new market opportunities.
At the other end of the scale, we have what might be termed new and emerging industries within the primary industry sector. Who would have thought that palm trees would be exported from the Northern Territory to Dubai? Who would expect cut flowers from the Territory to be adorning board room tables in Sydney and Melbourne?
The challenge for our primary industry sector over the next decade is to clearly identify where there are competitive advantages and where those advantages can be translated into carving out new market opportunities. That includes export market development as well as the identification of markets domestically.
As the value of the Territory’s primary industry continues to increase, we will need to meet the challenges of seeking and investigating new markets for Territory produce. That is where this innovative tool known as the Primary Industry Market Indicator, or PIMI, will play a role. In the past, decisions about market opportunities for Territory produce were based on a mix of tradition, industry knowledge and experience, with a dose of hearsay and intuition. As a result, some decisions were not as effective as they could have been. This approach was undertaken as there was no alternative approach until now. PIMI is a response to the need to make informed, calculated and decisive decisions about where, when and for what to commit resources - decisions that inevitably will have to factor in the expansion of existing markets or the opening up of new ones.
The Primary Industry Market Indicator has been developed as an evidence-based web tool that cross-references a range of Territory produce commodities with their export and domestic market potential. The information is displayed in a colour-coded matrix, and provides linkages to country-specific information as well as product details. Although PIMI has initially been developed to report on crops, forestry and horticultural products, as well as meat and livestock, I would anticipate that, with time, it can be extended to cover seafood industry products and any new primary products that arise.
When you enter the PIMI site through my department’s website, you are able to choose between either the crops, forestry or horticultural section, or the meat and livestock section. This initial screen also contains an executive summary about PIMI, an explanation of how it works, and a section that explains how the colour-coded ratings operate. In addition, there is a feedback button which allows those using PIMI to make comments or suggestions to assist us with further development of the site.
This first version of PIMI covers Asian vegetables, citrus fruits, cut flowers, dragon fruit, hard wood plantation forestry, native forestry, hay, jackfruit, mangoes, melons, nursery products, rambutans and table grapes. On the livestock side, it covers buffalo breeders, buffalo feeders, slaughter buffaloes, cattle breeders, cattle feeders and slaughter cattle. All these are given a ranking by the PIMI matrix, and the rankings range from good existing market demand with a potential to increase supply, to good existing market with a minimal potential to increase supply, through to low or nil existing market demand with a potential to increase supply, and low or nil existing market with minimal or nil potential to increase supply. There is a red rating, which is a prohibited market due to trade restrictions; a U rating, which means there is an unknown or limited market knowledge; and, finally, a Q, which means that quarantine restrictions apply.
It should be pointed out that PIMI is focused on the real potential in markets. It is not based on a supply or price-taker approach. It is a rational, evidence-based matrix that identifies real opportunities rather than a wish list. Not only will it be helpful to producers, but it will also assist my department and other agencies to determine, prioritise, and allocate resources and effort that go into developing new or supporting existing markets.
It will also assist us in determining where the research effort is directed. Over the past couple of decades, my department has directed research into more than 200 different plant and crop varieties, based primarily on what might grow under our local environment conditions. It would have been useful to have more empirical evidence to support the decisions to undertake that research. PIMI has the potential to become a valuable tool in supporting and informing government and agency decisions with regard to the provision of assistance to industry, including where we focus research and development work and extension services.
It will also help underpin agency promotional and marketing activities into the future and, over time, it will provide high-level data to government and will help drive government/industry partnerships that focus on strategic policy settings.
PIMI will also provide credible high-level data to me, my ministerial colleagues and industry, in making informed and supportive targeted export-orientated trade missions to existing and new markets. I should point out that, although PIMI currently focuses on 14 countries around the world, it also has its eye firmly on domestic markets in other Australian states. The point should not be lost that, for any of our products, particularly our horticulture industry, the domestic markets should be our focus.
PIMI will be a source of information that can bolster the case for attracting investment into the Territory’s primary industry sector, and it will help government focus its attention on those areas where we have opportunities to expand and build new markets. However, although it has come a long way from the first conceptual design and, as far as we know, it is a unique tool in this web-based format, PIMI is still very much a work in progress. Due to its very nature of being a dynamic market-driven system, I expect that it will always remain a work in progress. PIMI relies on the quality and quantity of information fed into it. Data underpinning it is continuing being collected, verified, analysed and reviewed for currency and accuracy to ensure, as market conditions change, so do the ratings of the individual market displayed in the PIMI matrix.
I am hopeful that we will soon be able to expand the site to provide the background evidential information that has been gathered to support the individual ratings. It is important that the system be transparent and accountable, and that stakeholders have access to the information that may, in fact, identify for them how to overcome a barrier into a particular market. Of course, my department stakeholders and industry partners will have an integral role to play in providing market intelligence to strengthen and challenge the information contained in the PIMI.
I indicated earlier that the model employed by PIMI may have applications across a number of sectors across the Northern Territory economy. It is worth noting that the development of PIMI has been a collaborative effort across the government. In particular, I know the Department of the Chief Minister has contributed to the work undertaken by my department in developing PIMI. Over time, I have no doubt that similar market analysis can be employed to identify opportunities for growing our economy. The Chief Minister has ensured that her trade-related missions into the region have had a strong educational focus, promoting the opportunities for students from Asian countries to further their education in the Territory. The PIMI model can be used to identify strategic markets, not just for education services, but also for health services, business services - and the list goes on.
As transport and communication linkages continue to expand, we have a great opportunity before us to develop and nurture a more outward-looking economy. Indeed, the economic summit in 2005 identified that it is something we need to do. My department recognises the challenge, and also recognises our effort to expand the contribution made by the primary industry sector must be evidenced-based. We must know that production decisions are predicated upon knowing that there is a market to be served. PIMI goes some way to providing that evidence-based information system, and I look forward to its continued development and expansion.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I move that the Assembly take note of the statement.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the minister for advising us of this tool to assist in understanding market opportunities in primary industries. I had a look at it on the website, and I found it interesting. It could be useful for those who want to learn more about what can be grown or produced in the Northern Territory.
However, minister, I note for your recall that, on a number of occasions, I have placed questions in my responses that, in my view, still have not been satisfactorily answered. They are important to discover if we are doing our best to support and strengthen the primary industry sector in the Northern Territory.
As the minister would know, the primary industry sector is a difficult environment in which to work because of distance from market as we are, largely, a new agricultural area. In other states, they have had many additional years to develop and perfect their industry; however, we are still left with the challenges not completely addressed.
The first question is: how did this tool arise? Did it arise as a result of the industry calling for it? Did they say they needed something like this? I would like that to be the case. Is this the sort of assistance they have been calling out for? They do need support. More than anything they need to have recognition of the genuine support of government. That is not easily given to those who work in primary industries; you have to really show it. So, did it arise from the industry? Did they ask for something like this? That will help me in forming a view on this. I hope it was industry which called for it as they needed this kind of support, and government has responded. Or was it the department that thought this might be a good idea and, perhaps, a way of rationalising the information which is flooding around, and bringing it together in one place?
My concern is that, in doing it in this manner, you are removing people from the equation to a large degree. The information then becomes digitised, and it is managed through the Internet. The last thing which someone, who is struggling on the land trying to make a living, wants to do to have questions answered is to use the Internet to help solve some of their problems. What you need is someone standing beside you and talking to you. I am hoping this does not result in fewer people on the ground - knowledgeable people, people who do not have their own individual axe to grind, but are there by virtue of the knowledge and experience they have in the Northern Territory to be able to provide interpretation, advice and support.
I say this from a practical point of view. I know my dad, working on the land, would not be going to the Internet - my brother maybe. What they need more than anything is someone they can trust and form a relationship with willing to support them through it. I remember when I first arrived in the Territory I was interested in horticulture. I went to the Berrimah Farm and looked at all the fact sheets – which I see are here. Having someone I could talk to was useful - someone who could guide me. I could ask the additional questions and they could direct me this way, that way, or the other. I hope that element is not challenged by this tool. I hope it is not a tool of the department to rationalise that very expensive component of department: people. People are really what make the difference.
In order to provide the support for the primary industry sector, they also need the confidence that research is being properly attended to. The minister would know that, in recent times, there has been a change in the way knowledge is arrived at and provided. Not so many years ago, knowledge was something which was managed by those entrusted to provide leadership. It was a support, and it was provided freely to the industry groups. In more recent times, and I see it affecting the Territory – and I am leading to my second question for which I am still not convinced I have an answer – knowledge becomes a product. It is a product which can be developed, purchased and owned by the private sector. Therefore, you have the larger operators, the ones with the money who can fund their own research, who control and own that as a product, and it does nothing to service the smaller operator. It becomes a commodity.
In that environment, it is easy to run the arguments to governments that you do not need to be in the research business. ‘We will do that’, says they multinational. ‘We will conduct the research. We will own the research’. It becomes a commodity. Knowledge is power. Therefore, we have an erosion of the research capacity. It is a national and international trend. Those influences are sweeping across the Northern Territory, and we need to stand against that trend because the Territory still has a way to go in its development. We are still a community that needs to build trust and relationship, and to see knowledge as something that we need to develop and share as a community so that we can grow.
It is not a place where multinationals can come and own knowledge and utilise it as a commodity. In that environment, we have this issue: you can rationalise your research capacity. It is expensive, anyway. You can run a review across your research capacity within the primary industry sector. By way of a question from the member for Goyder today, there was some way to address this underlying issue. Can you assure me and this House that the research capacity in the Northern Territory is not being diminished and that the effect of the review is not to find a way of removing yourselves from the research farms? Will we come to a place not so far away where there will be cleverly crafted arguments that can be presented to justify the withdrawal of effort in the area of research?
Is the Katherine Research Farm safe? They are in need of land. Maybe there is an opportunity to expand and to say we have another way of doing it now; we have a PIMI. You need to have these matters before us to properly assess. I would much prefer a government that was plain and simple and said: ‘This is what we are going to do’ like the business we heard from the minister for Education. I asked a question with regards to the school in Alice Springs and you get words. You know in your gut what the answer is, but the words do not say it.
People would love to know. If you have a review going on, is the purpose of that review to run the ruler across your research capacity and to find a way of reducing it? If that is the case, let us have our grumble, squeal, scream, fight, and then get on with the new landscape. Do not play games with people. This question has been asked on two other occasions. Assure me that the research properties and effort into primary industry will not be diminished, but rather enhanced. Will we be going the way, against the trend which has already occurred in other states, and support the industry? We have a way to go.
Possibly, it appears from the point of view of government that primary industry is a portfolio into which you do not have to put much effort, but anyone who has touched it knows that it is immensely complex and challenging. There are growing challenges in the primary industry sector. With climate change and the drawing out of Senator Heffernan and those activities, you really need to have your wits about you. The hardest part of the portfolio is forging credible links with the industry.
As you run your campaigns in the northern suburbs and the like, you cannot run that sort of activity in the primary industry sector. They do not talk a lot but, when they do speak, you need to listen. That is why it was disappointing when we had the Pigeon Hole field day, which was a culmination of very extensive and highly valuable and impressive research, that the minister was unable to attend. Those sorts of things have an effect. The industry takes that message. They did not talk a heck a lot about it - and I did not want to get involved - but it did send a message. They like people to walk with them. When you are working remote, you like to know there is someone who really understands you and walks alongside of you. To not attend those sorts of events sends that message.
