2007-04-18
Madam Speaker Aagaard took the Chair at 9.30 am.
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, these petitions were collected before the Chief Minister’s backflip on CCTV so I present them today.
I present a petition from 14 petitioners praying that closed circuit TV be implemented in Todd Mall and adjacent areas. The petition bears the Clerk’s certificate that it conforms with the requirements of standing orders.
This petition is similar to a petition read to the Assembly during the November 2006 sittings, so it need not be read.
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I present a further petition from three petitioners praying that the 130 km/h speed limit on Territory roads be repealed. The petition bears the Clerk’s certificate that it conforms with the requirements of standing orders. I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read:
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I present a petition from 105 petitioners praying that the capacity of the power grid from the Brewer Estate to Alice Springs be upgraded. The petition bears the Clerk’s certificate that it conforms with the requirements of standing orders. I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read:
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of students from Year 6 at Sadadeen Primary School, accompanied by teachers Vicki Skoss, Heather Tubberhauer and Taneka Keeler. I add, honourable members, that this group is the group that has the won the people’s choice award in the art competition which you ran here in Central Australia. If those young people would like to put their hands up.
Members: Hear, hear!
MINISTERIAL REPORTS
Annual Treasurers’ Conference of the Ministerial Council of Australian Treasurers
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, on 30 March, I attended the annual Treasurers’ Conference of the Ministerial Council of Australian Treasurers. Before that, I met with my state and territory counterparts to discuss general issues in the meeting the following day.
This year, state and territory Treasurers also finalised agreement to harmonise payroll tax arrangements between the states and territories. It is an historic first, and will see the arrangements between the states and territories, and internally as well, simplified and less cumbersome. States have agreed to adopt common provisions and definitions for timing of lodgement, motor vehicle allowances, accommodation allowances, a range of fringe benefits, work performed outside a jurisdiction, employee share acquisition schemes, superannuation contributions for non-working directors, and grouping of business.
States and territories will retain control over individual rates and thresholds. The new arrangements will apply by no later than 1 July 2008 in all states and territories. For Territory business, once the full process is in place, there will be a $3m saving overall.
The main purpose in attending the Treasurers’ conferences is to achieve two outcomes. The first is to ensure the Territory gets its fair share of the national funding from the Commonwealth, and the second is to protect that concept of horizontal fiscal equalisation from the attacks of the largest states. This was achieved on both accounts on this occasion.
As members would be aware, the Commonwealth pools all the receipts from the GST and distributes those receipts to the Australian Tax Office to cover the costs of administering the GST, and to the states as financial assistance grants. The Taxation Office receives $630m to administer the GST; the rest of the money is divided according to formula established and administered by the Commonwealth Grants Commission. That determines the share to be provided to each state and territory as a number against every dollar raised. The Territory share this year was determined at 4.36824 to every dollar raised. It is determined on fundamental principles, the most important of which is that there ought to be no disadvantage in services to be had across different parts of Australia. The federal Treasurer determines whether to accept the recommendations.
This year, the Territory receives $2.123bn, about $20m more than predicted. The increase is due to an increase in population, our isolation, and indigenous factors within our population.
The second task is to protect the process from the larger states. This year, the process was once again protected. But I sound a warning that in 2010 a review will be completed - a review that is likely to simplify the process - and that is dangerous ground for the Territory. The larger states will use the opportunity to undermine the principles of equalisation and, if they succeed, it will be a sad day indeed for our federation and the smaller states but, particularly, for the Northern Territory.
We are doing what we can to overcome this threat. In defending the Territory’s revenue share from the attacks we have been well served by Treasury in the past and will be again. I am pleased with the outcome of the meeting it was a good result for the Territory.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, the opposition commends the Treasurer for maintaining the fight for the fair share for the Territory in the assault that other more populous states mount with strong requests for what they call fairness. It is fair that the Territory receives the amount that it does receive, and for that you have the support and commendation of the Territory opposition.
On the matter of the unexpected increase, we have had reports of the unexpected increases year by year and it does beg the question as to the parameters upon which the government builds its case for using that largesse. It is one thing to receive an unexpected bonus but it is how that bonus is used. Is it seen as an achievement to spend money and to put out a glossy brochure and to say: ‘We have recognised this problem and our solution is to spend money’? That is not a solution. The outcome, the result of the expenditure, the quality of the program is the result that Territorians demand, not the heralding of great achievements being the expenditure of money. If you continue down that path and do not build the strategies to change the direction the Territory is going and use that money to produce better outcomes you are further entrenching welfare dependency and we become further dependant on the Commonwealth.
Madam SPEAKER: While the member for Nelson is coming to the lectern, I would like members to be aware that in the gallery there are students from Year 4 Living Waters Lutheran School with their teacher, Maranda Carr. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to your very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I support the statement from the minister. We have to keep up the fight to get our fair share of income from the Commonwealth. The one area which I do not think we do get the fair share - and it will be an uphill battle continuously - is the area of local government which is not given out from the Commonwealth on the same horizontal equalisation scheme. It is given out on the population basis.
As we know, local government is being amalgamated. One of the key matters that local government has to face is the amount of money that has to go into that amalgamation process to make it successful. I ask the minister to keep the fight up to see whether the system of funding local government can be changed. I know it is an uphill battle when you consider the power of the states that oppose it. If we are getting extra GST and we cannot get extra funding through the normal processes, I say to the government set aside some of the GST funding that we receive from the Commonwealth as a standard input into local government funding in the Northern Territory.
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I thank the members for Blain and Nelson for their supportive comments. I remind members, and I have said it before, that before I went away to my first Ministerial Council back in 2001, I took a phone call late one evening from former Chief Minister, Marshall Perron. He said: ‘Do not be conned. Do not be conned by these sharks interstate when you go down there because they will be after you. They will be after your tail because they will say the Northern Territory gets too big a share, and they want some of their money back’. He said: ‘Remember this: the principles of equalisation by which they draw and allocate the funding around Australia is the glue that holds the federation of Australia together’. That stuck with me ever after. Marshall never claimed it as his own quote; it is someone else’s quote, the origins of which escape me. It is a very powerful statement and something that every minister who represents the Northern Territory for ever should remember.
In relation to the extra $20m, it is not a bonus, it is not a windfall. Every time you and other people go out and say it is a bonus or windfall, you are suggesting that it is not the rightful share for the Northern Territory. It is our rightful share. That is what we go to fight for, and that is what we won.
Mr HENDERSON (Tourism): Madam Speaker, I congratulate the Treasurer for getting our rightful share from the Commonwealth.
I would like to update the House on tourism achievements and activities for Central Australia. The latest national and international visitor surveys indicate that the total number of holiday visitors to Central Australia has remained steady during 2006 compared with 2005. However, we have seen a substantial increase in the number of nights travellers spend in the Centre: up 16% or an extra 329 000 nights, and an increase in the average length of stay from four to five nights compared with 2005. That is very significant. As I said in the House yesterday and at breakfast this morning, an extra 329 000 nights in Central Australia is a lot of extra money into our economy in Central Australia.
I am pleased to report that the international component of total holiday visitors for 2006 to Central Australia has grown to 289 000. That is an additional 17 000 international travellers compared with 2005, again a significant result. This is great news given that future tourism growth is likely to come from the international market. My recent overseas trip reinforced the importance of the international market to the Territory. The European market is the largest source of visitors for us but, more importantly, visiting the Territory remains the No 1 priority for many international travellers.
Whilst there are many activities and programs under way in the Centre, I will focus on a couple of new ones, the Dreaming Trails concept. My agency, Tourism NT, is working closely with indigenous art centres like Keringke Arts, Titjikala Arts, and Ntaria Arts, city art galleries and niche tourism operators in Central Australia to create Aboriginal art trails in the region. This will connect travellers interested in Aboriginal art with these centres, enabling the centres to make direct art sales to the consumers. This art trail will form one of many art trails under an exciting new niche marketing concept titled Dreaming Trails, a concept that will allow travellers in Aboriginal culture through art. Importantly, when I was in Europe, there was an absolute desire of many of our tourists to meet Aboriginal people who create the wonderful art.
I also want to talk about the development of four-wheel drive tracks in the region, which is high on the agenda and we have committed to increase 4X4 routes in light of the sealing of the Red Centre Way. Talks are taking place on four-wheel drive marketing initiatives, including the development of camp grounds on major four-wheel drive routes in the Harts Range, Docker River, Eastern Macdonnell, and Hermannsburg areas. Work is also being done with emerging operators on the Hugh River Stock Route to access this market due to their strategic location south of Alice Springs and on an accessible four-wheel drive track. This includes four-wheel drive courses, cultural awareness workshops and visits to contemporary Aboriginal communities.
Another exciting project being jointly developed by Tourism NT and the Central Land Council is a training initiative for Aboriginal four-wheel drive instructors who can lead tag-along tours through the Aboriginal land under the existing permit system. As you can see, these developments and initiatives have the potential to provide business opportunities and jobs at a local level, boosting employment, training and economic activity in the region.
Other positive news for Central Australia is the strength of the business tourism sector. I am pleased to announce that a combined bid by the Alice Springs Convention Centre tour hosts and Tourism NT to host the International Symposium on Pneumococcal Diseases saw Alice Springs win the Meeting of the Year Award at the 2006-07 Meeting and Events Industry Awards held in Hobart on 3 April. This is the first ever MEIA award for the Northern Territory, one where Alice was recognised as a unique business event location. These wins help raise the profile of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory as a fantastic business tourism destination.
It was only last month that our Chief Minister launched the $2.1m Destination Alice Springs campaign, the third for Alice and the surrounding region. This campaign enhances Alice’s image as the most famous outback town in Australia, but also enhances its appeal and ability to serve as a great base for the modern day adventurer. It has been through this government’s increased funding to tourism that has enabled specific marketing campaigns to be undertaken for our six priority regions.
As I reported to the House yesterday, both CATIA and Barkly Tourism are reporting strong bookings for the year ahead. This is fantastic news from all accounts, and I look forward to receiving the next round of holiday visitor statistics which will hopefully support what our dedicated industry members are telling us.
There is much more happening in Central Australia and what I have highlighted here today is just the tip of the iceberg. What I can say is that the Territory government is committed to Central Australian tourism, and committed to moving the tourism industry ahead. I congratulate all those operators in the industry who provide such a wonderful product for our tourists who come to the Territory and come to Central Australia.
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): Madam Speaker, I thank the minister for his report on tourism in Central Australia. There is no doubt that it has been the aim of tourism operators and the tourism industry for many years to get the tourists to stay one extra night. It has been a campaign that has been going on for some time. It is really nice to see that it is starting to work here.
Indigenous art is still at the forefront, and it still has a lot of development to do. I have to say that it is pleasing to see that there are tag-along tours now taking tourists, if they wish to go, to the artists.
One business venture that I believe you have given a big slap in the face to is the vehicle manufacturers, by not granting permits to them to bring their business to Central Australia. That is a huge loss to Central Australia. It is a minimum of $5m - that is very conservative; it is closer to $10m. Not only do those people come here, they bring quite a lot of support vehicles and staff with them, and they contribute to the economy through accommodation, food, and fuel. They also use a lot of IT when they are here. Those people are now not going to come because we do not offer that one-stop shop for them any more. They have to split up all of their training and go to two different states. They would have to do their on-road training and their high speed testing in Victoria and then come here to do their climatic changes. They will not do that; they will go just to one place. That is a very unfortunate situation that you have placed Central Australia in and it has also said goodbye to what used to be regarded as a very significant industry for Central Australia.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Madam Speaker, I thank the minister for his report. Speaking about CATIA and some of the tourism operators in town, yes, they are buoyed, the numbers are great and it looks as though it is going to be a really good tourist season for us. The marketing has been successful and it certainly is a big plus.
I commend the Alice Springs Desert Park, which you did not mention in the report. They do fantastic things and offer alternatives to people in the town. They involve the community and are becoming a really strong destination for tourists.
As well as that, The Ghan passenger train gives people who come to Alice Springs options of going on different tours. I have to admit, The Ghan passenger train has been a huge bonus for this town. I would like government to consider also returning the pensioner concession to the elderly on that train. They do not get it once they get to the Territory, but they do get it in the South Australian component. Perhaps you could seriously look at that, because there are large numbers who arrive on The Ghan each time it comes to Alice Springs.
You talked about the art industry. The idea of selling direct from the artists is good; it may help bypass the carpetbaggers who do so much damage to the artists and cheat and exploit them. That is to be commended. Let us face it; we need to protect our Aboriginal art industry because it is a huge industry and it is growing day by day.
The sealing of the Mereenie Loop road is great and it has started; I know that. However, have you completed the negotiations with the CLC so that access to the gravel can occur around Ipolera so that the next stage can go ahead? It is too easy to sit back and say: ‘We have started sealing’. We want that sealing to be completed. That, again, will have great spin-offs for our tourism industry. It is vital to the town, it does spin-off to all other businesses, and we really should keep promoting it …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON (Tourism): Madam Speaker, I thank members who contributed to the report. We are all keenly aware of how important tourism is to our economy. All of us, as local members, have people who are engaged in tourism in our electorates.