That is why I am saying that it is not about research effort for the sake of it. You need to reinforce that message to the industry that you care enough to reinforce the research capacity. Do not allow it to be owned as a commodity by those who would be running arguments to government, saying: ‘There is an opportunity to cut some costs; sell off that land at Berrimah. Do not worry, we are not going to reduce anything’. Well, you better convince us that, over the horizon we have the capacity to go, not just to balance the books today and tomorrow. Not ‘solve the problem, and off we go with our super and, wacko, we have been a politician for a time’. We really do need to deal with that question.
I need to say this. I have had a look at the tool. I have had a look at many of the fact sheets that are represented on there. I have hard copies of them at home. I trust they have been upgraded and things like that. I really want to know where this came from. Did industry call for it? It is probably useful. I want to hear the feedback. If you can report to us at times that the feedback is good, I am sure we will hear it. If not so good, we will probably hear nothing. I would like to know what sort of feedback we do get.
I hope, in time to come, not so far away, we can have a statement about the Ord River Stage 2. I will conclude my time on this issue with my compliments to the minister for Agriculture in Western Australia, Hon Kim Chance. He gave me an excellent audience last Wednesday when I spoke to him. I wanted to hear the Western Australian story on Ord River Stage 2. I had a couple of briefings from this side of the line, and I still find it difficult to get a handle on where the Territory government is with regards to Ord River Stage 2. At the field day at Pigeon Hole, there was a large contingent from Kununurra, and they certainly were not shy in expressing their concerns about the lack of activity on the Northern Territory side of the border. This is the sort of effort that governments need to be engaged in. I learned from my briefing with minister Chance that the Western Australian government - by the way, this minister, in a state of two million, was able to offer me three different times that I could meet him, and he gave me in excess of an hour, with senior advisors. Also, the door is open for me to talk to him at any time on any matter related to Ord River Stage 2. I hear the complaint from those who are endeavouring to meet ministers in this jurisdiction of 200 000, that many times they have difficulty in getting to see a minister.
That aside, what I learnt from the Western Australian side is how serious they are on Ord River Stage 2. I know there will an opportunity; the door will be left open to bash up Mr Heffernan. That is an issue too, and I will probably join you in some aspects of that, but that is an aside. The greater part of the development of Ord River Stage 2 sits on the Northern Territory side. On the Western Australian side, the infrastructure for Ord Stage 1 is all already in place, of course, and paid for. The Western Australian government has spent in excess of $50m to clear the native title and sacred sites issues on their side of the border. They resolved the environmental issues, I believe in 2002, and the native title land and indigenous issues in 2005. It cost them $50m in excess thereabouts to do so.
The importance of this matter to the Western Australians, which has not leapt across the border where the larger part of the Ord Stage 2 holding is, is that the Premier’s department chairs the committee, on which there are five ministers charged with the responsibility of looking at issues related to Ord Stage 2. Then there are two other ministers who sit outside that group.
I was impressed, I must say, with getting the appointment, and the amount of time minister Chance provided me with and, then, to learn that that is the level of the commitment of the Western Australians. I will not be going any further on that issue than to say that there is no way that he denigrated the effort on the Territory side. However, it became clear to me, and carefully phrased - but not so carefully phrased by those who came from Kununurra and were at Pigeon Hole. They were wondering what on earth was going on on the NT side of the border. I have heard the answer, and that is about a water management plan. However, it does not wash when I do not really see any effort. I do not see much progress at all and it is causing some concern in Kununurra. It is an area that really is remote and a heck of a long way from Perth, and they seem to be getting this kind of treatment and this support from Perth. We really need some activity and that kind of support from Darwin - at least some kind of statement so we know exactly where we are.
Is this government taking those sorts of development issues seriously? I would like to have a statement on that so that we can have a proper talk about it. There may be some issues that I am unaware of, that I have not been able to gain through briefings on this side of the border. There are more questions than answers as a result of getting my briefing on the Western Australian side of the border. I suggest the future is calling for these kinds of statements to be made. I am sure PIMI is going to assist in some regard. I look forward to the answers to those couple of questions that I have asked. It is a good statement, it is probably a good tool, and I wish you well.
Mr VATSKALIS (Business and Economic Development): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I support the statement made by my colleague, the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries. I am very happy to answer the question that the member for Blain asked regarding how the PIMI or Primary Industry Market Indicator was developed.
Primary industry is a hard portfolio because you have to be able to liaise with the primary producers but, at the same time, you have to be a salesman, not only for your state but also for the producers. The Territory Primary Industry portfolio oversees the cattle producers, the flower growers, the horticulturalists, the agriculturalists. When I was the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries, one of the things that struck me was the limited number of companies that were exporting cattle, flowers, or fruit and vegetables, and our ability to export to more countries.
I know that the industry was always after new markets. The reality was that the industries, especially the cattle industry, were quite happy with the price they were getting through the live cattle export to Indonesia. However, my worry was all our export markets had gone bust and we had to work very closely with the industry to find other countries. When I came back from one of my trips, a question I asked was regarding all our cattle being exported to Indonesia, with very few to Malaysia and none to many other countries. How were we going to improve this, to change this condition? I asked for information: how we can export; where we can export; if we do not export, why we do not export; and how we can change the situation. In order to get all this information together we had to develop something that could put all this information together so, with one look, we can find out just where we are now.
I pay tribute to the people in the department, especially Rod Gobbey who made the first draft of the Primary Industry Market Indicator on a piece of A3 paper. He marked the countries, the products we produce, where we are producing it, and then did research, seeking information from national and international organisations about where we can actually export, whether there was a demand for our products, were there any limitations, and were there quarantine reasons. From there on, I am very pleased today to look at the web page and find out that what he put on a piece of paper is now, in a most sophisticated way, on a web page.
Of course, the people on the land, yes, they are very innovative with IT. The people on the land are very clever with their computers, and most of the people, if not all, have computers in their workplaces because they get information from the Bureau of Meteorology, Meat Livestock Australia, and from a number of other sources in order to do their job more efficiently and more productively. For them, it was very easy to look at the Primary Industry Market Indicator and find out about the different conditions, what markets we are looking at, why we cannot sell at these markets, whether there are specific requirements for these markets, and adapt their produce to fit the demand of the people in those markets, and work with the department to ensure we are opening new markets.
As minister for Regional Development, I believe the Primary Industry Market Indicator has tremendous relevance to all my constituents, not only in the urban environment, but the non-urban environment. There are very important synergies here. We have the port, the rail, the road, the shipping and, of course, economic development commencing in different areas.
I still maintain a close relationship with the horticulture industry, the agriculture industry, and the cattle industry. The reality is that outside the major urban centres, economic development will come through the cattle industry, the horticulture industry, and the mines. These things are not happening in downtown Darwin or downtown Alice Springs. They have the possibilities for economic activity, and the ability to provide jobs. In fact, last week in the newspaper, the McArthur River Mine manager highlighted how many indigenous apprentices had graduated from a course in the mine, and they were looking for another 45 to be employed in the mine. You have a mine 1000 km east of Darwin providing 50 job opportunities for mainly indigenous people living in the area.
As I said before, we have important synergies. We have the product and we have a way to take it to the market. We still have problems with air transport links, especially with containers to transport fresh fruit and cut flowers to other states and countries. However, I am sure that if people work together we will find a solution to that.
We have to think globally, and outside the square. We cannot think we can export only to Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, or only to Indonesia. We have to think outside the square and try to identify new markets. We have to redefine the demand of products in those markets in order to respond accordingly. The web page, which is well structured and easy to navigate, provides producers with access to the latest information. It is also interactive and enables users to communicate with the department, and the department is actively seeking their feedback.
Of course, the primary industry is a hard portfolio as you are dealing with a lot of people who have different requirements. The cut flower growers have specific requirements which might be different from the mango producers, which may differ from people in Katherine who are producing melons, which may differ from what the cattlemen want.
I know my colleague, the member for Drysdale, is working hard in his portfolio. I am saddened by comments by the member for Blain about why he was not at Pigeon Hole. Last year, I went to Pigeon Hole, and I was pleased to spend two or three days there. Unfortunately, there are so many things happening around Darwin sometimes it is impossible for you to escape. It is difficult to say why he was not there. I can say the same thing to the member for Blain; why he was not at the fundraising activities of the Greek community last weekend for the fires in Greece. I understand that we cannot be everywhere all the times. There are some things we can do, and other things we cannot do. The fact that he was not at Pigeon Hole does not mean that he does not like the cattlemen, or he does not believe in the work the people are doing there. It is a fact of life, with the number of portfolios to be shared in the Northern Territory, sometimes it is impossible to escape.
Back to the Primary Industry Market Indicator. This gives people on the land to access 90 meat and livestock markets, and informs producers of market potential, not only meat and livestock markets, but 21 potential markets for growing crops, forestry, and horticultural industries. Quite correctly, we have identified areas in our region and continent, and we have marked them and will provide information about markets which can be accessed easily, markets which require or want a product, markets that can be difficult to sell a product, areas where we cannot sell our product because of quarantine, for example China. There are some quarantine problems with China and the export of cattle. However, that also gives us the opportunity for the department to work with international organisations, and with other countries’ organisations the same way we do with Malaysian or Indonesian departments of Agriculture, to resolve some the issues so we can open these markets to our producers.
The reality is that unless we get information in place and in front of the primary industry producers, we will be unable to change anything. We will continue to sell cattle to Indonesia and some of our products down south, but we will not be able to access other countries.
Importantly, the Primary Industry Market Indicator will continue to be monitored, and will be upgraded to provide up-to-date information. It has to be done that way as the industry will be watching carefully as their wealth and productivity depends on the information we will be getting from PIMI. Nobody is going to invest money to go on a trip to Vietnam if they do not have the information first about the possibilities, and our ability to access the market in Vietnam. Once the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines demonstrates to the industry that their information is at the cutting edge, is reliable, and constantly monitored and upgraded, the industry will respond and will respond positively.
I worked very closely with the cattle industry, the cut flower and the horticulture industry and I know that people jump at the first opportunity to sell their products. We are one of the few jurisdictions which sells hay to Korea. We are one of the few jurisdictions which helped another jurisdiction build an abattoir so we could access that market to sell our cattle. We are one of the few jurisdictions that were up-front when we wanted to sell produce like mangoes in other states.
Since the Goyder expedition arrived at Port Darwin in 1869 and established a permanent settlement in the north, there has always been a dream that the Territory one day will be a provider of horticultural and agricultural products and services to our northern neighbours in South-East Asia. As we enter the first years of the 21st century, this dream is slowly inching towards reality. We have the port and the railway that links Adelaide to Darwin. We now have people thinking outside the square. For the first time, despite what a previous Treasurer, Barry Coulter, who said nothing with legs would get on the train - meaning no furniture, no cattle, no people - we find now that there are many thing with legs on the train. For the first time, a few months ago, I heard the cattlemen are thinking about exploring the possibility of transporting cattle from the Barkly Tablelands to the port via train. We now have the modes of transport in place and we should be able to utilise them successfully to promote and export our product.
Development of the Primary Industry Market Indicator adds another piece to our burgeoning infrastructure portfolio. With the exception of air transport, most of the pieces are now in place, and the support mechanism producers required are available.
One thing we should not forget is the global change in climate, the global warming. We have found, to our dismay, that it only takes a small change in rainfall and a few changes in weather patterns and conditions in some areas to have widespread destruction of crops and cattle. It will not be long before things change so dramatically that some areas in the north of Australia, like ours, will be one of the few places where we can effectively grow produce.
If you look down south, you see what has happened with the Murray River and the Riverina area, and you hear calls by farmers and politicians about plenty of water in the north. The situation is not always rosy; we have to be very careful how we utilise and harvest the water that comes from the sky within a four- or five-month period. We gave to successfully utilise it for growing crops and irrigating areas.
We have to look at the Territory as territory for us to grow for economic development and for jobs. We have to find access to new markets, not only in South-East Asia, but as far as Europe or, perhaps, even America. Let us not forget that we used to export meat to America, mainly mince meat for hamburgers. The quality of our meat and the fact that our meat is free from some of the diseases that are common in Argentina and South American countries makes our product very desirable in the European Union and in America.
We have to realise that relying upon a small number of countries like Indonesia or Malaysia as our market is risky. It only takes political problems such as we have seen in Burma, or economic downturn in these countries, to see our markets disappearing. We have to open to other countries like Africa or the Middle East or countries further out than South-East Asia. We have to overcome problems we have with quarantine in some of the biggest countries like China. That can be done but, before we do that, we have to put the basis for identifying and acknowledging other countries and we have to be able to tell where, when and how we can access these companies.
I congratulate the people in the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines who worked tirelessly to develop this Primary Industry Market Indicator. I call upon the industry to utilise it and give us feedback so we can improve it further and make a valuable tool for you to access new markets.
Mr WARREN (Goyder): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I am proud to support the minister’s statement on the launch of the Primary Industry Market Indicator initiative.
Two years of dedicated work by the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines has gone into developing this fantastic web-based tool for analysing both domestic and international market opportunities for our primary producers. I guess that has been a hallmark of the Territory government since the Martin Labor government came to power: we have been very aware that you cannot rest on your laurels. We have to initiate a whole-of-government approach …
Members interjecting.
Mr WARREN: I am proud of it! We have to initiate many programs and continue to develop industry, and that has been a key aspect of what we are about. I spoke about it this morning in regard to tourism and am proud to speak about it now in regard to primary industry. It is about being innovative, developing new approaches to the whole aspect of marketing and promoting, and ensuring the sustainability of industries such as our primary industry.
PIMI, as it is known, will help our primary producers maintain existing markets and develop future markets through strategic development programs. In this day and age where we are competing in a very competitive world, our primary industries are up against cheap products coming out of Asia, and areas of Europe and America which are heavily subsidised, I believe we have to make our own way in promoting our competitive advantage. Therefore, any tools or anything that we can develop here, particularly in the Territory, that means we can promote ourselves, is absolutely worthwhile. The best initiatives generally come out of the need. It is interesting that places like the Territory are often the innovators of tools such as PIMI.
The exciting aspect of this model is that it could be adapted for other industry sectors, both private and public. As I had a look at the program, that became very evident to me. This is the tip of the iceberg. As I was writing this, I had difficulty not letting my mind wander to other areas where this software could be used. It is certainly something that we will be taking a lead on. I am sure other ministers, departments and private organisations will be looking very closely at this. I can see many initiatives will come out of this, and I am looking forward to watching the development of this over the coming years in other areas.
The impetus for PIMI came out of the five key objectives identified by the 2005 Economic Summit for building a prosperous, dynamic and sustainable economic future for the Territory. We all remember that very well. I notice many other things have come out of other departments, other business sectors and other areas. Of course, this government has always taken this input from the public and the business sector very seriously. We went away with a lot of information from that summit and this is one of the initiatives that has come out of this in the primary industry sector, and that is great news.
The five key objectives were: regional growth; investment in the Territory; development of our workforce; improvements in productivity; and environment sustainability. This framework also identifies the importance of broadening our economic base to protect our economy from the volatility associated with our dependence on the industrial sectors.
We suffer in the Territory because of our smaller size, and because we are so dependent on the industrial sector, and also, in the building or construction sectors, you tend to be very much caught up in the cycle of things. This government is very aware of that. Across the whole business sector, we have worked very hard to try to spin off these periods of prosperity to ensure that there is sustainable growth throughout the Territory.
Of course, it is important that you look right across the spectrum, not just at the areas which are most obvious. Primary industries are a very valuable and important part of our commodities, investment in the Territory, and our development.
Volatility in the economy could be offset by achieving increasing domestic demand for goods and services through population growth, and by maximising business opportunities associated with our comparative export advantage over other industry sectors. That is the whole perspective behind the development of PIMI; that with a population growth, we will have a domestic demand increase. That will also help to smooth out that volatility.
I spoke this morning about the Martin Labor government’s commitment to growing our tourism sector. This is another aspect of moving away from that volatility. The tourism sector is an area which has about 5% input into our gross state product. Of course, there are big opportunities that exist there for developing that. The same applies to our primary industries, particularly some of the new innovative areas which I will talk about a bit further down the line. We really have to make every post a winner and, by utilising tools such as PIMI, we are moving a long way down that line.
As I said earlier, the principle aim of PIMI is to provide information to assist in maintaining and further developing existing markets, and to increase future market potential through strategic development programs. As the minister said, it showcases selected Territory commodities and their export and domestic market potential using a simple colour-coded matrix focusing on potential in markets, rather than using a supplier or price-taker approach. I guess that is the problem that we have in the primary industries sector; that we very much fall into that approach – we do not always think outside the sphere. Because of our uniqueness and our small size, we have been forced to think outside the sphere. We are not just going to accept that we are going to be suppliers or price takers; we are looking at new commodities and new products that we can produce and grow here in the Territory. It is important that we use tools such as PIMI to develop that, rather than being simply a supplier or a price taker.
Specifically, PIMI has a variety of uses such as supporting and informing government decisions to assist and promote research and development and/or extension works. It will provide a factual basis for undertaking promotional and marketing opportunities well into the future, I hope, as it develops. That is an exciting area as well.
PIMI will provide a focus for prioritising ministerial and high-level trade missions and visits to potential markets. At the moment, we are relying very much on ad hoc information and also information that we see being driven by industry sector hopes, rather than factual information. I am sure that these trade missions are very valuable as we learn so much when we get there. Rather than going there, this will provide us an avenue for being well and truly armed with good market information, supplier information, various aspects of whether we have something to sell, and also understanding our potential markets - whether there are any trade restrictions or things like that. It really does help rationalise our approach at a higher level to such things as trade missions.
PIMI will form a critical and very valid factual tool for attracting investment in the Territory’s primary industries. Industry is always calling out for ways to see that its investment dollars are based on some sort of good scientific fact and research. It is important, then, for people to access the website and see that, okay, these are sectors that we could be investing in. It makes sense, with the one-stop shop approach, and being able to go to a website and look at and assess it properly is very important.
However, most importantly, PIMI can inform decisions made across various departments in relation to exports, coordination and focus. You can actually have not just a primary industry approach, but an across-the-board approach in other sectors as well. There could be combinations of things as diverse as tourism and primary industries going on trade missions, because there are similarities and values in taking an across-the-board approach. PIMI will certainly help with that.
The PIMI is an industry tool where all available data relating to the export of selected primary produce commodities is synthesised and displayed - in a simple format too, I must add. The background data for each commodity is categorised, and a category is obtained from a wide variety of reliable sources such as industry associations and journals, directly from existing producers, other primary industry websites, credible rural press reports and industry focused magazines, and rural extension officers rather than news gathering agencies. If necessary, the PIMI developers will be looking at other organisations or individuals, and they will be sourced if they are relevant and factual.
It is a developing program. It has been road tested by the Horticultural Association in my electorate and other rural electorates. There are some pretty good reports coming from them. I am sure there are some things they would like to see changed on it, and that will be coming about. However, the important thing is that they are on board with this process.
According to the department’s own information, and I quote:
- This information is then collated by category, weighted and entered into the matrix structure. It informs the decision regarding each category’s situation which is then displayed in the matrix and colour coded. Information about each product can be accessed by clicking on the individual products. This links to the DPIFM website containing information related to a specific product.
Quite clearly, this is a well researched and professionally developed tool to assist our primary producers in the Territory maintain their competitive advantage. I said at the start that that is what it is all about. There certainly are a whole lot of advantages out of developing industry tools like this.
Growing - no pun intended - our primary industries sector in the Territory will undoubtedly be a critical driver in regional development of the Territory, and will enormously help to contribute to our economic growth, particularly in my electorate of Goyder and, obviously, the member for Nelson’s electorate.
I cannot let this opportunity pass without talking about some of the industry, particularly the horticultural industry, aspects in the rural area. I am sure the member for Nelson is as proud as I am of the development innovations, particularly in the ornamental flower industry in the rural area, where we really do control practically all of that sector of the horticultural industry. The 2006 statistics show that the nurseries and cut flower industries have added considerable wealth to the Territory’s economy. The nursery industry in the rural area has provided about $14m, and the cut flower industry about $3m for a total of about $17m. There has been an estimated 69 ha planted in 2006 and it is growing all the time. At that stage in 2006, there were 66 enterprises employing 131 full-time employees and 16 part-timers. One of the key aspects that the industry notes is that it needs accurate statistical data, and that is where PIMI comes into play. The whole thing about PIMI is that people can develop their industries based on some factual, relevant and handy information.
The value of the flower and nursery industry, for the information of the House, has risen from about $7m in 1997 up to about $17m in 2006. The 2006 statistics for the Darwin rural region cover a number of crops as well, including mangoes, vegetables, ornamentals, bananas, melons, other fruit, hay and silage, and citrus. The industry value in that year totalled $100.5m, which is tremendous. The estimated area planted was about 5700 ha. There were 432 enterprises in the Darwin rural region, which employed almost 500 full-time and almost 1300 part-time employees. You can see that the rural sector is very important both for production and employment in respect of the Territory economy. I am very pleased that industry is calling on good statistical information provided to them, and that PIMI will go a long way to providing that information.
Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, this is an exciting initiative by the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines. I commend the minister for his enthusiasm in presenting the statement. I look forward to the development and implementation of the software. It will put us truly at the forefront of promoting, marketing and developing, in a responsible and sensible manner, primary industry in the Territory.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I look around the House and wonder whether the number of members of government who are sitting here represents a symbolic statement about the importance of primary industry in the Northern Territory ...
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Acting Deputy Speaker! The member well knows that he cannot reflect on the presence or absence of members.
Mr WOOD: I did not. I have not spoken about any particular member.
Madam ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: Make sure you do not, thank you, member for Nelson.
Mr WOOD: I have recently listened to some experienced people in the horticulture industry, and I spoke to a couple of them last night in relation to this statement. Unfortunately, minister, even though the government may be excited by it, I am afraid the horticultural industry does not get overexcited about it.