I pick up on a couple of issues. For the member for Katherine, safety is the priority on our roads. It was a tough decision to take, and we have taken the decision. Obviously, the opposition would have another view. There are many numbers going around regarding the value of that particular industry to the market. We have never seen any detailed evidence of the claims of the value so, if you have details of that, I would be pleased to see it. We have asked for it and have never seen it.
In regard to the Desert Park, I agree with the member for Braitling - a fantastic park here in Alice Springs. There has been an announcement by our government that we are going to be constructing a brand new Western MacDonnell’s visitor centre at the park to the value of $3m. Madam Speaker, we will continue to invest in the park.
Madam SPEAKER: Before I call another ministerial report, honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Her Worship, the Mayor of Alice Springs, Ms Fran Kilgariff. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: Also, honourable members, in the gallery we have students from Charles Darwin University’s Migrant English class, with their teachers, Suzette Lau and David Callard. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Women’s Policy): Madam Speaker, on International Women’s Day on 8 March this year, I had the pleasure of formally opening the new premises of the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame in Alice Springs.
The Northern Territory government provided funding through the Regional Museums Grants program to the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame to restore and relocate to the Old Alice Springs Gaol. The Old Alice Springs Gaol is a registered heritage place and represents a genuine example of community protecting its cultural assets. Locating the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame in the old gaol will allow it to continue to build on its collection of stories, photographs, artefacts and memorabilia relating to pioneer women. The location is ideal in the centre of town and close to both tourist accommodation and other venues, making it more accessible to view the exceptional collection. I understand the Hall of Fame, together with many other great Alice Springs attractions, is now included in a pre-arranged tour for Ghan visitors.
It is so important to preserve the outstanding contribution women have made to the Northern Territory. The Hall of Fame enables the Territory’s history to be viewed by thousands of visitors, and recognises the hardships women have overcome to get to where they are today.
I acknowledge the founder, Mrs Molly Clark of Andado Station. Molly had a vision many years ago to preserve the place of women in history and their special contribution to Australia’s heritage. In 1993, a public meeting was called to gauge interest in opening a Hall of Fame for pioneering women of Australia. This proved to be a success. The association was formed, a temporary building was required, and fundraising commenced.
This is how the famous Molly’s Bash started - a bush concert and an outback experience at Molly Clark’s homestead at the old station on the edge of the Simpson Desert. It was a major fundraiser for the new building, held annually from 1993 to 2003 - a huge success as hundreds of people attended to enjoy the outback experience. I understand that plans are afoot to resurrect this unique event.
I also thank the staff and volunteers who worked extremely hard to ensure the opening was a huge success, and for their ongoing contribution. It was fantastic to see a great attendance and it demonstrates the strong community spirit. The people of Alice Springs should be extremely proud to showcase the Hall of Fame; an excellent example to others. I encourage residents and visitors to tour the Women’s Hall of Fame.
As part of the International Women’s Day celebration, I had the privilege of presenting awards at the opening to Alice Springs recipients of this year’s Tribute to Northern Territory Women. The Northern Territory government initiated the Tribute on International Women’s Day in 2002.
International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the progress made, to call for further change, and to celebrate acts by ordinary women who have contributed to the lives of their families, their communities and to each other. The tribute is a celebration and commemoration of the achievements of Territory women, both past and present. It is designed to honour and acknowledge the substantial contribution women have made, and continue to make, to the economic development and social wellbeing of the Territory.
Four remarkable women were recognised for their significant ongoing contribution to the growth and development of the Territory. The 2007 tributes were to: Penny Tastula from Darwin for her long-standing commitment to developing the tourism industry in the Territory; Molly Wardaguga, a Burarra Aboriginal elder and a retired senior Aboriginal Health Worker with over 40 years experience; Rosie Kunoth-Monks for her ongoing work advocating and supporting Aboriginal people; and Molly Clark who, in the early 1990s, had a vision to celebrate women’s achievements and their place in history – and that vision is now embodied within the walls of the Old Alice Springs Gaol in the form of the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame.
The Territory government is proud to continue to recognise the outstanding achievements being made by ordinary women.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I thank the Minister for Women’s Policy for her statement. It is a crying shame that the school kids are not here, because I am going to thank you and acknowledge your efforts, minister, in your portfolio. You are a significantly better minister for Women’s Policy than your predecessor. You have a genuine commitment to the area. It was a pleasure to see you and others at the opening of the Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame.
In Alice Springs, so many of us have been involved in a number of different ways. Many of us from different backgrounds, even prior to politics, have been slugging away in our own ways to get this to the position it has been for many years. It has transcended political and gender lines to some extent, and the cooperation between the Territory government and the federal government is a great example of people pitching in and getting the right result in the end. Congratulations.
While I have you in Alice Springs as Minister for Women’s Policy, I would be grateful if you would - and I appreciate it if you cannot do it now - come back to me at some point on the following issues: (1) Family planning – I understand it has been closed since about June/July. I understand there are funding issues. Family planning needs to be operational in Alice Springs; (2) Breast Screening NT is still not operating like it used to. The windows for opportunities for breast screening are narrow, I am sure you would know that; and (3) where is the women’s information centre? I know there was a review some time ago, but it seems to have disappeared. Can you tell us where it is and what it is doing? We note the abolition under Labor of the Women’s Advisory Council and the Business Women’s Consultative Council. We urge you to reinstate that, but certainly family planning, Breast Screening NT and Women’s Information Centre. Also, can someone please get the after hours sexual assault service a new phone because they need one.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Madam Speaker, I guess the minister was a bit worried at the start of that, to hear the opposition praising her for what has happened. I join with the Leader of the Opposition in what she said. It is a great achievement. It has been a long, hard road for that committee to get where they are today. That group of volunteers is so keen and eager to assist. Volunteers do a huge amount in this town. You are right: The Ghan passengers now have the option of going to the Women’s Hall of Fame and the Royal Flying Doctor Base all in that precinct. It is great to see. The way they have set it out is good and it brings back memories for all of us.
The Leader of the Opposition stole my thunder because I was also going to say to you: ‘Hey, a family planning service’. That is an issue that has arisen with us many times. The Women’s Information Centre - the Leader of the Opposition, like me, receives many calls from women seeking advice and getting us to point them in the right direction. I am not sure why it has not been resurrected. It should be there. We need that centre.
Also the Women’s Advisory Council. Who are you listening to? What voices are you hearing? Are you really consulting with the community rather than just the bureaucrats? You will be able to respond to that I am sure.
I also want to talk about the Tribute to Women. You should broaden that. The women’s achievements awards are good, but it has become a little narrow. There are many other women in our community who need to be recognised. Rosie Kunoth-Monks is someone who should be recognised for her great work in this town. There are many memories and stories that these women have, and we need to capture them before it is too late.
Minister, this is a great achievement for Alice Springs. We are very proud of it. Thank you and the federal government for what you have done to make it all happen.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Women’s Policy): Madam Speaker, I thank both members for their comments. With my colleague, the Minister for Family and Community Services, I will look at some of these issues that have been raised.
In response to both members: what do we do in picking up the voices of women? This government initiated a fantastic process called Community Cabinet. Every time the Chief Minister, the Minister for Family and Community Services and I go to those communities, we hold forums with women, gauge the views and thoughts of women, and put that into real action rather than rhetoric going into government, and seek real outcomes for women. It is not just in our main urban areas, but in our rural and remote communities where those voices were often not heard.
That process has proved to be quite useful. It has resulted in many programs, particularly targeting women and youth. We have seen some very productive outcomes from that. That is probably one of the best forums in gauging the thoughts of women out there.
Mr McADAM (Central Australia): Madam Speaker, today I report to the House on the third International Festival of Desert People and Cultures held in Algiers, Algeria, in December 2006.
The festival was a cross-cultural exchange program between international desert communities to celebrate the diversity of indigenous arts and cultural practices. The festival is dedicated to the protection of the environment and the struggle against desert degradation and aims to promote desert cultures and their heritage.
I am delighted, as Minister for Central Australia, to inform the House that for the first time an Australian delegation attended the festival. The delegation was made up of a combined Central Australian indigenous traditional dance group consisting of the Warlpiri dancers from the Janganpa group based in Alice Springs, and the Warumungu dancers from the Nyinkka Nyunyu Arts and Cultural Centre in Tennant Creek. The Janganpa group was represented by Mr John Brown, Mr Charlie Brown, Mr Jimmy Collins and Mr Albert Morris, whilst the Warumungu dancers were represented by Mr Jimmy Franks Jnr, Mr Mark Johnny and Mr Banjo Johnny. The tour was managed by the very capable Patrick McCloskey from the Artback NT Arts Touring Unit.
The dancers performed on seven occasions at five separate venues as well as two street parade performances. Audiences ranged from 500 to 1500 at the various events and venues. In addition, the group conducted four separate television interviews and additional interviews for Algerian radio and newspapers, including a personal meeting with the Algerian President, Mr Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
The tour to Algeria illustrated the available international market for traditional indigenous performing arts. The Australian delegation was enthusiastically welcomed wherever they travelled by people from all over the world. For the dancers, positive outcomes included a better understanding of delivering a professional performance to an international audience, and increased knowledge of the relationship between cultural maintenance and performance opportunities.
For the Territory as a whole, positive outcomes included the invaluable exposure of indigenous cultural practices to the world market and the developing links between international desert communities, environment programs, arts and cultural programs with similar groups in Central Australia. The Algerian Ministry of the Environment and the World Desert Foundations are extremely interested in forming partnerships with Central Australian arts, cultural and environmental organisations and programs.
Since the completion of the festival, the Minister for the Environment’s office in Algeria has expressed further interest in beginning discussions with the Northern Territory government about the possibility of potentially hosting a festival in Central Australia in the near future.
I commend the Janganpa and the Warumungu dancers and Artback for their foresight in attending this festival. I look forward to many more opportunities for them and many others to show the world the uniqueness of the Australian indigenous culture. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the presence of Mr Peter Ross in the House. Mr Ross is a long-standing Territorian. He has contributed much to this community and we pay our respects and thank Peter for his outstanding effort to the community of Alice Springs.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: The overall time for ministerial reports has expired.
Reports noted pursuant to standing orders.
Bill presented and read a first time.
Mr STIRLING (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
In 2004, this government introduced a number of reforms to the procedural law for the prosecution of sexual offences. The purpose of the reforms was to reduce the trauma experienced by children and other vulnerable witnesses in criminal proceedings for sexual offences, and improve the quality of evidence from those witnesses. To a large extent, the reforms were based on the 1999 report by the Northern Territory Law Reform Committee on laws related to the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault. The report recommended, as the then Attorney-General outlined in his speech to this Assembly, the creation of alternative mechanisms by which children could give evidence in sexual assault proceedings. As a result, the Evidence Reform (Children and Sexual Offences) Act commenced in December 2004 and the reforms are generally functioning very well.
However, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has recently identified a number of problems of a minor or technical nature. These have occasionally resulted in children being required to give, on multiple occasions, evidence as to the nature of the sexual offences perpetrated upon them; and recorded or written statements of children to police officers or Family and Community Services’ workers being ruled inadmissible by the courts because they did not comply with technical requirements. These situations are not acceptable. They are situations the previous amendments were clearly intended to prevent.
Madam Speaker, if components of the previous reforms are not working properly, or are not being interpreted the way the government intended, they must be amended as soon as possible. Accordingly, the purpose of the reforms introduced today is to:
clarify the operation of provisions relating to children’s recorded statements by specifically exempting these statements from the requirements of the Oaths Act;
In addition, a number of areas have been identified in which the policy objectives of the initial reforms can be extended. These amendments will apply the protections for children and other vulnerable witnesses regarding sexual offences, to proceedings where the defendant is charged with sexual and other offences, or where one of the charges is a serious violence offence. The proposed amendments relating to serious violence offences recognise the clear connection between the physical and sexual abuse of children, and the trauma also experienced by child witnesses in cases of violence.
I refer at this point to the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Report Seen and heard: priority for children in the legal process. Amongst other things, the report looked at children’s evidence, how it is presented, how it is treated by the justice system, and attitudes to this evidence. At one point the commission noted:
These reforms are not about stripping an accused of their rights, of removing an accused person’s opportunity to contest charges against them using every legal means at their disposal. That right is fundamental and these reforms do not remove or erode that right. These reforms are, instead, about allowing children and other vulnerable witnesses to give evidence in a manner that promotes their self-respect and protects their dignity. These are important goals. Just as importantly, they are also about making sure as much relevant information as possible is available to the decision-maker.
I turn to the specific provisions of the bill. Firstly, the bill amends Part 5 of the Justices Act in relation to proceedings at committal. It inserts a new definition of a ‘serious violence offence’ in section 4 of the act, and extends the operation of Part 5 to these offences. As a result of the amendments, the evidence of the child at committal must be given by written or recorded statement in proceedings for: a sexual offence; a sexual offence and other offences; a serious violence offence; or a serious violence offence and other offences.
The definition of ‘serious violence offence’ is based on that contained in the Bail Act which was developed following extensive consultation with the Northern Territory Police. A ‘serious violence offence’ is an offence against specified parts and sections of the Criminal Code punishable by imprisonment for greater than five years. Part 3 of the bill, dealing with amendments to the Evidence Act, also extends the admission of the hearsay evidence of children under section 26E of the Evidence Act to ‘serious violence offences’. The definition of ‘serious violence offences’ is the same as that inserted in the Justices Act.