I wonder whether PIMI really stands for primary industry malaise indicator. If anyone has listened to The Country Hour in recent times and the issues that have been raised here, there is concern about the future of the horticulture industry and parts of agriculture, especially in relation to research. Whilst PIMI may have some importance, it is something that could have been covered in a one-page document. We really need to be looking at the serious issues that the member for Blain raised, and that members of the horticulture industry are raising as well.
I did look up with web site for PIMI. My background is horticultural science. I grew vegetables for quite a number of years. No, I did not export them; I provided them domestically. If I was looking for information, I would want more detailed information if I were to export crops than what PIMI shows you. For instance, there is a section called ‘melons’. Is that watermelon? Is it rockmelon? Is it hami melon? If you are to export to a certain state or country, you need to know what type of melons that market prefers.
If you are looking at Asian vegetables, there are varieties coming out your ears. There are leafy vegetables, cabbage types, gingers, all sorts of things. When you click on the site, it is not going to tell you that. This information is not what a horticulturalist would need.
I looked for cucumbers, but cucurbits are not on this list. I would have thought that would be a major crop that you would include here. You have all sorts of cucurbits: squash, pumpkins, and zucchinis. These are all commonly grown, or were, in the Northern Territory. If I was a grower looking to find what state I could send cucumbers to, then this PIMI would not give me that information.
When you click on, for instance, one of the sites, you basically get a page which tells you how to get on to Agnotes and the recipe site. I do not believe that is what a grower is looking for. I believe a grower is looking for a breakdown of what particular varieties of mangoes, or what particular varieties of melon. Then, from that particular breakdown, you would expect the site to say which particular variety would be suitable in which particular state and for which particular country. The information is far too general and not detailed enough.
Then I clicked on the domestic market site. I clicked on to Victoria. I thought that would give me some detailed information on markets, but what it gave me was a Google map of Victoria. That is all it gave me. I would have expected something more detailed in relation to the crop that I had clicked on. Say I had clicked on to melons, and then I had other melons - there was a site for rockmelon - and then I wanted to know which state would take my rockmelons. Although you have a No 1 here, which says that that is a good site, basically, it does not tell you much more than that. The information for a grower has to be far more detailed. A grower needs to know what time of year would be the best time to export his crop; what sort of prices would be available; what is the cost of transport; which particular parts of that state would be best to focus in; and whether you would be competing with other states. There is a whole range of issues that a grower would need to know. That is why I believe this tool is not that popular with the horticultural industry.
Minister, I know you launched it yesterday, but my understanding from the Horticultural Association is that, whilst they say it is fine, it is not something that they would really use because it is not detailed enough. They did say to me that it would be good for the government, so people in the government did not head off overseas looking for a market that actually did not exist. At least the government people can go along and say: ‘With jackfruit there is a possibility we could have some sales in …’ - I know in this case, not many countries, but perhaps we could sell them in Western Australia. If we went to Western Australia we could go there with some idea if there was a chance that we could sell jackfruit to Western Australia. Or, if we wanted to sell rambutans, there is a possibility, as we already know, of course, that we could sell them to Japan.
The information - and I understand where the growers are coming from - is not particularly useful for growers. It is certainly good for the government. They would not want to go overseas on a trade mission and take all their buffalo advisors, and end up in, say, New Zealand, and find out that there is no market for buffalo in New Zealand. At least this gives them that indication. However, as a tool for primary producers, I believe that this is simply more of a toy rather than a tool. I believe that that is something – although I am not really sure - you spent two years on developing, which is of great benefit at this stage.
However, what growers did say to me was that if we had a choice about where you spent your money over the last two years, we would not put PIMI up the top, we would put research. That is one of the areas we should be talking about in this parliament. This is fine; it might have its place. What we are looking for is more research into innovative crops. This could not be more evident from some of the discussion that has been held on The Country Hour. You would know that, minister. On Friday, 14 September 2007, on The Country Hour, Alice Plate, the ABC reporter, interviewed Tony Hooper. You could not get a better person to talk about where we are going with horticulture and agriculture than Tony Hooper. He retired as a director in 1995, after more than 30 years with the Northern Territory department of Agriculture. He said he was critical of the federal task force - and I will get on to that later. I know, minister, you mentioned that as well. I will give you an indication of what he said. You do not have to agree with it all, but it is interesting to hear what he had to say:
The Territory government’s wait and see approach to the development and locking up of large tracts of land is irrational.
…
The moratorium on land clearing, the moratorium on GM cotton, the general attitude to land use, seems to be something from the past. To get anywhere with agriculture you have got to have the research go in, you have got to have the studies, you have got to have more hydrological studies than the agricultural studies. I don’t see it happening any more.
We already have an over-supply of parklands which, in itself, is causing management problems with feral animals and weeds, and fires, and to leave the Northern Territory as some museum piece with the people as exhibits, will lead us only to degradation because the only management tool is fire, and continual burning will continue to degrade the landscape.
Because of the way this land has been treated since the last glaciation, over the last 4000 to 5000 years of continuous burning, the areas which could have been eroded have already been eroded. You are now left with discrete areas of fairly general sloping, or flat terrain, on which residual deep, useable, soils have remained.
The transcript continued:
The Daly Basin from Tipperary down to Katherine, the western side of the Daly, the area of land west of Port Keats, the Sturt Plateau south of Katherine, and extensive areas of Arnhem Land.
He says peanuts, sesame, soya bean, chickpeas, sugar cane cotton, and corn have all been grown with suitable yields in the Territory. But he says but growing needs to be done in the Dry Season with stored water or irrigation.
Mr Hooper says these crops can’t be grown without further research into the market, and the crops potential and available infrastructure. While he’d like the Territory government to take up this role, he believes the responsibility will fall on private enterprise.
Also on The Country Hour, minister, there was an interview with three people, two of whom I know well: Bruce Toohill, Ian Baker, and Kevin Blackburn:
- Bruce Toohill was one of the Territory’s first CSIRO horticultural scientists. He also ran Manbulloo Mangoes for 13 years, and is currently a horticultural teacher.
Kevin Blackburn is a farmer and was the first research horticulturist in the Department of Primary Industries for almost 20 years until 1999.
I know him well and I used to follow a lot of the research he did at the Coastal Plains Research Station:
- Ian Baker was the department’s first tree crops scientist in the 1980s, and the first CEO of the NT Horticultural Association in the 1990s, and now runs Jabiru Orchards.
The reporter asked Ian: ‘Why have you come forward to speak about these issues on the Country Hour?’, and he said:
We have been trying to deal with these issues internally for so long. It’s a sad indictment that people like Tony Hooper and others have to come to the radio to deal with this issue. That is clearly a sad indictment on a process that we are trying to deal with the issues within the horticultural group, in particular, primary industries in general.
These issues, now we have had Tracy …
I think that is Tracy Leo:
- … and Tony Hooper, and Peter Harrison, and now us three - and I am sure we would get Stuart Kenny on the radio from the NT Cattlemen’s Association. There is widespread concern, and these issues are not being dealt with. Research to innovation is about creating new economic environments for business people like us to invest, and that has not happened for a long time.
Bruce Toohill also said exactly the same thing:
Industry looks at them …
That is the government:
… as a service. It doesn’t provide a service.
They went one. These are people who have been in research. These are the people I have known for a long time, who are genuine Northern Territory people who want to see horticultural industries developed, who are saying that, if we are to develop the Northern Territory, we have to put the research into new crops. We have to, and we are not doing it.
Minister, you can shake your head. You go out to the Coastal Plains Research Station now and compare the crops that are grown now with the crops that were growing many years ago in Kevin Blackburn’s time. There were many crops. They were growing Taiwanese cabbages, they were growing Taiwanese cauliflower, they were looking at niches in the market and we are not doing that anymore ...
Mr Natt: Was there a market for them to grow?
Mr WOOD: You do the research work and we hope the commercial industries will come and pick that up. We are pioneering. We are not like Victoria or New South Wales where research has been going on for a long time. That is what the horticulture people are saying, not just me. They are the people that have a lot more experience than I have.
Minister, you also had a shot at Bill Heffernan and I am not going to cry for Bill Heffernan. What I would say in relation to you criticising him - and that is fair enough – is that if you are going to criticise him, what are you doing in his place? Tony Hooper mentioned things like irrigating in the Dry Season and harvesting water. What is the government doing about the potential of harvesting water in the Wet Season to use in the Dry Season? What is the government doing about the possibility of developing the Sturt Plateau using water that is harvested, so we are getting away from the concept of pumping water out of our rivers in the Dry Season for irrigation? Is the government advancing any of that type of knowledge and development? Are we looking at ways of reducing evaporation if we are going to store water through the Dry Season? I do not know. That is what we need to be looking at.
Minister, you also criticised the Heffernan task force, and noted that you would expect a thorough examination and scientific analysis of what they are doing. That surprises me because, when I asked you why you are quite happy to support the peanut industry and, obviously, the large amount of water that it would use, and to compare that with the scientific reports that your own department has done on cotton which would say they would use exactly the same amount of water, you said you could not give a scientific answer because you were not a scientist. He cannot go crook at Mr Heffernan and say ‘Come up with the science’ when I came along and say: ‘Here is your science’, and it is ignored.
We need to be looking at all crops. We need to not be getting tied up in ideological policies because that is what cotton is about. The reason cotton is not grown in the Northern Territory has nothing to do with science; it has to do with perception. It is to do with the perception in the northern suburbs that GM cotton will be the destruction of the world. Your own science shows it can be grown but, unfortunately, politics gets in the way.
I accept that PIMI has some place in the development of marketing in the Northern Territory, but I think it is a fairly shallow indicator. As I said, it is great for the government. It is not something that growers would use. If growers want to know what the market is, they will be ringing up their market in Sydney or Melbourne and, by experience, will know when the time is for them to get their fruits or vegetables on to the markets. That is the sort of indicator they want. They want to know the cost of getting their vegetables and fruits to the southern markets. They want to know when it is the best time to get on to those markets so that they do not lose because the market prices are so low they cannot even be covered by freight.
This PIMI does not give them that sort of information. If it did, they would support it. Having spoken to people in the horticulture industry about this, they are lukewarm. They do not see it as a priority. Those people are already in the market; they know how to grow their crops. If they need information about the crops they will always find it out.
We need to do more work on research. It is funny that we have the Department of Primary Industries in Queensland doing work on Northern Territory mangoes in the Northern Territory. The question is: why are we not investing the same money? If Queensland can do it in the Northern Territory, then why aren’t we? That, in itself, is an indictment of the attitude of the government to primary industry.
Minister, you have one of the best portfolios. Primary Industry is a great portfolio. I am a great fan of horticulture. What I am afraid of is we have gone backwards instead of forward in trying to promote new crops or new species of existing crops so we can expand the markets and find more niche markets. If you look around at the vegetable industry, how many vegetables are we trying?
Mr Natt: Come and get a briefing, Gerry. Come and get a briefing. You will find out a lot more.
Mr WOOD: I can get a briefing, but we are here today, minister, and you can tell me. I do not mind getting a briefing.
Mr Natt: Well, you should. It will bring you up to speed.
Mr WOOD: Okay, I am happy to get a briefing. However, minister, you can tell us today how many varieties of vegetables we are actually trialling. Are some of the commercial people taking an interest in what we are doing? I do not know.