Amendments are also made to the Justices Act for the purpose of exempting the written or recorded statement of a child from the requirements of the Oaths Act. Section 25A of the Oaths Act allows a court to omit evidence of a child who cannot comply with the requirements of that act. However, this provision only applies where the witness is called to give oral evidence in court. Current sections 105B(2) and 105B(2A) provide that evidence is not admissible unless it complies with the Oaths Act. This has the effect of excluding the written or recorded evidence of children who cannot make a declaration in the form required by the Oaths Act. The amended section 105B sets out that, for the purpose of the committal hearing, the statement of a child need not comply with the requirements of the Oaths Act. It is sufficient that it be made by a child and, in the case of a written statement, contain a further statement of this fact and of the age of the child.
Finally, in relation to the Justices Act, section 105A is amended to remove the requirement that the defendant or his or her legal representative be provided with a copy of the recorded statement of a child. The actual provision of the visual recording opens up the opportunity for possible dissemination of the recording and further exploitation of the child.
Under the amended section 105A, the prosecution will be required to provide the defendant with a transcript of the recorded statement, and an invitation to view the recorded statement at a reasonable time and place nominated by the prosecutor.
I turn now in greater detail to the amendments to the Evidence Act. The wording of the previous reforms to the Evidence Act, particularly section 21B was recently criticised in the Court of Criminal Appeal decision Queen v Manager [2006]. In that matter, the court was presented with the question of whether the prosecution could use a recorded statement made by a child to police officers, supplemented by a video of the child answering a number of additional questions at a special hearing, as the child’s evidence in chief at trial. This approach was obviously intended to limit the number of times the child was required to recount the details of the alleged assaults, and to minimise the child’s exposure to the daunting processes of our criminal justice system. Unfortunately, it was held that the current wording of section 21B does not allow a child’s statement to police to be used in this way. The court held that the whole of the evidence of the child witness at a special hearing must be given orally.
Madam Speaker, these amendments will now ensure the government’s intention is clear. First, new definitions of ‘authorised person’, ‘examination’ and ‘recorded statement’ are inserted in section 21A of the act, in addition to the definition of ‘serious violence offence’ as discussed earlier.
Under the new section 21B, the court may allow the use of a recorded statement as the whole or part of a witness’s evidence in chief, or allow that witness to give evidence at a special sitting of the court. Evidence given at a special sitting may be recorded and replayed to the jury as the whole or part of the witness’s evidence.
A new section 21C will also be inserted:
allowing the court to give directions in relation to evidence given outside the court room and transmitted to the court room, for example, by way of closed circuit television;
A further amendment has also been developed to limit the number of times a child or vulnerable witness is required to give evidence.
New section 21E allows the recording of evidence of a child or vulnerable witness in criminal proceedings. The recorded evidence can then be used in any subsequent civil or criminal proceedings such as an appeal or in the case of a mistrial.
New section 21F consolidates previous provisions relating to the closure of the court. It provides that the court may be closed in cases involving sexual and serious violence offences, either where a vulnerable witness is to give evidence or where the recorded evidence of the witness is to be replayed before the court.
Finally, a minor amendment is made to the Sexual Offences (Evidence and Procedure) Act to clarify that the definition of sexual offence in that act, and adopted in the Evidence Act, includes both current and repealed offences. It achieves this through reference to elements of the relevant Criminal Code offences.
Madam Speaker, I commend the bill to honourable members. I table a copy of the explanatory statement.
Debate adjourned.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Year 4 Living Waters Lutheran School students with their teacher, Andrew Whalland. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Continued from 22 February 2007
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, before I proceed I commend the officers for an extensive review of the legislation and the substantial amendments that they made to the act. It was a fair amount of work and I applaud them for their professionalism in dealing with this legislation. At the briefing I attended, I expressed congratulations to the officers who wrote the second reading speech, one of the most extensive I have come across for a long time. I was, unfortunately, unable to stay at the briefing for very long and I apologised to the officer for having to leave the meeting before the briefing was over. Having said that, I spent a fair bit of time rereading the minister’s second reading speech, and I have a few issues to raise with the minister.
First, I recall a speech by the minister nearly two years ago when she spoke about the Mental Health and Related Services Act and I quote:
which implied that the mental health act had many flaws needing correction. Obviously, the writing of the Mental Health Act in the 1990s took a long time, had extensive consultation, and much input from many sectors of the industry, including many consumer groups. What appeared in 1998 and was enacted in 2000 was good legislation: the Mental Health and Related Services Act.
I am glad to see that the minister recognised that in her second reading speech, saying it was good legislation and what she was doing was in fact only tinkering at the edges.
She did not bring about fundamental change that she was so keen to do two years earlier, and I suppose that is where I am coming from. The politics of it is what I found difficult to tolerate. While I applaud the government for going through this extensive act bit by bit and doing it well, you could have left the politics out of it all together.
Coming to the minister’s second reading speech, initially when I read the first draft, there were some typos. I have since found the corrected copy of the Hansard and it reassures me that the corrected Hansard is now in order. My concern was with the use of the words ‘psychiatrist’ and ‘psychiatric’ as interchangeable words, which they are not. In case the minister is wondering what I am talking about, this was mid-way through her speech when she talked about addressing contextual reality through many points about the specific amendments proposed to include the discretionary provision for the CEO to appoint medical practitioners in certain roles. She went on to talk about the ‘psychiatrist case manager’ when it should have been ‘psychiatric case manager’. That has since been corrected, so that is fine.
At the briefing, the issue of withholding information from carers was raised. Often in psychiatric situations, personal or psychiatric information that may be relevant to the care of the person with the illness poses two problems. It can be very complex and very personal in nature, and one might consider that the carer ought not to be informed about that. However, if you are the carer of a psychiatric patient, you need to be reasonably well informed of the patient’s psychiatric problems. I assume that the professionals involved, whether it be the medical practitioner or the psychiatrist, would ensure that, if there is any risk at all to either the sufferer or the carer, that information would be shared, otherwise it would pose a risk to the people concerned.
The issue of it taking between seven to 14 days to review a case by a tribunal is vexing. Take, for instance, a person has been involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric facility. In the acute phase of the illness, obviously the psychiatric patient, or his or her advocate, may not have sufficient time to deal with presenting evidence to the review by the tribunal if they have not had enough time to get better to be able to deal with the intellectual process to put the case to the tribunal.
However, if it were a case where a person really did not need to be involuntarily admitted - and a recent case comes to mind and I will quote that shortly - then seven days may be a long time. I was told of a case recently where a person was voluntarily admitted to a hospital for what, I suppose, you would classify as a psychiatric problem. The person was advised to go the Royal Darwin Hospital for further care. That person initially declined but, on further advice and discussion with her medical practitioners and hospital staff, she acceded to the suggestion that she should be admitted at the Royal Darwin Hospital in the psychiatric unit.
Unfortunately, by the time she got to the Royal Darwin Hospital, it was near a long weekend. When she arrived, she was put into seclusion and, for the duration of the long weekend, she was not assessed by a psychiatrist. I assume that she would have seen, at least, the senior nurse in the ward, but she was not seen by a psychiatrist. When the long weekend was over and the patient - I will call her a patient now – was assessed by the psychiatrist, she was told: ‘There is nothing wrong with you. You can go home’.
So you have a person who has been in seclusion, scared out of her mind, told by a psychiatrist after three or four days of seclusion that there was nothing wrong with her, and then sent home. There is a problem.
I believe a process has to be put in place where a patient, once admitted, must be assessed by a psychiatrist or, at least, a psychiatric registrar, regardless of whether it is a long weekend. That would be the minimum requirement. Otherwise, patients could be left in a situation where they will suffer more mental trauma than before they were admitted to hospital. I hope that somewhere in the legislation that kind of process can be accommodated.
Whilst I have read the whole of the amendment bill, I am not a lawyer. I know a lot of work has gone into it, and much of what I have read I support. I do not propose to go into too great detail of the amendments, apart from four sections that I will talk about.
Regarding the case I quoted earlier, it appears that the seclusion was not total; the patient was in a part of the hospital where other patients could access her room. That caused her untold worry.
While the legislation might not deal with what happens in reality in the wider community, I have received many complaints from parents and carers of people who have psychiatric illnesses, that many of them are left to fend for themselves. The community support for mental health has not been as freely available as is required by the many people who have dual diagnoses living in a community. I know that in my own electorate there are many individuals who live on their own and frequently cannot access support, particularly after hours. Parents have come to me and said their resources are absolutely stretched; that they have to care for their son or daughter and, when they ask for help, it is very long in coming and, until help arrives, which could be several days to several weeks, they have to fend for themselves.
I recall a case admitted to the Royal Darwin Hospital, where this young person was prone to self-harm. The parents were beside themselves trying to deal with this young fellow and it needed political intervention to try to get services for this man.
I hope the minister will allow me to take this into committee to ask a few questions about specific areas of the legislation. I hope the minister will consider the level of services that are being provided in the community that are not sufficient. We know that there are insufficient mental health beds in our public hospitals. Time and time again, you hear people complaining about not being able to be admitted there.
One of the causes of the lack of mental health beds is that there are patients who are living long term - years and years - in our hospitals in the psychiatric wards. I know for a fact that is the case - every day I drive to the Alice Springs Hospital there is a gentleman who sits outside near the driveway, a person who has lived in the psychiatric ward for many years. That must be consuming the resources that are already under stress. Surely, there must be a better way to have this person managed within the community, rather than keeping him in a hospital bed. Obviously, he is free to wander around, because he is outside the hospital. If he is free to wander around the hospital under no supervision, could he not be better managed living in the community with the support of mental health? That is important.
I recall a recent Commonwealth publication that says that Alice Springs’ suicide rates are high, yet our psychiatric bed provision is inadequate. The report came from the Report on Government Services, where it points out that the Territory has only half the mental health beds of any other jurisdiction. The Australian average is about 40 beds per 100 000 where the Territory has only about 20 per 100 000, and that is even slightly less than when this government came into power. You wonder why all these services are shrinking under this government. When the population is increasing, the demand will increase with the population growth, yet provision for services continues to shrink. If the minister does not believe those figures, I refer her to figure 11.20 in the Report on Government Services 2007. The report also reveals that we are the lowest in Australia with dedicated mental health professionals. I refer the minister to another graph, figure 11.22, in the same report.
When I was alluding to suicide rates, if we compare suicide rates to mental health professional employment rates, you will quickly see that we have much greater need than that which is being met by this lesser capacity. All you have to do, minister, is to look at figure 11.30 of the same report and you will understand how serious that is.
I do not have any problems supporting this bill, Madam Speaker. These amendments are necessary to finesse the act. The act is a very good one. It has taken a long time to draft. It has been in force for some seven years now, and these last two years of reviewing it has been the right thing to do. I presume that this process will continue. After perhaps five years of it being in force, it ought to be reviewed again to continue to finesse the act so that we will have the best act we can possibly have in this country.
However, an act only allows you to provide services in the best way possible. Without resources it will not go anywhere. It is no good the minister coming up to me and saying: ‘When you guys were in power you had X number of million dollars, now we have so many million dollars’. The population has grown. Your budget has to get bigger. You have the money to do it, so do it, but make sure those services are there. Spending a lot of money without the outcomes commensurate to the money spent is wasting money. Somehow you need to work out where your money is going to and whether you are getting good services out to Territorians in the places where they need them.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Years 2 to 6 from the Alice Springs Steiner School, with teachers Carol Muir, Christopher Brocklebank and Eugene Baba. On behalf of all honourable members I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker. I thank the minister for the introduction of this Mental Health and Related Services Amendment Bill. I thank her for the very thorough briefing I recently received from the staff. From the length of time this has taken to come before parliament in relation to when it was first released for public comment it is obvious there has been a lot of work done. I have much confidence that many of these changes are supported by people who deal with mental health and related issues in the community.
I am pleased that the bill covers a number of issues I raised on behalf of some constituents in 2004. There was concern about doctors being given approved psychiatric status when visiting outlying areas. There was concern that this could become more the norm and that we should be putting more emphasis on training more qualified psychiatrists to do the work. The AMA has supported the changes in the bill and, if the AMA supports those changes, they must believe that the changes are okay.
I also raised the issue of children over 14 and under 18 seeking voluntary admission and said at the time, unless the child has been neglected or abused, the parents have a right to know where there child is. Of course, that is never clear cut. It is obvious that has been taken into account. The clause now says that parents and guardians of young persons are to be notified of the voluntary admission unless the practitioner believes it is not in their interests. The only question I ask in that case is, if the parents come to the hospital and say: ‘Excuse me, is my child here?’, does the hospital have the right to say no? Is there anything in the bill which allows them to say no? It is one thing to say we do not have to notify the parent, but if the parent finds out by other means that there is a possibility their child is in hospital, I imagine they would turn up at the front door and ask that question. I would like the minister to follow that up, please.
The other issue I raised was about involuntary consent rules. There was concern that parents, carers or guardians looking after someone who was sent to hospital were not given full details of what treatment that patient might have, especially as that patient may come home. Had they not been informed, there was concern about a duty of care to the carer if there were any problems. There are changes in the bill to cover that as well, so I thank the minister for that.