Although you tell me that, minister, I listened to The Country Hour the other day. There were three important people – Ian Baker, Kevin Blackburn and Bruce Toohill – who have years of experience in this. They are telling you that; I am backing them up. We should be listening to these people because they are the ones with the experience; they are the ones who have the background. I would listen to them when it comes to taking advice as to where the horticultural industry in the Northern Territory is going at the present time.
Debate adjourned.
ADJOURNMENT
Ms LAWRIE (Planning and Lands): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
This evening, I congratulate Total Recreation, which is a non-government organisation that provides recreation opportunities for people with a disability. Total Recreation, like many non-government organisations, survives on a shoestring budget but is always looking for opportunities to promote awareness of people with a disability and to provide some fun and recreation opportunities in the process of their promotion.
They came up with the novel concept of a fun evening at SKYCITY’s ballroom, which was described as Dancing with Celebrities. When I was minister for disability, Total Recreation approached me to participate in this competition. I willingly accepted the invitation. The other celebrities involved in Dancing with Celebrities, which was held on Saturday night, were Dave Tollner, the member for Solomon; my parliamentary colleague, Gerry Wood, the member for Nelson; Andrew Barcroft, the proprietor of The Good Guys at Jape Homemaker Centre; and young Sammie, a DJ at Hot 100.
We were paired off with young adults with a disability. My very capable dancing partner was Josh Campton, a young man with Down Syndrome. I can say that Josh was incredibly tolerant and understanding of my lack of abilities, particularly in the Cha Cha, and also my inability to get to quite a few of the 13 practice sessions which were held in preparation for Dancing with Celebrities evening.
In stark contrast to me, I believe the member for Nelson attended many of the practice sessions ...
Mr Wood: I needed to!
Ms LAWRIE: He was noted as a good attendee. He and his partner, Megan Halvorson, did a very impressive Tango …
Mr Wood: Tangoette.
Ms LAWRIE: … and took out the Dancing with Celebrities Tangoette competition. It was very impressive. It is very difficult to see how your competitors are going when you are out on the dance floor with them, but there was great acclaim for the success of the member for Nelson and his beautiful and very talented dancing partner, Megan. It was great to see Megan’s very large family there. They are a family whom I grew up with in Nightcliff, and they are a very dedicated and supportive family. It was lovely to catch up with Megan’s elder sisters, whom I grew up with, and to see her mother, Joan, rejoicing in her daughter’s success.
The member for Solomon was very fortunate. He was paired off with Margaret McGregor. Her father is well known to people in Darwin, Alasdair McGregor, a former magistrate, and a very committed advocate for people with a disability over many years. Alasdair has served on the Mental Health Advisory Committee and has done a great job in advocating for people with a disability. Margaret is a very gentle, pleasant young woman. She was extremely excited, as were the other participants in Dancing with Celebrities. It was great to see her deal with the sheer height challenge of being paired off with the member for Solomon. He was described by our very gregarious and entertaining MC, Charlie King, as akin to dancing with a basketballer, which was a fair description. They took out an award on the evening as well.
Andrew Barcroft danced with Tahnee Afuhaamango. Tahnee is well known to us as a very capable young woman with Down Syndrome, who is a star in the swimming pool. She has broken records around the world in swimming. She is an absolute legend. She is a very extroverted and interesting young woman. We kept cracking jokes on the evening, in terms of, if it was not going to be Tahnee’s way, it was not going to be any way. Tahnee and Andrew really lit up the dance floor with the first dance, which was the Cha Cha, and stole the hearts of the 170-odd people assembled in the SKYCITY ballroom with their fantastic display of the Cha Cha and took out the prize for that.
Sammie from Hot 100 was paired off with a really gentle young man, Ray Roach. Ray, whom I had the pleasure of dancing with when we did the progressive dances, has a wonderful, quiet, shy sense of humour. Again, there were some height challenges there, because Sammie is much taller than Ray. However, the pair of them gave a really sterling dance performance. I think they were awarded the ‘sizzling prize’. I am trying to remember the exact description of their prize. They impressed us all with their way of working and dancing together as a couple. I went up on the night and thanked Sammie for her participation, because it was very impressive to see a young woman who is from a radio station, not so long having just moved to Darwin, participating in a community event with extremely good humour. Sammie turned up to quite a few of the practice sessions as well, giving up her own time to make that extra effort. Congratulations, particularly to Sammie and her partner, Ray Roach, for the sterling work they did.
It was a great night. Josh, my partner, as I said, was very tolerant. I missed most of the practice sessions; I only made it to three in total ...
Mr Wood: Still won the Slow Rhythm.
Ms LAWRIE: Josh and I took out the Slow Rhythm. I have myself back in Josh’s good books for that performance. He is a very lovely, caring gentleman, and certainly led me through a very challenging set of three dances that we had to learn. Josh was a very good lead.
I thank John Cossons, the president of Total Recreation and his board. They are volunteers. John, who does not have a direct link with someone with a disability, is a very astute businessman. He has stepped into the role of president about three years ago and really has given his expertise in running an organisation to support Total Recreation.
To Eileen Farrel and her team at Total Recreation, a big, hearty congratulations. They stepped out of their comfort zone in pulling together a really challenging program of practice sessions, pairing celebrities with people with disabilities, and pulling together a really gala event. It was an event noted by the sheer fun and enthusiasm that everyone had that evening, particularly the young adults with a disability who are participants in the Total Recreation program. There are quite a few of them. On the night, they were recognised with the hard work by certificates which they were absolutely thrilled with. It was a great night to participate in.
I also thank Bronwyn Graham from the Darwin Dance Academy. Bronwyn is a dancer, and she is used to teaching people who know something about dancing, I guess ...
Mr Wood: She taught me how to dance.
Ms LAWRIE: She even taught the member for Nelson and I to do a few steps without tripping over, and that was quite a challenge. Bronwyn is a woman with a great sense of humour and a great empathy for dealing with people with challenging behaviour - and I am referring in that case to the politicians who were amongst the celebrities. She handled us all with great aplomb. She was also supported by a group of young people who are dancers in her academy who also gave up their spare time to help us out and give us some individual tutoring. To Bronwyn and her group of dancers at the Darwin Dance Academy, thank you; without your dedication and participation it would have been a very difficult event for Total Recreation to pull off with such great success. To Eileen Farrel and the team at Total Recreation, you have done a great job. To Bronwyn Graham and her team at the Darwin Dance Academy, we really appreciate it.
I hope you raised a lot of money on the night. I will be out chasing up and finding out just how much money was raised, because there were some raffle tickets. Marcel from McDonalds, who won the first prize, which was a front-loading washing machine, donated that back, and it was auctioned on the night, raising about $700 extra for Total Recreation for the night. It was a very successful night.
Charlie King, as usual, did a fantastic job as MC. It was a night that I will remember. I took my daughter along because she is good friends with a young girl with Down Syndrome. I wanted to show her that participation in life for someone with a disability is a lifelong experience; that you could be inclusive with your mates with a disability at school, but that inclusiveness needs to continue right through their teenage years and adult years, so that they are feeling very much a part of the fabric of society, and participating to every extent in our society. We are all enriched by working, playing and living with people with disability in our community.
Saturday night really did show that. For people like me, there were lessons learnt about the great humour and forbearance of our dancing partners who took us through some very challenging dance routines. I certainly had never done the Cha Cha, the Slow Rhythm, or the Tangoette before in my life. There is a little part in me that hopes never to have to do it again; it was daunting. However, it was a fun night.
I urge my colleagues in the Chamber, if Total Recreation ever approaches you to support them in any event, step outside your comfort zone and give it a go, because they are fantastic bunch of people. You will really enjoy the friendship you make with the young people with a disability. It is a very worthy cause because recreation is often the hardest thing to achieve for people with disability. The carers, who are so often incredibly tired from assisting and caring for someone with disability, just do not have the time, the money, or the opportunity to provide those recreational options. That really is where Total Recreation steps up and does a fantastic job.
Again, congratulations to John Cossons and his volunteer board, Eileen Farrel, and Total Recreation team, and Bronwyn Graham and her Darwin Dance Academy. I make a special thank you to Josh. He is just a fantastic young man. He was very lovely and understanding regarding the amount of time I had to commit to the entire dance program.
Mrs AAGAARD (Nightcliff): Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to recognise the hard work that has been put into the Welcome of the Cross and Icon from the Catholic Diocese of Darwin for the World Youth Day Journey of the Cross and Icon here in the Territory. I was very honoured to be part of the welcome of the cross to the Northern Territory, where the official program started in the forecourt of Parliament House. The Chief Minister was part of this official welcoming of the icon and cross. This cross has travelled around the world and is always carried by young people. It is here as part of the celebration leading to World Youth Day next year in Sydney, when His Holiness the Pope will be travelling to Australia as part of the celebration.
It was quite a special event which happened here in Parliament House. The order of proceeding was directed by Mr Kevin Thomas, the chairperson of the Catholic Diocesan Coordinating Committee for World Youth Day. There was a Welcome to the Country, which was very moving, by Mrs Cathie Wilson, who is a member of Larrakia people and who welcomed us to this land with a very special welcome.
There was also a young woman who was accompanying the World Youth Day Cross and Icon who spoke about the story and the significant of the cross and the icon. The Chief Minister, Hon Clare Martin, welcomed the cross and icon to the Northern Territory. Then, the new Bishop of Darwin, Bishop Eugene Hurley, responded to the Chief Minister’s welcome. I add my welcome to the new Bishop, Bishop Eugene Hurley, to the Northern Territory. The position of the Bishop of Darwin is a very important in the Catholic Church. I know that honourable members will join with me in welcoming him to the Northern Territory.
After the Bishop spoke to us, there were special prayers for the cross and icon as it travels across the Territory. It has been to the Tiwi Islands and Katherine and to various other places - to schools around Darwin and other parts of the Territories. It was a very special occasion. After the cross and icon left Parliament House, there was a special ceremony going over to the Anglican cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, and then, on to the Uniting Church and then, on to St Mary’s. I would just like to add my thanks for allowing the cross to start at Parliament House. It was very special for all of us who attended.
I also had the pleasure of attending, on 30 September at the Casuarina Uniting Church, the opening service of worship for the 31st Annual Meeting of the Synod of the Uniting Church and the installation of the new Moderator of the Northern Synod of the Uniting Church, Reverend Wendell Flentje. Reverend Flentje is the minister at the Casuarina Uniting Church and he takes over from the Reverend Steve Orme who has been the Moderator of the Northern Synod for the past two years.
I place on the record my thanks to Reverend Steve Orme, who is a friend of mine as well as being a member of the Uniting Church. He has been a very special person in his committed role as the Moderator. I wish him well in his, perhaps, more relaxed times now just being the Minister for the Darwin Memorial Uniting Church. I hope that he and his wife, Judy, can have a bit of a break just being a normal minister of religion during this time. I thank him on behalf of the people of Darwin for his contribution in relation to the church.
The installation of Reverend Flentje as the Moderator was a special service. One of the special things about the Uniting Church is that it has, in fact, the Aboriginal side of the church as well as the non-Aboriginal church. The way in which worship is carried on is very special where there are things done in language and things done in English. It was a very moving service and everyone who was there enjoyed the service.