I should note, and I raised this at the briefing, that I used the word ‘patient’ and I notice the word ‘consumer’ pops up. That is a dreadful word for someone in hospital. I know we change a lot of words today; you are not a passenger in an airline anymore, you are customer. A customer is who you are when you visit the hardware store. A passenger is someone who sits in a plane or a bus or a train, and a patient is someone who is receiving treatment for an illness of any sort. When I go to the doctor, I regard myself as a patient. I do not want to be regarded as a consumer. It sounds like something that can be used up. There is a lot of modern terminology around today, but I hope that is not the way we go when we are categorising people.
There was another issue, minister, which may not be fully in your area. When reading through parts of the bill, there is discussion about seclusion and when the person can be restrained. It brought back to me what I think was a terrible failing of the government, which I saw when I visited the women’s prison. There is one room there that is still a disgrace. It is for people who could harm themselves or other prisoners. It is simply a concrete box with an arc mesh wall. It is partly enclosed and it is partly out in the open. In this day and age, we need to move on from those primitive approaches.
Obviously, there is a need to restrain a prisoner if there is a problem. I realise they are not in hospital and, therefore, they come under the Prisons (Correctional Services) Act. It is something I have mentioned in parliament before. Looking at the bill before us, it is something the government should look at, not in the next few months or years, but now. It was brought to my attention by a prison officer, and the women with whom I met at the prison were very concerned about that room. Things may have changed since then. I have not been back, but it is an area we need to look at.
Finally, as this is a series of amendments that do bring in changes - some minor, some bringing it up-to-date with more contemporary approaches to mental health - I believe it would it wise to have a review of how these amendments have gone. Mental health is a changing area for government. We have gone from the times when you would have read in books many years ago of people being locked up in an asylum, to the opposite where, to some extent, in Victoria in years gone by they decided it was a good idea to let people out more or less as if there was no problem. That also created difficulties in society. It is a changing area, it is an area that concerns the community.
I must admit that I did not know much about this area until I became a parliamentarian. It was not relevant to me. It has become more relevant to me as I have a wonderful group of people called GROW in my electorate. I think they are in Alice Springs. I have been asked to attend a meeting as an invited guest. The amazing thing I found about these people was that they were no different to you or me. They had jobs in the public service or worked in private industry or whatever; they just sometimes had a problem dealing with issues that we all deal with. I know there are probably people with worse issues then they have. I found that they are a great self-help group. They laughed at their problems; they supported one another in their problems. I take this opportunity to say to those people, thank you for the good work you do amongst yourselves.
If members are invited to a GROW meeting, I suggest you attend. It is certainly an eye opener. It is a way for people to try to overcome the difficulties they have with some mental issues that may occur in their life by support, by humour and by simply encouraging one another. If you can go to a GROW meeting it would be good.
I basically support everything that is in here. The only way we will find out if there are some issues will be through a review. I welcome and will support these amendments.
Mr STIRLING (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I did not intend to speak in this debate but I want to pick up on an issue raised by the member for Nelson and advise him that I share that same concern. The dynamic when mental health collides with our corrective services, our legal system and our justice system, and the outcome is imprisonment, it is not a good one. We have a responsibility above what is being offered at the moment in relation to mentally ill prisoners. We did, in fact, consider going to Hobart to look at the new mentally ill prison they have built at Risdon outside Hobart. It was supposedly state-of-the-art and the best that was. Since opening late last year, or earlier this year, it has been beset with a range of problems which suggests that you have to get the design and the structure of these types of facilities very right indeed, or you run the risk of continuing the sorts of problems that we have at the moment.
We have not done any real work around it but we have put a significant sum aside for design work for a facility for the mentally ill. There are questions about whether it would be a new, stand-alone facility; who it would be run by; would it be connected, for example, to Darwin or Alice Springs prison; half on the prison site, half off? These are questions of policy that are still being worked through.
I simply wanted to make the point that I have my eye on it as minister responsible for Correctional Services in the Northern Territory. It is not an easy snap your fingers, you have a fix tomorrow, but an issue that is not going to go away. In fact, it is probably going to be exacerbated over the years ahead. That very important policy consideration, design work and costing is going on at the moment. I am hopeful that in budgets ahead we will see a figure to fix this.
Dr BURNS (Health): Madam Speaker, a welcome to the schoolchildren in the audience. This is a very important bill. I wish to speak to it to some degree as Health Minister and also Police minister. As previous speakers have said, issues relating to mental health are not just confined to mental health and mental health treatment. They cross over into all sorts of facets of life. I know there is a strong, unfortunate interaction between those who have a mental illness and police and, as the previous speaker said, in Corrections and also in health and the effects on the health system.
I welcome the Mental Health And Related Services Amendment Bill 2007 which amends the Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998. This is a culmination of an extensive consultation and review process which commenced in 2003. I also recognise that the Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998 is sound legislation, and that the primary purpose of these amendments is to address unanticipated problems with the day-to-day application of that legislation.
I welcome the member for Karama’s statement in her second reading speech about the increase in funding for mental health services from $18.8m in 2002-03 to $32m in 2006-07. That is a very substantial increase and it is very welcome. This is consistent with this government’s overall record in health, where we have increased the health budget by 64% to $788m this financial year. I also recognise the many areas of reform in this amendment bill.
I want to concentrate on two key areas; that is, firstly improving mental health services to remote and regional areas, and also aspects of this act as they relate to police and the operations of police.
The delivery of any specialist services in remote and regional Australia is a challenge. In the NT, it is partly due to having a large area and small and scattered population centres, and partly due to attracting and retaining specialist mental health staff in these remote areas.
The amendments allow for provision of the appointment of other health professionals, including medical practitioners and other health staff, to play a role in mental health services for the purposes of the act. However, they must meet the criteria and agree to be appointed. This change will potentially facilitate greater involvement by the primary health care sector which now plays a greater role in mental health care with the introduction of new Medicare items. These amendments also provide for a more practical approach for the Northern Territory in improving the application of the act beyond our major centres.
I want to mention, in particular, the importance of strengthening mental health services to Aboriginal communities. There is recent evidence, in an overall sense, of increased life expectancy for Aboriginal women, which has increased substantially, and a substantial decrease in infant mortality of some 36%. However, Aboriginal mental health has its own particular challenges. I congratulate and recognise the importance of Aboriginal mental health workers and also Aboriginal Health Workers themselves and senior community members who play an important, though often unrecognised role, within mental health. I wish to remind everyone of the most widely accepted definition of health in the Aboriginal context and a wider context as well. This one came from the National Aboriginal Health Strategy in 1989:
There you have it, Madam Speaker; it is not just about one person, it is the context and the community context in which those people live. This definition puts mental health at the heart of an Aboriginal definition of health and, I also argue, for most people. I welcome the amendments that are designed to better address this important aspect of health.
Substance abuse is a major issue on Aboriginal communities, and beyond. It is certainly, I believe, a contributing factor to decreasing mental health within those communities. The misuse of alcohol and other drugs is often linked to deep levels of emotional and physical harm. The proportion of death related to alcohol misuse amongst indigenous people is three to five times higher than among other Australians. The major cause of dementia amongst Aboriginal people is alcohol-related brain damage. That statistic comes from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.
I have outlined the importance and the impact of mental health upon the health system in general. I now want to move to the clarification of police powers under these amendments ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, would you mind if I just interrupt you to introduce these children? Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Years 3 to 7 students from Ntaria School accompanied by teachers, Mark Wilson, and Mona Kantawarra. On behalf of all honourable members I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Dr BURNS: Yes, and a very warm welcome to those students.
Madam Speaker, just to repeat, I do state my support for the minister’s statement in the second reading speech regarding the limited but important role the police have under the provisions of the act. That role is secondary to the role of the mental health services. However, when assistance is required it is vital that police powers are clear and give appropriate guidance and legislative authority to act in these circumstances, supporting the clarifying amendments proposed to provide appropriate authority for police to carry out their role pursuant to the act. I certainly support those clarifying amendments also.
I also understand that inconsistent references in the existing legislation related to police powers have led to circumstances in which the police have not, at times, had sufficient powers to act, particularly regarding the power of entry, provisions and terms around the use of reasonable force, and reasonable measures. It is an unfortunate aspect that police do have to act. I am very confident that police are very well trained in these aspects. They will act within the act, and use whatever force is necessary and reasonable, and reasonable measures to ensure the safety of the patient and their family, and the general public as well. I commend the minister for these amendments.
Just to reiterate, police powers are not the first line of action in dealing with mental health problems but, regrettably, they are sometimes necessary to protect individuals and those around them as I outlined before.
In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I commend the member for Karama, the minister, for the amendments she is putting forward. Many of them are complex and of a technical nature, but important nonetheless to ensure that we have contemporary legislation to back up the increased resources that as a government we are putting into mental health services. I commend the bill to the House.
Ms LAWRIE (Family and Community Services): Madam Speaker, I thank the members for their bipartisan support of the Mental Health and Related Services Act Amendment Bill.
As a quick background for people in the public gallery, the amendment bill before us has its genesis in 2004. It goes to reviewing and having a look at comprehensive, new legislation that came into place in terms of the Mental Health and Related Services Act of 1998 which commenced operation on 1 February 2000. That substantive act that we are here today to amend was developed over an eight-year period involving extensive public and stakeholder consultation.
Since 2000 when that act came into place, there have been changes to the way in which mental health services in the Territory are administered and delivered. There has also been substantial improvement of the technology that is available, both of which require some consideration in the context of changes to our prevailing legislation.
Each stage of the development of the Mental Health and Related Service Act Amendment Bill 2007, which we have before us today, has been marked by periods of stakeholder and public comment and discussion. Substantial consultation since the release of an issues paper in 2004 resulted in some 100 amendments, many of which are cosmetic in nature and aimed at clarifying existing provisions and bringing the act in line with current drafting conventions.
In August of last year, Cabinet considered the draft legislation and sought that it go out for further consultation with stakeholders. This consultation period resulted in further amendments, which are reflected in the legislation we have before us today. The extent and the quality of the feedback throughout the development of this bill reflect the degree of community interest in both the care and the treatment of individuals with a mental illness. These are valuable contributions made by the carer and consumer organisations - patients, as described by the member for Nelson. Members of the community have been involved. Members of the legal and health professionals have also been critical to the development of this bill.
The Mental Health and Related Services Amendment Bill 2007 introduces a number of amendments that are purely designed to ensure that the Territory continues to have contemporary legislation responsive to consumer, carer, regional and remote residents, and the range of professionals charged with responsibility within this act for carrying out the various functions of the act.
That is the background to why we are here today to introduce this important contemporary legislative reform.
I want to go now specifically to the concerns raised by the shadow minister, the member for Greatorex. I thank him for his support in broad terms for the amendments we have before us today. I am happy to go into committee to discuss specific concerns that he may have in regards to specific clauses.
I understand that he has concerns regarding how practitioners determine to withhold information from carers. I am happy to go into any specific details around any specific concerns he can raise. Certainly, the amendments we have before us today strengthen access to information for carers, and put in place a quality assurance system in terms of how practitioners have to determine good reason for withholding information from carers. They would be on professional grounds rather than any spurious grounds. Really, it is designed in its intent to strengthen the participation role of carers in knowledge of the treatment and recovery care programs for people with a mental illness; a critical element, of course, to the recovery of someone with a mental illness.
I appreciate the shadow minister’s concerns about the extension of the review to the tribunal time from seven to 14 days. I note that we are still well below other jurisdictions in the actual time frame it takes to go to a tribunal for involuntary admissions. This was a practical change made to the legislation as a result of Territory practitioners saying to us that in a practical sense, when someone comes in under an involuntary admission, by the seven-day requirement to go to the tribunal, they are spending their first couple of days, something like six hours on the Monday, again a similar amount of time on the Tuesday, preparing their notes for the tribunal. It is often the case, I am advised, that involuntary patients are not in a condition to be responding to the nature of the questioning that would be required for a comprehensive report to the tribunal. So it is a nature of the care issue that prompted the practitioners in the field to say the seven-day period is too tight in terms of how they can prepare information for the tribunal because, often, it put the emphasis on preparation for the tribunal before the care of the patient that the practitioners wanted to pursue. It was a practical issue.
The tribunal, I note, could not agree on the exact time frame, so it really left in abeyance the preferred time frame. We, of course, will monitor this situation. We will monitor the 14 days. I note, though, that at any time, people can seek the tribunal to look at their case. It can be called on earlier, if you like, than the 14 days which is the minimum requirement with the changes to the legislation.
I invite the shadow minister to take any specific concerns of the individual case he cited as a scenario of an admission to Royal Darwin Hospital to my agency. Obviously, for privacy reasons, I would not be seeking to debate that in detail in the Chamber. I will say that it does not ring true and that is why we would be happy to investigate it. It has always been the case that an involuntary admission must be seen by an authorised psychiatric practitioner on admission, and then again within 24 hours by another authorised psychiatric practitioner. To say that, in the case scenario presented in the Chamber this morning, that someone was admitted involuntarily to …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: Well, that is what I heard, and that is what my staff heard as well. Anyway, to say that there is an involuntary admission and they were not seen by a psychiatrist because it was a long weekend, I have to say that that is contrary to what occurs within our treatment facilities. Without having the specifics of the case here, we could probably debate ad infinitum whether it did happen. I do not believe it is appropriate to be on the Parliamentary Record about an individual’s case. If there are obvious concerns you hold, I am very happy for you to pass those concerns on to the agency for an appropriate investigation into that matter and a report back to you, shadow minister ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, do you mind if I interrupt you to recognise these students in the gallery? Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of members of the Alice Springs High School Football Academy, accompanied by Rupert Betheras and Bradley Puls. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms LAWRIE: Regarding the shadow minister’s concerns - at times contradictory - about whether we put our emphasis on treatment beds or whether we put our emphasis into community care, may I say that the Martin Labor government has absolutely had an emphasis on community care. We emphasise care in peoples’ own homes rather than in an institutional environment. We have tripled the funding to the non-government sector to increase support to people in the community. We have the capacity to increase the number of beds in our acute inpatient unit when that is required, but we absolutely put our emphasis on care within the community.
I acknowledge the fine work done by the Top End Mental Health Services unit, also TEAMHealth in the Top End and the Mental Health Association in Central Australia. They have had a tripling of their funding since the Martin Labor government has been in place. I am proud to say that there has been a significant shift in the improved delivery of mental health services to people with a mental illness in the Territory. That shift is underpinned by the legislative reforms we have here today. The amendments will provide for contemporary practice and that is significantly important.
Whilst we have tripled the funding in our community care sector, in real terms, the mental health budget in the Territory in 2001 was $13m and, in real terms, the mental health budget today is $32m; that is an increase of 136%. The shadow minister says that the increase just reflects population growth. Well, shadow minister, 136% increase in population has not occurred since 2001. We have poured enormous new resources into tackling mental health in our community. It is something the government is working very closely with the sector on, and we have more to do - much more to do, particularly, we know, in the provision of mental health services within our regional and remote context. Importantly, the amendments contained within the legislation we have before us today ensure that we will be better able to provide management plans and care for people with a mental illness in our remote communities and strengthen the role within our regional hubs.
I thank the member for Nelson for his support for the legislation and that he is pleased with the emphasis on the training of practitioners contained within the changes. Yes, I am glad that the AMA is among many who support these proposed changes. I agree with him that it is important that the rights of carers, particularly parents and guardians, are recognised. I welcome the acknowledgement of the work done by the agency to enshrine that recognition in there.
Regarding your specific query about whether someone under the age of 18 is in hospital, and the parents arrive and ask whether their child is there, the advice I have received is that clinicians cannot lie. What they could say in that situation is that they could not give them that information, or they could tell them that they are in hospital but not provide any further details or, again, in the situation where there are serious issues, perhaps in regards to abuse, they would go to the extent of preventing them from actually seeing their child. Therefore, the situation requires a response, given the individual circumstances but, fundamentally, the clinicians cannot lie. They can say: ‘I am unable to provide you with that information’ if, in the extreme case, it really is detrimental to the patient to provide that information.
Finally, I note your concerns of the wording of ‘patient’ versus ‘consumer’. The consumers within mental health are a very well organised group of people, and that term is reflective of their wishes. ‘Consumer’ is currently the ‘in vogue’ term. Whether we personally think it is fabulous or not, it is there to reflect what the mental health community want in terminology. In response to both of your concerns in that regard, of course, legislation should be kept contemporary if possible. As minister, I am happy to commit to a process where we monitor these changes. I believe it is necessary to review significant legislation every five years, therefore, I could not see why we would not be looking at a five-year look at these reforms brought in today.
Obviously, I cannot say who will be minister in five years time, but it is my intention to see a review in five years time. I look forward to going into committee stage, Madam Speaker.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
In committee:
Clauses 1 to 21, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 22:
Dr LIM: Mr Chairman, this clause and the next one that I will be discussing is in the same context as section 43, but I will come to that shortly. It is again about informing the carer. I listened carefully to what the minister had to say in the second reading response.
Having practiced psychiatry I understand how vexed it could be when you assess a young person and you suspect that there might be some issues with the carer of that person. I believe irrespective of that you need to advise a carer that the young person is, indeed, a patient and perhaps that is as far as he would go. For all the rights and wrongs of the relationship between the carer and the patient, if that is what the practitioner believes, the carer, I believe, still has the right to know whether that person is under care. That is what I am trying to address: that it must be essentially compulsory that the carer has to be informed that the patient is in care and, once having done that, any other extra clinical information would then have to come under the assessment and decision of the practitioner.
Ms LAWRIE: I note the shadow minister’s concerns which are similar to the concerns raised by the member for Nelson. This provision has not changed in what you are saying regarding compulsory notification of parents or carer or guardian. This provision has not changed under the amendments we are bringing before you. As is currently the case, and as will continue to be the case, with the passage of these amendments today, it is the practitioner’s decision as to whether to inform the carer/parent/guardian as to whether the patient is in care. That is made on a series of professional judgments in the interests of the person in care being paramount. It is currently not compulsory under the existing substantive act that came into force in 2000. It is currently not compulsory to advise that the patient is in care. When these amendments pass today that will not have changed; it will still not be compulsory. It will be the professional judgment call made by the clinician. I do not think that we should make that compulsory.
Mr WOOD: Minister, I appreciate the answer you gave me earlier. I understand what you were saying. I am a little worried about whether there is a legal ramification here. The practitioner has decided that he or she will not notify the parent or guardian of the person. The parents turn up at the hospital, and I can understand that the best thing for the person to say is ‘we cannot give you any information’. Is there any law broken then if the parents say ‘we know they are here …’, because they might have received word from somewhere else, ‘… and we are going to see them’. Are there any legal ramifications there? Can those parents forcibly go into a hospital to see their child, or are they breaking a law considering the practitioner has decided not to notify them?
Ms LAWRIE: Yes, it would then have the Welfare Act kick into place. If there are serious concerns of abuse, which would be primarily the underlining reason why - because this is obviously not a decision taken lightly by a clinician to prevent a parent from seeing their child, and that is the scenario we are talking about here specifically - notifications under the Welfare Act could then be put in place to prevent access to the child.
Clinicians are highly trained in being able to deal with the emotional issues that are confronted within hospitals in scenarios such as the one we are talking about. So when you ask if there are legal ramifications, ultimately clinicians are protected by processes and legislation we have in place. However, what they really do well, and where this is most important, is dealing with the agitation and concern of the carers, the parents, the guardians, while they are able to put first and foremost the treatment requirements of the consumer or the patient.
Mr WOOD: I am not trying to be over technical, but I can see a case happening where the parents arrive, regardless of whether there has been abuse, and they might even say there has not been abuse, but they want to see their child and the person at the front counter says: ‘I can not give you any information’, and they say: ‘We are going into the hospital to see for ourselves’. Is there some means of stopping those people from going in? Does one call the police? Are the parents breaking the law by saying they want to see their child? There is still that parent-child relationship, which is legal. Can parents be physically stopped from going to contact that child?
Ms LAWRIE: In an extreme situation, yes, they could be physically stopped from seeing the child. What I am saying is that, in practice, the clinicians and the staff of these units are very good at dealing with people who are agitated.
Dr LIM: If I may assist here from a clinician’s point of view, obviously, the patient is the clinician’s primary responsibility. Therefore, the clinician would prevent the escalation of any issues that may exist between the patient and the carer, whether the carer is an external carer or a parent.
I raised this issue, just as you have, because of our concern that a carer, or maybe the parent, may not know where the child is, and that would cause serious anxiety and further complication of the psychodynamic relationship between the patient and the carer. There is a place for a requirement that the carer be informed that the child is in psychiatric care or other care. Then, based on what the practitioner understands of the situation, additional information may be provided to the carer or otherwise.
For the carer to know that the child is in care is important because at least the anxiety of the carer is then allayed that, yes, this person is in a safe place; they are not sleeping in the street somewhere or exposed to danger. You can walk away from the hospital knowing that your child is not sleeping in the streets. That is important. Any other information above that would have to be left to the clinician to decide whether that it ought to be shared with the carer.
As to the question of whether the carer or the parents can force their way in to access the child, the answer is no, you cannot. No way in the world can you do that and the mental health system would be using its full force to prevent that from happening.
Ms LAWRIE: We could continue to debate this, but I reiterate as I said before: what is the case now is not affected by these amendments. It will continue to be the case. That is, the default position in practice is that in most circumstances parents, carers, or guardians are informed of a child in care. In extreme circumstances where it is against the interests of that patient, they are not informed. That is the case now. That will continue to be the case. What I have said on the record today is that I will not amend the legislation to make it a compulsory requirement for the clinicians to contact the parent/carer/guardian. They will use their professional judgment that, in those extreme circumstances, if it is against the treatment of that patient, they will not do it.
What is the case today? The default position of these highly professional clinicians is that they do contact the parents, the carers or the guardians. We have put into legislation, through these amendments, a strengthening of the rights of the carers to be involved in the participation of the care and the treatment. Obviously, the contemporary practice and methods is to strengthen the role of carers. Obviously, that includes parents and guardians of juveniles. Your concerns are shared and are legitimate and noted. We will not compulsorily require clinicians to go against what would be their clinical judgment in extreme circumstances.
Clause 22 agreed to.
Mr CHAIRMAN: Before we move on, I acknowledge the presence in the gallery Class 6D from Living Waters Lutheran School, accompanied by the teacher, Ms Alicia Ernst. Also there are students from Year 5 at Ross Park Primary, accompanied by teacher, Joy Hurling. I warmly welcome you to the proceedings today.
Members: Hear, hear!
Clauses 23 to 33, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 34:
Dr LIM: Mr Chairman, the debate on this clause is very much like the previous debate we had with regard to youths under 18 years of age. I draw the minister’s attention to page 23 of the bill, under the new numbering 43(2):
As I said, the debate will probably be the same. I believe there is a relationship between the person’s primary carer and the person, and it is important to at least advise the primary carer of the whereabouts of the person. If the person is in care within Mental Health, then the primary carer should at least be aware of that. Any other information above that would have to be at the discretion of the practitioner.
The minister can say, well nothing has changed; essentially it is strengthening the ethos, the same as before. Well, it may be. What I am saying in this instance is that primary carers do have a role and a dynamic relationship with the patient. They have the right to know where the patient is. No, they do not have the right to access the patient if the clinicians believe that access should not be provided. I ask the minister whether this section is appropriate or whether, at the next review, they consider that seriously. There are many amendments today, but it is something that should be seriously considered.
Ms LAWRIE: I note the concern of the shadow minister in regards to the previous debate. This is probably the most vexing aspect of the decisions that clinicians have to make as to whether to notify the carers. The intent of these amendments is to strengthen the requirement for our clinicians in this area to notify the carer.
Regarding notification on admission of grounds of mental disturbance, this whole section requires clinicians to notify the carers, the person’s adult guardian, a legal practitioner acting or prepared to act for the person, the person’s primary carer and, obviously, the community visitor. The tribunal’s notification is spelt out there.
What section 2 does - as the shadow minister identified in how we debated the previous clause - is give that important discretion to our highly-trained professionals to, in their professional judgment, determine that if it is not in the best interest of the person they are caring for to provide that information, then they can refuse to advise the carer. However - and I refer you to the next subsection which is (3) - if the practitioner does not notify the primary carer because of that subsection (2), the practitioner must give to the tribunal a written report of the decision and the reason for it in the approved form. I believe that is a critically important aspect of these amendments coming in. We are improving, if you like, the quality assurance and compliance processes within this very important area.
As I have said previously in the debate, I believe in practice, and it has been my advice that in practice these circumstances are exceptional; they are not the norm. The norm is the carers will be advised. Only in these extreme, exceptional circumstances, a professional judgment can be allowed to be made not to notify the carer. We have put an extra provision in there to ensure that that practitioner has to be exceptionally sure of their ground in withholding that information; that is, they have to provide a written report to the tribunal and explain their reasons for it.
I sincerely note the concerns of the shadow minister. I have said that we will monitor the application of these amendments. The practitioners themselves, the consumers - everyone - has cast their eyes over these changes many times. This section is supported by the sector, by the practitioners, the consumers and the carers. I am sure I will hear very quickly from any of those three sections of the sector if they feel that the application of this has not been fair or just. I will pay my attention to that as minister if that feedback comes in.
Clause 34 agreed to.
Clauses 35 and 36, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 37 agreed to.
Dr LIM: I do not have any more difficulties until we get to page 35, which is clause 46, amendment of section 62, Seclusion of patients.
Ms LAWRIE: That is clause 46, so we can go through to clause 45.
Clauses 38 to 45, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 46:
Dr LIM: Mr Chairman, sorry about that being a bit complicated, but it is an extensive bill as we all recognise.
Minister, in your response to the second reading you suggested we should not be talking about private clinical cases. I do not want to dwell on that either. I do not think private clinical situations should be discussed in parliament. The point I am trying to raise is about assessment of patients during public holidays, or long weekends, and the like. Sometimes patients get missed and then they languish in the ward for longer than necessary.
To recap - and I am not going to identify who this person is - a person presented to a hospital, was assessed at the hospital, was offered admission at Cowdy Ward - or suggested that she should go to Cowdy Ward. Through discussions with family and the mental health professionals, she agreed. She was taken to Darwin, went to Royal Darwin Hospital, she was assessed at the Emergency Department. She had signed all these forms so she is a voluntary patient; she went to ED and was assessed. I am not sure whether the doctor or whoever assessed the patient was an approved psychiatric practitioner, but following that assessment she was escorted to Cowdy Ward. In Cowdy Ward she was put into seclusion.