Just for the record, perhaps people do not understand much about what a Moderator is. It is the equivalent of a Bishop in other churches. The constitution of the Uniting Church in Australia calls upon the Moderator to exercise a variety of responsibilities including: to give general and pastoral leadership to assist and encourage the church in her missions, witness and prayer; to counsel and advise and uphold the standards of the church; to preside over meetings of the Synod; to represent the church on public occasions; and to speak on public issues on behalf of the church. It is a very important position and it is one which has a national role as well. I wish Reverend Flentje all the best in his new role.
I thank the people at the Casuarina Uniting Church for putting on such a lovely evening, with wonderful food at the end, and beautiful singing throughout the service as well. Thank you very much for inviting me to that and putting on such a wonderful occasion.
I seem to have been doing quite a lot of things at churches. The night before that, on 29 September, I had the pleasure of attending the Anglican Church Missionary Society dinner at Kormilda College. This was a special dinner to help raise money for missionaries around the world. The Anglican Church is very involved in mission across the world. There was a special guest speaker who was a missionary in Jordan and provided a very interesting speech. I thank Reverend Mark Dickens, the Minister at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Nightcliff, for inviting me, but for also organising such an interesting night. I wish all those people who are involved in the Anglican Church in this area of mission all the best because it is a very special area of work which people are involved in.
On 28 September, I attended the National Police Remembrance Day Service at St Mary’s Cathedral. This is a very special service which is held each year and which marks the commemoration of those police officers who have died while they have been actively working for the police service. It was a very special service. Father John Kelleher, the Administrator of St Mary’s Cathedral was involved, with Major Peter Wright, the Chaplain of Police, Fire and Emergency Services, the Right Reverend Eugene Hurley, the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Darwin, and various other people as well. The Darwin Chorale was present and Sand Williams, Doug Loft, Senior Constable Dave Skelton and Sergeant Angela Stringer performed the Police Hymn which is Uphold the Right, which is always a special part of that particular service. I extend my thanks to the police for holding this service each year. It is an important way in which people in the community can recognise the special role that police have in our community.
Tonight, I would like to recognise the life of Mrs Kathleen Cannon. Mrs Cannon is the mother of the Principal of the Essington School, Darwin, Mr David Cannon. His mother died on 30 May this year. As with everyone, it was a very sad time for David. I asked him if he would like me to read this eulogy from the funeral into the Parliamentary Record. He was proud that I could do that for him.
- Kathy Cannon was born in Gunnedah in Northern New South Wales on 26 April 1930. She was the second child of Walter and Kathleen New and had seven brothers and sisters. Her father, Wally, was a mixed farmer and had a small agricultural block just outside Moree, New South Wales, on the banks of the Gwydir River. When money was short, he would also trap rabbits for sale. It was not an easy time in the 1930s, but the family were able to live on what they produced.
When Kathy completed her schooling, she worked for a short time with extended family before commencing nursing training at the age of 16 years in Moree. When Kathy turned 20 years of age, she and another nurse responded to newspaper advertisements for nursing positions in North Queensland, and were offered a position at Babinda Hospital. Without knowing where this was or much about the area, Kathy and her friend, Irene, set off for Babinda where she celebrated her 21st birthday a few months after starting at Babinda Hospital. She lived in the Babinda Nurses Quarters, as most nurses did in those days. She was highly regarded as a nurse, and made many friends on the staff.
At 23 years of age, she and Pop Cannon married and a year later their first child, David, was born. About the same time, Kathy and Pop moved into their current house in Christian Street, Babinda, where they lived for the last 50-plus years. Three other children were soon to follow: Graham, Colleen and Barbara.
The next 20 years were busy years rearing four children and keeping the house. She was busy sewing clothes for the children, cooking and swapping recipes, and keeping the house well presented. During this time, Pop worked in the Babinda Sugar Mill and on local farms when it was possible for him to fit this in around his mill work. Holidays were always spent at Russell Heads where she maintained a second home for the family.
During the second half of her life, Kathy did not always enjoy good health, and in recent years her health had seriously declined, and for the last two-and-a-half years she had been an inpatient at the Babinda Hospital, where she has been well looked after. In recent weeks, her health had declined suddenly, and she passed away peacefully on Wednesday afternoon.
That was 30 May 2007. The requiem service for Mrs Cannon was held at St Rita’s Catholic Church at Babinda on 1 June 2007, and the celebrant was Fr Grundy.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I want to follow up with comments after my question to the Minister for Employment, Education and Training today on the fate of the ANZAC Hill High School.
My question was: please put on public record the real intention of this government about the future of ANZAC Hill High School. We went through a disturbing time last year when there were rumours that the school would close at the end of the year. Now, when we thought everything had settled down and the school was back in action, again there are rumours of the school closing to be used as a youth intervention facility.
The minister’s response in Question Time did not give me any reassurance that the school would continue to operate as a middle school past the beginning of 2008. What he meant by that, I do not know; whether he envisages that some time through 2008 it will be closed. His answer, concentrating on the need for a youth intervention centre in Alice Springs, led me to believe that was his priority. As the Minister for Education and Training, I find that disappointing because I thought of all the things he would do would be to stand up for his school - a school which is quite remarkable and has done amazing things.
The minister seems to be saying that Alice Springs needs this youth intervention centre. I do not deny that. I believe there is someone looking at a number of options of where it could be placed. However, I would have thought his loyalty - if I can call it that - should be to his schools as the minister for Education. That disappointed me.
ANZAC Hill is quite a remarkable school. It is only small. It has a very experienced principal. I want to mention some of the good things that go on there that would be suddenly taken away if it does not continue as it is. The school had a consultant come in and look at their curriculum. Bruce Wilson, who was previously the CEO of the Australian Curriculum Corporation, completed a very positive review last month. He was particularly impressed with the professionalism of the teachers and the quality of the work. He also commented that there were a high number of parents who attended these evening sessions of portfolio chats. Out of his review, the school has started working on his new ideas about extension, and how it can enlighten and enrich the learning program for students. After settling down from the threat of being closed, they are now straight into their new year, looking at this.
There are many other things they have done. For instance, some of the young girls were in the grand final netball team, the debating teams did well, and they even had a successful girls footy team. One of the students won King of the Mountain; some of them played in the touch Rugby game and won. They had a very successful track and field day with eight records broken. Constance Price is a teacher who gets her students involved in Red Cross in the Readathon for Multiple Sclerosis, and they also do a lot of work for the Zonta Club.
The Year 7 team and the students all survived the Year 7 camp. I asked them where they went. The boys went to Arltunga, and the girls went to Ross River. It is not an easy task to take young students out on camps, as you may recall, but the kids had a great time and they loved it.
Anna Montgomery won a grant of $49 000 for work on Investing in our Schools. They also have the Clontarf Football Academy there, which continues working out of ANZAC Hill quite successfully. One of their teachers featured in an Indigenous teacher promotion. Mandy Hargreaves also takes the students out to the velodrome to help them with that sporting venture, which is great. They also received quite a substantial amount of money and an award for Quality Schooling, Excellence in Family School Partnerships. ‘We have a keen staff who have done lots and lots things’, said the principal, ‘and various levels of training and choice theory. In this case, our school management work with everyone, puts teaching strategies and assessment into a framework. We also teach the central thinking of it to our students’.
The school won a literary award, $10 000 for the Great NT DEET supported accelerated literacy project work - a secondary school having great success in catching up. For instance, literacy for those students who cannot read was quite high, so they have done amazing works like that. They also got a Commonwealth grant of $50 000 in 2005-06 to assist and develop their library resource centre – it was $49 000 for laptops, trolleys and electronic whiteboards as well.
It is a school that is continually active, involves their students in many things, their parents are particularly strong, they support their school council, and they really do have a dedicated team of teachers. They are aware that many of their students come from the lower socioeconomic areas of Alice Springs. The indigenous enrolment is up to about 60%. It is difficult for them to really stack up against some of the schools that, perhaps, have just mainstream kids, whereas they are always being measured because some of their students are not as mainstream as we would like, with these schools. Perhaps there is a feeling that ANZAC Hill does not achieve as much as they should but that, of course, is just not true. Many of the kids are quiet, come from very difficult circumstances, and it is overwhelming that, in fact, their attendance is amazingly high. Regarding attendance in particular, they said they have never had Year 10 students opt out of school; the Year 10s continue. It is a hard-working school and there are children who actually learn.
The sad part about it is that, no matter how hard they try, and how much effort is put in by the teachers, they just feel as though they are being, again, put under stress. The parents often say: ‘We feel exhausted by this continual stress of knowing that, perhaps, next year we might be closing’. It is hard because, if you are a Year 6 parent now, and you are going to enrol your student in Year 7 next year into middle school, would you choose ANZAC Hill knowing that their future is under a cloud? Or would you not send them to ANZAC Hill and send them somewhere else? If that occurs, of course, their enrolment numbers are affected. I do not know whether this is what Education is thinking about; whether that is the way they see it going. However, it is certainly disappointing that the minister does not give the school what it deserves - and that is a tremendous amount of support.
Coming back to his comment about the intervention facility, we are all aware that the small demountable that is behind the Youth Centre at the moment is inadequate. It does not give a 24-hour service for those students who need it. Most of all, it does not give those young people who come there for a meal and for a safe place, the services they need to ensure they do not go back to a home that is threatening. If they are not attending school it is found out why - that the environment that they are expected to live in is one that will make them safe.
We understand that we have a number of students and young people in Alice Springs who need to be picked up and helped, and that we have the adequate resources to assist them. I had a group of people from the youth support sectors who came to me and spoke about it. They would like to provide that 24-hour service but, most of all, they would also like to ensure that there are the support services given to these children at the end of the day; that they are not just then sent home to the same environment which might be completely unacceptable.
You have to weigh up whether we need this youth intervention centre at the risk of losing a good middle school. That is the dilemma that is being faced at the moment. I really believe that the minister should say we can have both. We can have ANZAC Hill which is a good school which really provides an excellent environment for learning and takes on some of the hard kids. As well as that, we can have the youth intervention facility - perhaps not at Alice Springs but certainly in a central situation where it could be readily available to all those young people who require it.
I say to the minister, do not give up on ANZAC Hill; do not be so quick to put them down. What you are doing is making them feel insecure and they are losing that strength they need to have to continue. Support them. Let them know that they can continue the way they are to provide a good education but, at the same time, yes, government, ensure you provide this youth intervention facility somewhere that will be suitable for the needs of our children.
Mr KNIGHT (Daly): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I take this opportunity to acknowledge some conscientious students in my electorate and update you on our regular school awards program.
At the Wooliana School, young Jeremy Ah Fat received the school award in June for his positive attitude towards learning. The school principal, Petrina Reardon, says Jeremy is an enthusiastic student who enjoys all school activities, both academic and sporting. He is a quiet achiever who is always willing to help those around him. Jeremy is an excellent role model, and sets a positive example for his Year 2 peers.
In August, the student award was presented to Mikayla Green for her desire to learn. Mikayla tries extremely hard and does not give up when she is challenged. She also helps to make lunches for the younger students and looks after their wellbeing. Mikayla is both conscientious and reliable and does not hesitate to offer her assistance when the need arises.
The student award was given to Sarah Jimarin for the month of September for her positive attitudes towards learning. Sarah always tries her best at whatever she does. Congratulations to Sarah.