As you know, patients are entitled to at least a phone call a day, even in seclusion. When she was allowed out of seclusion to access the telephone she was confronted by other patients who made inappropriate approaches towards her. I am not certain but it appears to me that when she was in Cowdy Ward she might have been assessed by the senior nurse at the ward but she was not seen by an approved psychiatric practitioner or a psychiatrist until after the long weekend at which time she was told there is nothing wrong with her and she could go home.
What I am proposing is that it is not good enough that we keep patients in for that long without appropriate psychiatric assessment. Clause 46(5) reads:
I am not certain how one defines ‘as soon as practicable after it has been approved’. Is it within hours, days, whatever? I believe it should be within hours because we are putting someone into seclusion. The assessment by a psychiatric practitioner or psychiatrist has to be prompt otherwise the person is left languishing in a psychiatric unit which, until this very day, still has a stigma. Whether we like it or not, it has. So what I am saying is it must be approved. Of course, if the patient is demonstrating or manifesting florid psychotic signs and symptoms, it is easy enough to make a diagnosis. Almost blind Freddy could make a diagnosis.
However, if it is subtle, you need to have an appropriately trained professional. While I have the highest respect for appropriately trained senior registered psychiatric nurses to make this sort of assessment as well, I think we need to go that one step further to ensure that our patients are not in seclusion unnecessarily, and their mental situation complicated by what they might see as incarceration while they are in seclusion. I believe the definition of ‘as soon as practicable after it has been approved’ needs to be better defined.
Mr CHAIRMAN: Before you respond, minister, I acknowledge the presence in the gallery of students from Year 6 at Living Waters Lutheran School, accompanied by their teacher Stacey Schmidt. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend a warm welcome to you and I hope you enjoy the proceedings.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms LAWRIE: Welcome to the schoolchildren.
I fully concur with you, shadow minister. The intention of this amendment is to reduce the time that lapses between reviews by the authorised psychiatric practitioner. In line with the national safety priorities, we are, within our mental health treatment facilities, endeavouring to reduce the use of seclusion and restraint.
The reason for moving the review time lines for seclusion to the approved procedures is so that we can progressively reduce the review time lines from the current minimum of four hours. Currently, there is a requirement that an approved psychiatric practitioner reviews the decision of the senior registered nurse in four hours. We are trying to reduce that even further. Four hours is the minimum. Obviously, we would like the frequency to be tighter than that. It is a matter of hours, not days, as currently exists, that four hour requirement, which we are meeting.
The intent of my agency, of the practitioners in our mental health treatment facilities, is to reduce that time line even further. I note, though, that whilst it might be four hours for an authorised psychiatric practitioner, there is still the requirement that the patient, the consumer, needs to be seen by a nurse every 15 minutes if they are in seclusion.
Dr LIM: Thank you, minister. I call them patients, not customers. To be seen every 15 minutes by a nurse - I would assume they would be the regular observations that a patient would undergo within a ward.
I am glad that you expressed your intentions. It was what I wanted to get on the record. A minimum of four hours is acceptable. I would have like you to have set a maximum, but you did not. However, if the assessment by a psychiatric practitioner or a psychiatrist is within the minimum of four hours and a maximum of hours, I hope it is not going to be in the double digits. By ‘hours’, I hope that a patient would be assessed within 12 hours of admission. I would like you to express your intention that this is an important issue that patients should not be languishing in the wards without psychiatric assessment once they are admitted. The minimum of four hours is fine, but let us put an upper limit, if you would.
Ms LAWRIE: I will go so far as to say what I have said on the record today.
Clause 46 agreed to.
Clauses 47 to 83, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 84:
Dr LIM: Mr Chairman, in respect of clause 84, my concern relates primarily to 84(1)(i), which reads:
As I read further through clause 84, it is still not clear to me whether the medical records available to the tribunal are fully accessible to the patient or the patient’s medical agent. I say that in all seriousness, because I believe, particularly in the psychiatric notes, that it may be very inappropriate for lay people to get hold of those notes. Those notes may be misread, misinterpreted, misunderstood by the reader. However, if the medical records were provided by Mental Health to the patient’s medical practitioner, and allowing the medical practitioner to then communicate the content of the medical records to the patient, it would be a better way. It would be a better way because it will prevent misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the content of the record.
Psychiatric records contain a lot of very personal, very intimate details about a person, and it should not be, I would not suggest, freely shared, but nor should it be just handed over to a patient without proper professional screening and explanation. This clause causes me concern. Medical records have always been a vexed question for litigation, for courts. Who owns the medical records? I believe this legislation enshrines that the medical records can be shared freely. I voice my concerns. I would like to hear the minister explain what her intentions are in this section to ensure that she and I are on the same wave length.
Ms LAWRIE: I do not know that I could assure you we would be on the same wave length; that is probably beyond my capacity. However, I can assure you that the tribunal members, the practitioners, the consumers, the carers and the community visitors all consent to this. They all say that this is proper, this is right, this is fair, and that this meets concerns of access to information as well as concerns of privacy. So the experts in the sector - the tribunal members with high level judicial background and knowledge, the practitioners with the clinical professionalism that they have, their knowledge of contemporary practice and requirements, consumers, importantly, and the carers, and that safeguard of the community visitor - all, importantly, agree with this. That satisfies me.
Dr LIM: I am glad that satisfies you, minister. I suspect, if this were to be the case - and I understand the issue of medical records in other spheres of the practice of medicine - that practitioners would then become quite guarded in what they write and often will leave out information that could be vital to the continuing good care of the patient. That would be a sad day, when medical practitioners, whether they be psychiatric practitioners or otherwise, would feel constraint in what they will write in their notes about a patient - notes that need to be shared with other health professionals to provide good care of those patients - for fear that whatever they write could be misinterpreted by a patient who has access to those records - a patient who might have a psychiatric problem in the first instance.
A patient who has a psychiatric condition in the first instance may misread, misinterpret and even misconstrue the intent of the record and suffer detrimental consequences of exposure to that information, which is written in the best interest of the patient, in fact, but misconstrued by the patient to be otherwise.
Ms LAWRIE: I note the shadow minister’s concerns. Obviously, I do not concur with the extent of his concerns. I note that, in relation to someone misconstruing the information that was provided to them, importantly, this provision provides for someone to be present to help that person have their medical records explained to them. Therefore, where at all possible, the way this is constructed, in fairness, is to provide for the assistance that the consumer would require when provided with access to their medical records and reports. The only significant change in this, from what we currently do to what we will be doing under these amendments, is that it provides for access to these medical records and reports to the person’s adult guardian.
Dr LIM: Just one final question to the minister. When you say ‘given access’, do you mean that the medical records will be available as a full photocopy of the records and provided to the person’s adult guardian, or representative, or medical agent? Or is it that medical records will be available for one to read and notes taken from that? I would like to hear the explanation.
Ms LAWRIE: The latter.
Dr LIM: The latter meaning the record be available …
Ms LAWRIE: A full photocopy will not be provided to them. They will come in and see the medical records and reports.
Dr LIM: Okay. If that was the case, how then could the person’s adult guardian, who more than likely would be a non-medical person, or a person’s representative - most likely to be a non-medical person - make sense of the information contained in the chart or records that you have made accessible? There is no way that the person’s adult guardian or representative would be able to make appropriate notes on perusing the records and then seek explanation from external sources such as their own GP or counsellor. How do you expect them to be able to get appropriate and accurate information if all they are going to get is to peruse the records?
Ms LAWRIE: A practitioner is present to explain the records to them.
Dr LIM: The practitioner is not the patient’s agent; the practitioner is from Mental Health and, therefore, would have Mental Health’s perspective on the record. I assume that, when you legislate to allow patients to have access to the records, it is to provide them with equity of access, to understand what has been written about them, or to know what is written about them. I believe that the intent of this clause is contradictory. On one hand you want to give people access to their records; on the other hand you are not giving them an appropriate or adequate opportunity to scrutinise the record in a way that will be meaningful.
Ms LAWRIE: It is the view of the practitioners, the tribunal, the consumers, and the carers that this is a fair and practical approach. That satisfies me.
Clause 84 agreed to.
Remainder of the bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.
Bill reported, report adopted.
Ms LAWRIE (Family and Community Services): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill now be read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
Continued from 17 April 2007.
Dr BURNS (Health): Madam Speaker, as we have already heard from the Chief Minister, the Martin government recognises the critical importance of strong regions to the Territory and our future. With that in mind, we have launched the Moving Alice Ahead project, which focuses not just on economic development in the region, but on social and community issues also. Moving Alice Ahead will put a substantial focus on the antisocial behaviour which is having a negative impact on the great lifestyle of the town of Alice Springs. We recognise the strength of feeling in Alice Springs about antisocial behaviour, and want to work with the community to find answers to the challenges facing this town.
I do not believe any of us are in doubt about the role alcohol plays in much of the antisocial behaviour and violence in and around Alice Springs. Excessive and harmful use of alcohol is probably the most significant challenge confronting not just Alice Springs, but the Territory as a whole. Sadly, the Territory has a long and inglorious history of alcohol abuse. Over the years, it has destroyed countless lives and families within the Northern Territory.
Confronting and breaking our big drinking culture and its resultant harm is vital to moving not just Alice Springs ahead but the Northern Territory ahead also. As part of the Northern Territory government’s commitment to reducing alcohol related harm in Alice Springs, we have developed an alcohol management plan which has been in operation since October 2006. The plan is based on three key strategies: reducing supply; reducing harm; and reducing demand. It is important the plan remains flexible and responsive to the needs of Alice Springs. It will evolve in time to meet changing circumstances and community concerns. The alcohol management plan must complement other government initiatives like the introduction of alcohol courts and dry areas legislation.
As most of us are now well aware the plan also includes supply restrictions. These restrictions have seen reductions in the availability of takeaway products, hours of operation, and container sizes. While it is still too early to gauge the likely long-term effectiveness of the supply restrictions, there are some seemingly positive early results.
An alcohol reference panel chaired by Racing, Gaming and Licensing assists in the monitoring process. The most recent data shows an 11% reduction in the amount of pure alcohol sold at takeaway outlets in Alice Springs since October. Research shows that the vast majority of alcohol sold in Alice Springs and the Territory comes from takeaway outlets.
In addition to the reduction of sales in terms of pure alcohol, there are encouraging results: 31% reduction in admissions to the sobering-up shelter; 50% fewer people taken into protective custody; 12% drop in selected offences against property; and fewer hospital admissions for alcohol-related conditions. On the flip side there has been an increase in outpatient presentations for assault, and an 18% reduction in disturbances. I just digress here to say that it is somewhat paradoxical that there has been an increase in outpatient presentations for assault, but actually a decrease in admissions. We need to find out more about that and find out what the reasons are for that apparent contradiction in those figures.
It is also obvious that the product shift away from high alcohol volume products like cask wine and fortified wines has resulted in an increase in litter in Alice Springs. There will be challenges along the way as we try to rein in alcohol abuse in Alice Springs. That was inevitable. No one ever said that this would be easy. We have to be ready to confront the challenges as they become obvious. This is why the plan has to be flexible and responsive.
Strategies are being developed to address litter issues. These include a four-week litter education and awareness trial by the Northern Territory Packaging Stewardship Forum in conjunction with the Northern Territory government. The Alice Springs Town Council, Lhere Artepe and Tangentyere Council are also involved in this. This trial will target a problem area around Hoppy’s Camp. Obviously, it will be vitally important for us to be able to fully assess the outcomes of the supply restrictions. An independent evaluator has been engaged, and an interim report is planned following the first six months of the supply restrictions.
Alice Springs Town Council has made application to use the government’s recently enacted dry area laws to declare all public areas in the municipality of Alice Springs dry. I know, Madam Speaker, you are also looking at using dry area laws to address alcohol problems in your own electorate in and around Nightcliff in Darwin. The government wants to work with Alice Springs council to fully explore the best way forward in relation to the possibility of declaring Alice Springs dry. The Licensing Commission sought public submissions and a public meeting was held on the prospect of Alice becoming a dry town. The hearing into the application was held last Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Licensing Commission is currently considering the council’s application.
I know there has been a good deal of interest in the prospect of introduction of a computer-based identification system for the purchase of alcohol in Alice Springs. A discussion paper has been developed into the feasibility of an identification licensing system and that paper was released for public comment on 28 March 2007.
The government is concerned about excessive alcohol consumption in Alice Springs, and wants to continue working with the community to deal with the problem.
The alcohol management plan is an important initiative, but government recognises that much more work needs to be done to effectively deal with the problem. There can be no single solution to this complex problem so it is important that the community and government continue working together to consider other initiatives that may have a role in reducing alcohol abuse in Alice Springs and the Alice Springs region.
Madam Speaker, I will now turn to one of my other portfolio areas, which is Police ...
Madam SPEAKER: Excuse me, minister. Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the public gallery of Years 7 to 12 students from Mt Allen School with their teacher, Patricia Finlay. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, the Martin government is proud of its effects to rebuild the Northern Territory Police Force since coming to office in 2001. When we came to office, the Northern Territory Police Force was seriously under-resourced. It was suffering the effects of a three-year recruitment freeze inflicted on it by the former CLP government.