Finally, at the Wooliana School, the October award was given to Denby Hubbard for being a positive role model for the younger students in the community. He is both conscientious and reliable and never hesitates to share his skills and knowledge with his peers.
I congratulate Petrina who has 40 enrolled students. They attend regularly and are getting good results. I hope we can support them with added infrastructure in the coming years.
At the Taminmin High School a few months ago, I attended the school’s first musical titled Cold As Ice. I helped out at the bar that night and thoroughly enjoyed the production. I was kept extremely busy with a lot of alcohol and soft drinks consumed. I think everybody enjoyed it. I congratulate the teachers, especially the students, and also to the parents who came along, for putting on such a great production.
At Taminmin, the September monthly award went to two Year 9 students, Megan Hamilton for her work in Maths, and David Cowie for his work in English. There were also two Year 8 student awards to Tasha Morrow for Information Technology and Health, and David Ung for Information Technology, English and Science.
At the Mataranka Primary School, the award for August went to Darcy Boon. Darcy was awarded the ‘You can do it, emotional intelligence award’. Congratulations to Darcy. I believe you are doing great work and I encourage you to keep up the effort.
Finally to Timber Creek, the following students were presented with awards for the month of August: Aston Baxter, Jazlyn Little, Simon MacDonald, Renita Harrington, Mikey Smiler, Ryan Hector, Peter Harrington, Bradley Hector and Hayden Hector. The Hectors are quite numerous in Timber Creek. Congratulations to those students; it is a great school and I hope they keep up the good work and keep winning our sports carnival as well.
On 1 September, I travelled to the Peppimenarti community for their open day. It was a wonderful day of events with displays of artwork and also dancing. Most of the artwork was sold out very early in the day. The people who travelled from Darwin and in from Daly thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. I thank the president, Stewart Hodgson, also to the matriarch of the community, Regina Wilson, and her daughters, Nunuk and Naiya, and all the other Wilson family for putting on such a great day. I hope it goes into the future.
Eight students from the Peppimenarti School recently made a long journey to Darwin with their teacher, Ms Bree Whitford, to complete the Swim and Survive program with the Royal Life Saving NT at the Parap pool. The program teaches children vital water safety skills, including swimming techniques, water confidence, survival and endurance. Peppimenarti is situated near spring-fed creeks, waterfalls and crossings, so it is important that children learn how to be in the water safely without any sort of problems. The eight children who completed the program were Austin Jimarin, Edward Jimarin, Glenda Hodgson, Kate Modilkan, Stephen Thomas, Shania Tallunga, Sherelle Leman and Henry Kundu. Their teacher, Ms Whitford, said the children have really embraced the Swim and Survive program as well as the Water Safety Month activity; so much so that they have entered a Be Water Safety Wise song competition where their entry will be aired on Imparja Television. The children are really excited about seeing themselves on television. Well done, children. I hope we can get that pool equipment there, some instructors, and you will be able to use the pool quite regularly in this very awkward build-up season so you do not have to go down the creek.
The Berry Springs School celebrated its 30th birthday on 21 September. I was fortunate enough to be at the event. It was a great day. Former teachers and former students attended. It just shows what an excellent school it has been over those 30 years, from a very quiet beginning with just a couple of demountables and, basically, scrub. It is now a very modern school producing excellent students. Congratulations to all those teachers and students both past and present.
I also congratulate Jarrod Ryan who has just won the Nuffield Australian Farming Scholarship. Jarrod is a fodder producer and is the general manager of a family-owned business, Northern Australia Exports. The business is based in the Douglas Daly region. The award is worth $25 000 and will enable Jarrod to study dry land and irrigated fodder production in the tropical environs overseas. Congratulations, Jarrod. It is certainly well deserved. I hope you bring that knowledge back to the Douglas Daly region and support that community.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I report on my recent study tour undertaken during some of September to London and Singapore. I had a number of objectives at the commencement of the study tour, and I am happy to say that most of them were met. I also learnt about a range of additional matters, and I am pleased that so much of what I learnt has application, both direct and indirect, to the Northern Territory.
I would first like to talk about my visit to Broadmoor Hospital. This hospital provides specialist health care for people who would require treatment in conditions of special security due to their dangerous, violent or criminal propensities. Patients with mental illness or acquired brain injury require the services of skilled professional staff in a safe and secure environment, and Broadmoor provides a range of treatments for its patients, including assessment, specialist care and rehabilitation.
The Territory’s two prisons are at capacity and, indeed, the most recent crime statistics reveal that our gaols are overflowing. More can be done for our mental health facilities. There are ongoing questions about whether our gaols are equipped to deal with inmates who are mentally ill or who have an acquired brain injury. I have long been of the view that a specialist facility for people convicted of serious crimes against the person and who have mental health problems should be established in the Territory, particularly given the high number of prisoners who are unable to be treated in the mainstream prison.
I was keen to view this facility and am grateful for the extensive tour and information provided to me. I was very impressed with every aspect of Broadmoor, and am now strengthened in my belief that a specialist facility is needed in the Territory. We do not have a facility that has specialist treatment programs that are equipped to deal with the people who have committed crimes and who have a mental illness or acquired brain injury.
Our two prisons are just not equipped to provide the expert facilities that those inmates require, and our mental health units and wards are under-resourced and people who work in them should not, in the normal course of events, be required to deal with extremely violent prisoners. Prison officers are not trained to deal with these types of offenders, and psychiatric nurses are trained but should not be forced to deal with them either. A better alternative is clearly required from any perspective.
Broadmoor houses about 300 patients. It provides specialist health care and treatment for people, mainly men, with mental illness or personality disorder who need the services of skilled professional staff, which must occur in a safe and secure environment. The security of the environment is crucial. Some of the patients at Broadmoor have been found by the courts to be unfit to plead. Others have severe mental illnesses and severe personality disorders. Some of them have committed heinous crimes. Some of the Territory’s prisoners share some traits of those in Broadmoor.
The security at Broadmoor is incredible. I have not seen anything like it, and I doubt that I will see anything like it for the rest of my life. Clearly, it is necessary to assure the community that it is not possible for these highly dangerous patients to escape. Having seen the facility, it is certainly not possible for any escape to occur.
The services at Broadmoor are impressive. There are social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, forensic psychiatrists - and the list goes on. They have a staff of about 1200; 650 of them are nurses, many of whom have experience or expertise in psychiatric nursing. This number of staff ensures that a multidisciplinary approach is undertaken and a genuine attempt at rehabilitation and treatment occurs.
Quite rightly, we punish offenders by putting them in gaol. There is the ability to hold a prisoner indefinitely in the Territory known as ‘at the Administrator’s pleasure’, but it is exercised rarely and very few prisoners in the Territory are held on those terms. I can think of one. I doubt that there would be more than five in the Territory.
It follows that almost all prisoners in our gaols will be released. We will release murderers, rapists, other sex offenders, child abusers and people who have committed evil acts, some of whom have a mental illness or an acquired brain injury, into the community. Most of them have not received specialist or specialised treatment.
While many in the community may want all prisoners to be held at the Administrator’s pleasure, only undemocratic governments and corrupt legal systems would allow it to occur. Hence, we need to look at the types of prisoners we have and ask what the consequences are of releasing them without specialised treatment.
A Chief Minister now and in the future and, indeed, in the past, must consider or should have considered, a specialist treatment facility to deal with prisoners who require specialised treatment in order for them to be released - as released they will be.
I have already spoken to the Prison Officers Association about this and they agree that something needs to be done. I am very keen for a facility to be established. The total Broadmoor model should not and could not be adopted or adapted in the Territory, but there is plenty to learn from that historically and currently interesting and valuable institution.
I also met with the Crown Prosecution Service. Building on information from an earlier study tour, I met with the CPS in London and discussed a number of issues in relation to prosecuting domestic violence offences, including prosecutions where victims are reluctant to give evidence, known as victimless prosecutions. It seems that the Territory and other Australian jurisdictions are not the only ones which deal with these problems. Improving and increasing prosecutions of perpetrators of violence against women and children is not only an area of interest to many Territorians, but one in which we all have an interest because of the potential to decrease both the number of cases before the courts and, ultimately, violence in the community.
Among some of the things I wanted to learn were how to proceed to prosecute without a victim, and how successful the prosecutions are. I was also interested to learn how the evidence gathering occurs; how, in practice, reluctant victims are dealt with; how the specialised domestic violence courts are fairing; and how judges and magistrates are responding generally to prosecutions without the victims.
Domestic violence cases generally proceed in much the same way as they do in the Territory. There are, however, some important exceptions, one of which is that the responsibility regarding a decision to prosecute a case rests with the CPS, and that is an important exception. A lawyer decides whether to prosecute. Lawyers are placed in police stations and are known as duty prosecutors. The investigating police then take all of the evidence and other material they have collected to the prosecutor, who then decides whether there is enough to initiate a prosecution, or whether and what additional information is need to provide evidence of a sufficient amount or quality for a prosecution. I was told that some regard the placement of a prosecutor for these purposes as fettering police powers. Nevertheless, it is working well, and has done so for the last three years.
The test as to whether to prosecute is, nevertheless, both evidentiary and it incorporates a public interest element. It is, however, policy to prosecute if at all possible, and to champion the causes of victims of domestic violence. All prosecutions proceed on the basis that many complainants will seek to withdraw a prosecution within 27 days, based on CPS figures and research.
There have also been high attrition rates, not uncommon in the Territory as well. In an attempt to counter this, the CPS’s policy is to look at ancillary evidence and evidence from the victim. Ancillary evidence may be available from photos, neighbours, the content of 999 calls - our equivalent is 000 calls – and, possibly, children. Although taking evidence from children is controversial, in some cases the need to prosecute may outweigh the fairly obvious problems of using children in this way.
Another form of evidence gathering includes the use of what is known as head cams by investigating police officers. That means that if police attend call-outs or speak to a woman, children, partners or other witnesses, their statements are recorded. It also means that pictures are taken of the relevant areas, and that injuries, the state of distress, and damage to property are available to use as evidence.
There are various matters that need to be considered in deciding whether to proceed with a prosecution in the absence of a victim who withdraws a complaint, but the responsibility to prosecute a case is that of the CPS - it is not that of the victim or the police. However, there are certain matters that the CPS must be satisfied about. The victim must have signed a withdrawal statement. An assessment is made of whether the allegation was true and why the victim wants to withdraw it, as well as the impact of not proceeding with the prosecution.
The officer conducts a risk assessment, which includes whether there is other evidence. Consideration is also given to the effect on children, prior convictions, other reports, the impact of dropping the case, and whether there is support in the community for the children and victim if the prosecution is dropped. A relevant officer will conduct an assessment of all other evidence.
A case can be prosecuted without a victim, and I strongly support this concept. The CPS may apply for a witness summons in the event the victim does not attend court or shows an unwillingness to proceed with the case with the prosecution. In those circumstances, a warrant may be issued. This is also controversial, but there are occasions where it is helpful to a victim who may be pressured to withdraw a complaint if she is able to say words to the effect of: ‘I am not pursuing the prosecution, the police and the CPS are the ones who are doing it and, if I do not go to court, I will be put in gaol’. Anyone who has worked in this area or who understands the framework in which domestic violence works will appreciate and understand the significance of what this means to a victim.