We set about rebuilding the force and, in 2002, engaged former Queensland Commissioner of Police, Jim O’Sullivan, to produce a comprehensive report into the way ahead for our police force. Following the 2003 O’Sullivan Report, we put in place the $75m Rebuilding our Police Force plan. The central plank of the Rebuilding our Police Force plan was a commitment to add 200 extra officers in the Northern Territory Police Force by end of this financial year.
Since launching our intensive recruitment campaign, we have attracted more than 400 recruits to the Northern Territory Police Force. We achieved our goal of adding an extra 200 police officers to the Northern Territory Police Force in February with the graduation of Recruit Squad 87. There are still two more recruit squads in training at the police college.
Our efforts to rebuild the Northern Territory Police Force have seen the Territory achieve the highest growth rate of any police force in Australia. The Territory now has the highest number of police per capita of any Australian jurisdiction; we have one police officer for every 246 people compared with the Australian average of one for every 470 people. In Alice Springs, the ratio is closer to one officer to every 220 people.
Yesterday, the Opposition Leader said that the government should not be wearing these police numbers as a badge of honour, these per capita numbers, and I agree, but there are some realities. We have a dispersed population over a large geographic area and in order to have a police presence across that large area and address various issues, we need extra police. There is no doubt in my mind that the problems that we have with excessive alcohol consumption really underscores the need for extra police. In some ways, I wish that we did not have them, but they are a reality and a necessity.
In terms of those police numbers, the federal government’s Report on Government Services shows that the Territory spends per capita more than twice the national average on police services. The federal report shows that in 2005 and 2006, the Territory spent $743 per person on police services compared with the national average of $291. Since achieving our target of adding 200 extra officers to the Northern Territory Police Force, we have seen the graduation of another recruit squad. In addition, a transitional squad of 20 experienced officers have transferred to the Territory from police forces around Australia. Fifteen additional officers made up of seven experienced officers from the transitional squad and a further eight recruit squad graduates are arriving in Alice Springs this month. Seven are already here, having arrived last week. The others arrive this week.
It was my pleasure when I attended the graduation of the most recent squad to meet 15 to 18 Aboriginal Community Police Officers in training from all over the Territory. They are a fine bunch of men and women who are very keen to complete there training and get out and do their jobs. We are really looking forward to them coming on stream and doing the very special work that Aboriginal Community Police Officers do.
The Martin government has reinstated the Traffic Branch, which was scrapped by the CLP government. As part of our commitment to police resources in Alice Springs, we now have a five member Traffic Branch here. The return of the Traffic Branch to Alice Springs not only raises the police profile on local roads, but it also takes the pressure off General Duties’ officers who previously had to bear the entire responsibility for traffic matters.
As apart of our commitment to improving police resources, we have also stationed one of the Territory’s three new mobile police posts in Alice Springs. The mobile police post played a key role in the City Safe initiative run over the Easter long weekend, targeting crime and antisocial behaviour hot spots around town. I am informed that Operation City Safe not only resulted in arrests for serious assaults in Alice Springs, but police also poured out more than 150 litres of alcohol. At the same time, police mounted a separate operation to manage the influx of visitors for the Lighting Football Carnival, as well as playing their part in the Territory-wide Easter road safety campaign. All in all, it was a testing Easter for police and I believe that they performed admirably.
Having said that, I can understand the sense of frustration of some residents about violent and antisocial behaviour in Alice Springs. The issues at work in Alice Springs do not relate entirely to policing or police resources. As far as I am concerned, the Alice Springs police are doing an outstanding job. I commend Commander Mark Coffey, along with Superintendent Sean Parnell and the men and women of the Northern Territory Police Force for the professional way they are going about their work in Alice Springs.
There are broader social issues affecting the Alice Springs region, and these are presenting special challenges to both our police and the people of Alice Springs and, beyond that, to the government of the Northern Territory. While the government will continue to provide the necessary resources for Alice Springs police, we also recognise the unique issues confronting the town and the region. We believe the only way forward is an honest, bipartisan and cooperative approach to deal with these challenges. It will be critical that effects to address these issues are done in partnership with Aboriginal organisations.
I will be attending the special forum convened by Alice Springs Mayor, Fran Kilgariff, on Friday. I am hopeful the forum will be conducted in a positive environment. Indeed, earlier today, the Chief Minister and I met with the Mayor of Alice Springs and the councillors, and it was a very positive and constructive meeting.
When it comes to policing, the government is committed to providing Alice Springs with adequate numbers of well-resourced police officers to do the job that is needed. In addition to extra resources like the mobile police post and new Traffic Branch, Alice Springs has a permanent drug dog unit. Apart from frontline General Duties’ officers, Aboriginal Community Police Officers and the Traffic Branch, Alice Springs also has specialised units such as the Property Crime Reduction Unit, Personal Violence Protection Unit and Regional Investigations Unit. The government has also provided legislative tools, like the recently-enacted gang laws to give our police a greater capacity to do their jobs effectively.
As I have already said, the government acknowledges the challenges facing Alice Springs and realises there is a lot of work that still has to be done in dealing with these issues. We are intent on ensuring our police force has the resources and the tools to serve the people of Alice Springs and the region.
Madam Speaker, I now turn to Health. As a government, we have a commitment to quality health care in Alice Springs. Yesterday, I paid compliment to my predecessor, Peter Toyne, for the work he did as Health Minister, not only right across the Territory but also in Alice Springs. Under this government, there have been significant advances in the resourcing, staffing and services available at Alice Springs Hospital.
A snapshot of the recent improvements at Alice Springs Hospital shows, amongst other things, that we have achieved a 22% increase in hospital staff between 2000-01 and 2005-06. Between December 2001 and June of last year, there has been a 23% increase in doctor numbers and a 28% improvement in nursing numbers. Whilst we have achieved significant improvements in the staffing situation, we also recognise that Alice Springs Hospital is facing increased demand. Strategies to reduce pressure include a major upgrade of the emergency department this year and a concerted effort to improve patient flow. We have added an extra 15 overflow beds, put in place a new transit lounge, and employed a patient flow manager to improve patient flow. These improvements are being made possible through a 59% increase in funding to Alice Springs Hospital since 2000-01. A total of $97m was allocated to Alice Springs Hospital in the 2005-06 financial year. We have also spent $11m to upgrade the Intensive Care Unit.
I am pleased to say that our efforts helped Alice Springs Hospital gain accreditation with the Australian Council of Health Care Standards in 2002. Alice Springs achieved a further four years of accreditation during that process.
Whilst we have made significant gains in the provision of health services and police services, as well as dealing with the challenges of alcohol here in Alice Springs, we are only too aware that we still have more to do.
Madam Speaker, I commend the Chief Minister’s statement on government initiatives in Central Australia, and thank all those people in the agencies of which I have oversight for the tremendous way they support government initiatives and the services they provide to the Alice Springs region.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Year 5/6 in Braitling Primary School, accompanied by their teachers, Jayne McLean and Andrew Hayes. On behalf of all honourable members I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): Madam Speaker, today I contribute to the Chief Minister’s statement. Being in Central Australia, with the statement on initiatives and achievements in Central Australia, I expected it to be all very positive and very glowing and, of course, it was. That is the role of government: to present all of the positive sides that they can. It is the role of opposition to acknowledge good achievements, but also to point out some areas that we believe need some improvement.
This is the first time I have been to Alice Springs and have felt an air of resentment and expectation that there is some fear. I have been talking to businesses in the CBD area, businesses in the mall, and I have been into art galleries. I have not only talked to those, but I have listened to people talking - people who had no idea who I was; I was just listening to their conversations. It is the very first time, very disappointingly, that I have been to Alice Springs and had this underlying resentment and fear of what is happening to their community, with a breakdown of law and order in their community. That is really sad.
I listened yesterday morning to that large number of people who came to express their view - and not so much express their view, but show their support - for things to change in Alice Springs. I had a good look around at those people. I did know many of them. They are quite conservative; not placard waving people at all. They feel so strongly about what is happening to the environment and to the town, in general, in Alice Springs, to come along to be part of a protest. I hope the Northern Territory government looks at those areas of law and order.
Whenever I go somewhere for the first time, for a long while, I like to walk, as I figure that if you walk around an area you get a better feel for what is happening. I heard a speaker yesterday say - I do not know who it was - they had walked around Alice Springs and it was the first time that they did not notice any glass. It might have been the Chief Minister. I have been here since last Wednesday, and I have been doing exactly the same. Like all towns, when government is coming to town they do have a bit of a cleanup. I know Katherine is guilty of it as well, as probably all of the towns are, because they want to present their town in the best light possible. I can assure you that there has been plenty of glass on footpaths where I have been walking. I have chosen different paths each day, just to look at different scenery. Last Monday morning, unfortunately, there was also quite a quantity of blood on the footpath at the edge of Taffy Crossing - I think it is called. That is alarming. There are issues to deal with here.
Several of the people I spoke and listened to during this last week have been adamant that unless there is a strong stand taken by this government to turn Alice Springs back into a safe place and a safe town that they consider it used to be, they are selling their businesses and houses and are moving interstate.
Alice Springs cannot afford to lose these long-term people. It is so important to the social structure of this town. There is no need for this to happen if the issue of law and order is taken seriously. I know that government members always say they govern for all and I think they sincerely believe that they do govern for all. As a regional person I feel that a lot of the time it is governed above that darned Berrimah Line, and we talk about that so often. It is obvious to we who live in regional areas that we are not seen and treated equally as those above the Berrimah Line.
I hope that when we come back to this place in two year’s time that there would be people out there actually praising government for being able to initiate programs in Alice Springs – and in Katherine as well of course - to make a difference to the law and order in this town. This morning we had an industry breakfast at which the Chief Minister spoke, as did the Minister for Tourism. They spoke of the really good things that are happening in Alice Springs. Tourism is an industry where good things do happen. Everybody is trying to please everybody else, so it is a really good industry. What is happening in tourism in Central Australia sounded so wonderful and positive. When they had finished their talk, then members of the public were invited to address a question to the Chief Minister or the Minister for Tourism. That is when you really understand what is happening in a community.
This morning after listening to how everything was going so well, Ron from Aurora Resort, which faces into the mall, told us at that gathering that he had two busloads of people cancel their accommodation yesterday because of the violence that is in the mall. That is totally unacceptable. The government needs to make sure that that message which is getting out does not continue to be negative. It will be negative in the fact that we have two busloads of people who are now going to tell their friends, ‘Do not book to go to Alice Springs because it is an unsafe place’. Government needs to listen to the people in the business sector who are being severely affected and impacted by this unlawfulness, and he was one.
I know that the Leader of Government Business loves statistics and he had some this morning. Statistics always illustrate positive things, and they do, and it is good to have statistics because you have to base your future plans on a lot of statistics. The most important thing to me is you really need to listen to people to find out what is really happening. This morning it saddened me to hear what Ron had to say about what happened with his cancellations.
The Chief Minister emphasised in her statement that alcohol abuse and antisocial behaviour are major issues for Central Australia and that government is determined, in partnership with the local community, to address these problems. I remind the Chief Minister and members of government that the problems that are causing so much angst here are not exclusive to Central Australia. Katherine, Tennant Creek and Darwin, along with some of the smaller areas, are all experiencing the same problems. The Chief Minister said in her statement that alcohol plays a major role in crime, antisocial behaviour, family dysfunction, personal injury and illness. Well, all of the people who live in the regional towns across the Territory and in Darwin know exactly that. We experience it every day on our own front doorsteps.
Government had the perfect opportunity to get serious about dealing with the abuse of alcohol. No soft shoe steps need to be taken here; really hard lines need to be drawn in the sand. They have had the opportunity by, first of all, introducing legislation to make regional towns dry. Instead, government took the soft option and put the responsibility on to the town council to develop their own. The issue of alcohol abuse is so widespread and really has to be addressed with serious decisions made by government, and not ad hoc trials and programs of one sort or another scattered across the whole of the Northern Territory.
I acknowledge there are many strategies that government has implemented including alcohol plans of management, harmony programs, etcetera, but the current result is that these are not making a significant change to the problems that we are facing in our communities. There are too many differing alcohol management plans. They have become confusing. These plans have taken a huge amount of time to put together by very concerned and committed people, but, unfortunately, most will not be as successful as they need to be.
Some years ago in Katherine, I was very supportive of restricted hours of trading for alcohol outlets in Katherine and, at that time, I had a takeaway alcohol outlet in Katherine as part of my business. I received much public criticism for saying that we needed to take a stand and introduce restricted hours because the situation of antisocial behaviour and alcohol abuse was so rife within Katherine that I did not want to live in that environment. I spoke to my local member at the time and said: ‘Enough is enough; we need to do something’. He asked what I was prepared to do as the licensee of a licensed store, and I said I was prepared to cut the hours, and suggested from 2 pm until 8 pm to have restricted hours of trading.
To cut a long story short, a lot of discussion went on in the community. At the time I first called a public meeting, all of the managers of the clubs and the hotels thought it was a fantastic idea because they were dealing with alcohol problems all the time. Then the owners stepped in and at the next meeting, I had every single person who agreed with me at the first meeting fall into the back corner and the owners said: ‘No, you do not know what you are talking about. Prohibition of alcohol and the restriction of alcohol does not work’. I was pretty forcefully told right from the start that it would not work, but I was pretty determined to do something to make it better.