There are four specialist domestic violence courts in London. Trials occur within 28 days. Prosecutors have specialist training in domestic violence, as do magistrates and judges. Indeed, the Judicial Studies Board has domestic violence on its list for training. Those courts are working well regarding conviction rates, but the CPS is not always happy with the sentences being given. There was not time to get significant information in relation to sentencing.
Another measure for dealing with domestic violence is the appointment of an independent domestic violence advisor, known as an IDVA, for each victim. These advisors have proved to be the missing link for increasingly effective intervention in domestic violence cases, and they have had a positive impact on a number of cases which resulted in prosecution. High-risk victims are the subject of multi-agency risk assessments in which IDVAs participate. The outcomes of those conferences may influence if it is to prosecute without the victim, and what other protective measures may be needed.
One of the key performance indicators in the DPP is known as OBTJ, which stands for ‘offender brought to justice’. It does not measure the conviction rate, but it is a good measure nevertheless, as many citizens simply want to see an offender bought to justice, and that is a useful end.
The framework and policy directed, and increase in the number of prosecutions, has been in place for several years and it is delivering results in getting more cases to court. There is much the Territory and, indeed, other Australian jurisdictions can learn from this.
I also met with the Respect Task Force. Given the high levels of antisocial behaviour experienced in the Territory, it is critical to see how other jurisdictions are tackling the problem. The Respect Task Force is run by the Home Office and is designed to tackle antisocial behaviour and its causes, and has strategies developed to address truancy, strengthen local communities, and strong measures for tackling antisocial behaviour.
The Respect Task Force was established in 2005 as a result of community dissatisfaction with levels of antisocial behaviour occurring in neighbourhoods. It arose from a widespread view that the criminal justice system was not meeting the needs of the community. In 2003, an Antisocial Behaviour Act was created and the Respect Program developed after that.
I was provided with a great deal of written material and I propose, while talking about the Respect Task Force, to quote from some of the material I received. The literature states that, when respect for self, others and the community breaks down, antisocial behaviour takes hold. Making offensive and threatening remarks, dumping letters and other rubbish in the streets, urinating in the street, and things like that are clearly inconsiderate or disrespectful by any definition. The program and its action plan strategy underlying it is all about respect - hence its name. Many Territorians would understand very well the rationale behind this program, as well as acknowledge its appeal. Significantly, the respect strategy aims to tackle the causes of antisocial behaviour, and is generational insofar as it aims to ensure that the next generation does not get involved in the antisocial activity.
Early intervention in families is also a component. The Respect team trains practitioners such as police, social workers, child protection workers, community workers and so on. They do not case manage. The Respect Task Force works closely with the Youth Justice Board about which I will talk shortly.
In addition to antisocial behaviour orders, it is worth pointing to another tool used in the area of youth justice and antisocial behaviour; that is, acceptable behaviour contracts which are voluntary agreements between, usually, individuals that outline what a offender should and should not do. These can be applied for by a range of individuals such as teachers and police, and they are used when someone’s behaviour is unacceptable but not criminal.
Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, since I am 20 seconds from being out of time, I will end there but indicate that I will continue my report during the rest of the sittings.
Mr NATT (Drysdale): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I acknowledge a young woman whom I have had a little to do with in my electorate over the past couple of years. Unfortunately, she is leaving the Australian Red Cross and the Communities for Children Program. I speak of Bridie Scott.
Communities for Children is an initiative that works on improving the lives of young children from the ages of zero to five years of age, obviously also working closely with their families. The program places particular emphasis on early childhood initiatives that achieve better outcomes for children and their families. They help families and communities deal with the issues before they become a serious problem. Australian Red Cross is the facilitating partner for the Palmerston region. Bridie has been the Project Officer for the Communities for Children Program and has been with the service since its inception.
She has left the program to pursue her dream of establishing a business in the Palmerston area, and she has done that. She has established a shop in the Gray Shopping Centre called Second Hand Nursery Land. The Gray Shopping Centre is smack bang in the middle of my electorate of Drysdale. I thank Bridie for the contribution she has made to the community in her time, and wish her well in her new business enterprise and hope that she has every success that she has been looking for.
Last sittings, I spoke of the success of the women at the Hair Art Salon which is located directly opposite the Drysdale Electorate Office. I talked of the achievements of the salon and how they took out the lion’s share of awards at the Northern Territory International Hairdressing Society Championships held here in May. Owner, Sonia Kinna, and her staff deserve many congratulations as they claimed gold in seven of the 11 categories including Salon of the Year, Senior Hairdresser of the Year which was Bonnie Snell, and the Junior Hairdresser of the Year, Kirstyu Bulluss.
Bonnie Snell went on to compete at the International Hairdressing Society’s national finals, hosted in Melbourne, against 120 other hairdressers from around Australia. I am pleased to report that Bonnie won the runner’s up medal for the Senior’s Ladies Haircuts. My congratulations to Bonnie. I know that she has had some terrific support from Sonia and the other girls in the shop. I wish her every success, and Sonia every success with the shop in future.
Another outstanding achievement worth recognising is that of Detective Senior Sergeant Robert Jordan who, last month, was awarded Rotary Police Officer of the Year. Robert has almost 20 years experience serving as a police officer, and has served across most of the Territory including remote and rural areas. Until recently, he was posted at the Palmerston Police Station where I can vouch for his dedication and professionalism. I congratulate Robert on his dedicated service to the police force and on being recognised and awarded the Rotary Police Officer of the Year.
While I am talking about the Palmerston Police Station, I would like to mention that we have a new superintendent there, Matthew Hollamby. I was lucky enough to doorknock Matthew a couple of weeks ago. He was on holidays at the time but was kind enough to spare me 15 to 20 minutes to have a bit of a talk about a few things. Since then, I have made contact with Matt on a couple of occasions to talk about constituents’ concerns. I am pleased to say that Matthew has responded remarkably well. He is a very personable and extremely helpful person, as are all the officers within the Palmerston Police Station. I thank Matthew for his support of me and the concerns that I have put to him, and the prompt action that he has taken to ensure that the concerns have been addressed. I look forward to working with Matthew over his time at the helm of the Palmerston Police Station.
With October being Business Month in the Territory I would like to draw your attention to two local businesses operating within my electorate of Drysdale. My electorate is quite diverse, but significant parts of it incorporate the industrial sector which contains many fantastic business enterprises, two of which are notable for obtaining recognition for some outstanding achievements recently. They are Northern Stainless Pty Ltd and NTESS Fire Consultants who are the NT winners and national finalists for the Telstra Business Awards respectively in the MYOB Business Award and the Panasonic Australia Business Award, which is for a business with 21 to 50 employees.
These awards recognise the achievements and enterprising spirit of small businesses across Australia and provide a range of business benefits. Through extensive promotion and publicity, the awards enable businesses to promote their achievements to the broader community. They also help businesses develop new business relationships, reward hard-working staff, and share in a substantial national prize pool.
Northern Stainless Pty Ltd is based in Winnellie and is a stainless steel fabrication business providing products and services to the building and construction industry. It has specific architectural back-up for some of its designs. Northern Stainless employs a team of about 11 people and the business can design, fabricate and install a range of products including benches, trolleys, domestic kitchens, restaurants and shop fit-outs among its range of products and services. My congratulations go to the Owner Director, Ken Cohalan, and Co-Directors, Darren Colbert and Jenna Duncan. I know these three individuals have put a lot of time and effort into their business to ensure that they are a viable concern. Obviously, winning the award goes to show that the time and effort has paid off. Congratulations to them and all the staff at Northern Stainless.
NTESS Fire Consultants, also based at Winnellie, specialise in fire protection equipment such as extinguishers, fire alarm systems, hydrants, hose reels, smoke detectors and automatic sprinkler systems. They are a local business, which was established less than 10 years ago by Paul Le Measurer and Frank Farley. With a staff of around about 21 at the time of the presentation, this business also has services which include the installation and maintenance of electronic security and access control systems, communications systems, CCTV, MATV, public address systems and emergency training and fire safety training to the construction, mining, marine and offshore oil industries.
Paul and Frank have since sold the business to a private entity. They have joined with a stable of other businesses so that they are now situated with one company in each state around Australia, and now come under the business name of Spectrum Fire. Paul now takes on the role of State Operations Manager and handles the business side of things, while Frank handles the operational works. The business is growing rapidly and now has a staff of 30, which is expected to grow to about 50 within the next 18 months.
Paul has been nominated for the NT Management Excellence Awards as part of the Australian Institute of Management Awards, and I understand that presentation is this weekend. I wish Paul every success with his nomination for that, and I congratulate both him and Frank on their continued success with the business. I hope they go on to bigger and better things in the future.
While on the topic of local businesses, I draw members’ attention to another one which has received recent recognition. Palmerston has a restaurant called the Mediterranean Restaurant, which has been awarded Best Family and Informal Restaurant at the NT Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence. The restaurant was judged against national standards. I wish it all the very best as it goes on to represent the Territory in the national titles to be held in Adelaide. Owner, James Debelin, with his staff of Kyle Whitmore, Kym Cunningham and Bernard Schenkel, have created a family-oriented restaurant with a wonderful menu and a range of food for all age groups. They have done a magnificent job in maintaining an excellent standard. I wish them the best at the national titles in Adelaide.
Last month, the Palmerston Game Fishing Club again hooked up with Happy Mick’s Fishing and Camping store and hosted another kids’ fishing clinic. The morning event is hugely popular, and many children turn out to learn the finer points of catching a fish, and the tying of the knots and how to put a rig together. More than $16 000 worth of fishing gear, including rod and reel combos, was distributed to the kids on the day. I note that this money is raised through the various contests that the Palmerston Game Fishing Club runs - the Barra Nationals is one. That money is put back into a good cause in ensuring youth development within our fishing population.
This is a fabulous event which, unfortunately, I was unable to attend this year due to another commitment. I acknowledge the generosity of the Palmerston Game Fishing Club, its committee and members, as well as the wonderful corporate support they receive from the tackle industry. The Palmerston Game Fishing Club conducts some wonderful events for kids, encouraging them to undertake the fabulous pastime of fishing.
Earlier this year, I presented trophies to participants in the Junior Barra Classic on the Daly River. That event was well attended by club members, who took their boats down for the week. On this particular day, up to 50 children attended. To the credit of the members, they took the kids out for the day, a couple to a boat. The kids had a wonderful time on the Daly catching barra and, at the end of the day, the prize for the best fish and the number of fish caught went to the kids who were lucky enough to win those prizes. All of the kids who participated were given a tackle box, which goes to show the forward thinking of the club is fantastic. The focus is on the future, and educating our young anglers on the finer points of fishing. They also point out the responsibilities and the safety techniques that are required when fishing from a boat or from the shore.
Well done to the Palmerston Game Fishing Club and to Happy Mick’s. I applaud both of those organisations for their support of the kids in the Palmerston area and wish them all the best. I know they are going to continue these events into the future, and I look forward to participating next year and to getting down on the Daly again. I had great success there at the last Barra Nationals. We caught quite a few barra. I look forward to doing the same again, and also getting involved with the kids and ensuring that the education processes of fishing are maintained.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016