In the end, with the restrictions that we had in Katherine, we had two lots of trading times. In the first six month period, trading was from 2 o’clock in the afternoon until 8 o’clock at night. It made a huge difference to the social problems within Katherine. I was quite happy with it and so were quite a few others. I know many police were happy with it, and the medical profession was happy. It made a huge difference. Then we had a community meeting, and we ended up having another six-month trial with different hours. They were from 10 am until 12 in the morning when you could drink light alcohol, but then it went back until 9 o’clock in the evening that you could buy alcohol. So we were back to square one as soon as that came in.
Prohibition does not work, which is what I am saying: we try all these different things because we want to do something, but we need to be generalised with them so that people understand what the rules are and that they cannot go into that particular community and break that particular rule.
I have been watching with interest the dry area legislation at Port Augusta placed over their whole city in November 2005. Prior to that they had random designated dry areas from 1986, and in the words in the Mayor of Port Augusta, Joy Baluch, it did not work. In stark contrast, Port Augusta is a different city since November 2005 when the whole town was declared dry. It has not impinged on the lives of the majority of citizens of Port Augusta who can still enjoy a drink of alcohol, but just not in any public places. When I was in Port Augusta in September last year, I was suitably impressed at how the city had improved. I strongly encourage members of government to visit Port Augusta to look at what is being trialled there and what is working so well. Why try to re-invent the wheel when there is such strong evidence of success? The Port Augusta City Council is, I believe, at this moment, strategically assessing the time since the implementation of the dry area legislation. It will be well worth looking at that report when it is completed.
I believe we need to take a strong stand, and it is what is needed to address antisocial behaviour and public drunkenness, such as we are experiencing right throughout the Northern Territory. I am sorry that the Katherine Town Council has chosen to only apply for a limited dry area. I would like them to have made the whole town dry and really send out a strong message. In taking that stand, I am certainly not advocating that dry towns are the answer to antisocial behaviour, but will certainly go some way to ensuring that our communities are a better place to live in and that people can feel safe when going about their daily business.
I know we talk ad nauseam in the Assembly about alcohol but it seems to be the basis of all of our issues. I believe that each town, each regional area, apart from declaring themselves dry, need to have a sobering-up shelter, a detox shelter and a rehabilitation centre, followed by meaningful employment. Otherwise, what we have is the same as presently occurs: a spin dry action with no positive, long-term outcome. In addition to that, all of the other support services to deal with the social issues will still need to be in place. I need to talk about the rehabilitation centre in Katherine, and I will do that at another time, because that could take up a whole hour.
Getting back to Alice Springs, in relation to tourism, there is no doubt that the reduced airline seats into Alice Springs has had an impact on business, and that includes the sale of indigenous art. I was talking to a gallery owner last week, and he said that since Virgin Blue stopped coming into Alice Springs his sales had significantly dropped.
Several speakers yesterday spoke in this House of talking negatively about Alice Springs and that we should only talk about the positive. That would be wonderful if there was only positive to talk about. I do not quite know how to talk in glowing terms about problems that are impediments to our communities when it does not address the underlying problem.
One thing that bothers me, and has done so for many years, is the amount of money that the tourism industry spends on marketing the Territory. It is not that I am worried that they spend the money, I think that is great, and we need to market the Territory; however, when the tourist arrives, what first impression do they get? Unfortunately, it is becoming more commonly a negative one - someone lying around drunk, others calling out loud, obscene language, and fighting in public. In addition to that, the media is reporting serious crime and violence in their papers, and on the radio and television. It can hardly be called talking down a place when it is actually happening out there. It is more like talking the truth. It is no good for anyone to gloss over such serious problems and then try to shoot the messenger by saying they are talking down a town’s problems. Sometimes you just have to tell it the way it is. Quite frankly, that is just what happens when a visitor arrives and is confronted with the situation. They go away and they tell it how it is, and that is really negative marketing for us.
Tourism to the Centre will be greatly enhanced when the Red Centre Way is finally completed. There is no doubt that this will be one of the most scenic drives that Australia has to offer, and I am looking forward to driving it. However, the issues over sacred sites that appears to have reached a stalemate between the Northern Territory government and the Central Land Council need to be resolved, and sooner rather than later. I believe that this resolution needs to be completed in the next four to six months, or else the construction of this important highway will come to a grinding halt because there will be no water or gravel to continue construction. I believe that government can resolve this situation quite simply by amending a portion of legislation. I hope in her reply the Chief Minister can advise the Assembly of the present circumstances of the negotiation process.
Central Australia has so much to offer for a great tourism experience, and I know that much work is being done to encourage more people to visit. It is not until the demand is there for passenger seats that airlines will make a commercial decision to fly to Alice Springs, so it is very important to continue the strong marketing campaigns.
Madam Speaker, I have a lot more to say regarding roads and infrastructure in the Northern Territory, and especially in Central Australia. I will do that at another time, otherwise I will not get that matter completed. I thank the minister for her statement.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of students from Years 5 and 6 at Gillen Primary School together with their teacher, Paul Howard. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr VATSKALIS (Business and Economic Development): Madam Speaker, I support my colleague, the Chief Minister, and her statement on priorities and achievements in Central Australia. Central Australia is built on the back of Territorians investing their time, money and future into building their business and providing valuable service to the community. The Martin government makes a significant investment in Central Australia: jobs, capital works, and partnerships with business in the community. Together we are working to move the Centre ahead. We have done a lot but we know there is more to do. We are listening and we are acting.
The latest Sensis Business Index gave the Territory the highest approval rating of all state or territory governments. The business community was given a big vote of confidence in the Martin government’s sound economic management. We have a strong economy and a plan for the future, and business groups have responded to that. Under our government, the Territory has an economy and lifestyle that is the best in Australia. Working with business has led to a series of sound and sensible initiatives, tax cuts, building critical infrastructure, and training new workers. The confidence of business in the Martin government’s policies is an encouragement to work and plan even harder for the future.
As of March 2007, the government investment in current major works was $63m in Alice Springs. Some of the major projects include the Stuart Lodge redevelopment, the West MacDonnell National Park upgrades, the Maryvale Road forming and gravelling, the Red Centre Way/Namatjira Drive upgrade, the Outback Way/Plenty Highway upgrades, and the Lovegrove Zone Substation.
Alice Springs is also experiencing the benefit of private investment. The value of private investment in construction activity as of March 2007 to Alice Springs was sizeable and impressive, at approximately $33.2m. Together with government’s $63m investment in major projects, that brings construction activity on major projects in Alice Springs to a total of $96.2m. In 2004, the private construction investment at the same totalled just $14m - now an increase of almost $19m. Estimated future private sector projects for Alice Springs are valued at $52.6m: the aquatic centre, the Harts Range garnet processing facility, the Desert Solar Holiday Village, and the Ragonesi Road subdivision Stage 1. The figures speak for themselves and the increase in private investment and construction is a good economic indicator that confidence in the Alice Springs region and its economy is growing. Private works for the Alice Springs region in December 2006 included, though was not limited to, the following projects: Old Timer’s Village extension and renovations, North Edge residential allotments, Quest Serviced Apartments, Yeperenye Centre, Giles Street flats and Imparja Television studio.
This government’s support for the Desert Knowledge Precinct is already starting to show dividends. The Northern Territory and Australian governments provided $30.2m for Stage 1 development of the Desert Knowledge Precinct. Construction of Stage 1 is now complete, with Stage 2 headworks under construction. This includes continuation of the ring main services and final seal to all internal roads and car parks, and sewer for buildings in Stage 1 of the Desert Peoples Centre, and is now 50% complete. The construction of the Business Innovation Centre, with a budget of $2.5m, is well under way at 80% complete ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, do you mind if I recognise some students here? Honourable members, I draw your attention to students in the gallery from Years 5 and 6 of Ross Park Primary School with their teacher, Elizabeth Verstappen, and in the other gallery are students from Alice Outcomes with teachers, Margaret McCartain and Josephine Chapman. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, I would like to speak about Power and Water.
Our government is investing $20m to relocate the generators and install new generators to Brewer Estate. It was very cute this morning to hear the member for Greatorex tabling a petition asking to do it very quickly. What he failed to mention to his constituents is the reason it cannot be done quickly is because, when the CLP government established the Brewer Estate, they installed a 22 kVA power line instead of a high grade one, so we have to start from scratch and install a 66 kVA power line and that will take time. Because of the economic activity and the mining activity around the world you have to wait up to 12 or 18 months to actually get hold of a transformer or any of the necessary equipment for a power line. Our government is investing in the future of Alice Springs and in power generation for the future of Alice Springs.
The broader economic indicators for the region demonstrate that Alice Springs is moving ahead. Other developments, projects and positive economic indicators for the region included the interests owned by the mining industry in the resources around the Centre; the increase in tourist numbers to the region; the Australian government’s promised investment into town camps; and the number of people inquiring about starting a new business.
The outlook for local businesses supplying the mining industry is good as a number of projects are developed. Thor Mining is the owner of the Molyhil Molybdenum and Tungsten Project on the Plenty Highway, 360 km by road north-east of Alice Springs. The fly-in/fly-out operation currently has a planned mine life of four to six years and will employ a workforce of 60 persons. Construction and production is planned for late 2007. Human resource supplies will be sought primarily from Alice Springs.
Olympia Resources plans to commence the construction phase of its Harts Range abrasives project in the second half of 2007 and begin producing in early 2008. Situated some 260 km by road north-east of Alice Springs the proposed mine currently has a life of 23 years and will employ 25 to 30 people.
Arafura Resources rare earths and phosphate project situated 135 km north of Alice Springs, near Aileron, currently has a predicted mine life of 20-plus years. The company is planning to transport the ore to Darwin by train and the human resources for 25 for the mine site and 50 for Darwin will be sought at each location as will supplies and services.
Newmont Australia’s gold mining operation in the Tanami currently employs 534 staff, 64% of whom reside in the Territory. Following new discoveries deep in the Callie Mine operating life could be prolonged until 2020. The extended ore body will necessitate the construction of a new haulage shaft, power station, processing plant and accommodation village. It is estimated at this stage that the new construction costs will be around $450m. Should the Newmont board give approval for extensions to proceed, the new work will commence in 2009.
A demonstration of the positive energy in town in response to mining was the recent Mining Expo and Supply Seminar, held in conjunction with AGES, organised by my department to help put local businesses in touch with mining companies. Over 45 booths at this trade event were booked, many by local businesses taking the opportunity to showcase their wares. This booth housed 53 businesses, four mining companies, an oil and gas exploration company, three Northern Territory government agencies, Chamber of Commerce NT, the Manufactures Council, and the Northern Territory Industry Capability Network. The event was attended by 89 explorers from 56 organisations, 130 industry representatives, 10 indigenous delegates from three organisations, 31 researchers and consultants, three Chinese delegates from four organisations, and representatives of the Northern Territory and federal governments. Early feedback suggests that many of the local businesses that attended thought it was a worthwhile event that could lead to the writing of new business in the future. The department will be increasing the activities in this area to work with local businesses and to help them get ready for the opportunities that will arise.
Tourist numbers are encouraging news for businesses around the Central Australian region. There have been more interstate holiday visitors to the region from 111 000 in 2004 to an estimated 130 000 in 2006. The total visitor spend is also up in the same period from $241m to $330m last year. Another indicator of increasing business confidence is the number of new business packs requested through our Alice Springs Territory Business Centre. In the first quarter of 2004 there were 47 requests for new business packs; in 2005 there were 40; 2006, 79; and in 2007 there were 85. While there is no guarantee that requests for new business packs will lead to registration of new businesses, there were 50 new business registrations in January and February this year.
My department continues to undertake a wide range of activities to support and assist economic development. Many of these activities are designed to assist small businesses and we know that from little things, big things grow. Small business is fundamental to both the Territory and Alice Springs economy and we will continue to offer a wide range of services. These services include our Upskills Program which offers three hour training sessions. These workshops provide participants with new ideas to increase business management skills and capabilities.
Our Business Growth Program may also suit businesses that wish to take the next step and expand, diversify, or prepare for new business environments and opportunities that arise.
October Business Month is a regular fixture, which I am pleased to say many Alice Springs businesses have attended over the years. October Business Month continues to add value and provide opportunities for business people to network and learn about business ideas. I hope Alice Springs businesses will continue to attend and take advantage of the events that October Business Month offers each year.
With so much of the Territory’s being indigenous, it is important that indigenous Territorians reap the rewards of the economic activity and are assisted to start small businesses. To support indigenous business enterprises and further grow small business in the region, the department is working with indigenous Territorians to develop a range of business initiatives to promote enterprise and jobs growth. These initiatives include the development of business networks in Central Australia, assistance to indigenous businesses to exhibit their products and services at events, and the provision of direct business support.
DBERD’s Indigenous Business and Industry Services, known as IBIS, is currently in the process of establishing indigenous business networks in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek for the Central and Barkly regions. The aim of these networks is to get indigenous business people who are starting out in business to meet with like-minded individuals to share information, experience and business knowledge, and develop awareness of business programs that can be accessed to increase business growth.
DBERD sponsored five local indigenous businesses to exhibit at the Central Australian Expo on 9 and 10 March this year. These businesses were Central Media Production, JET Employment and Training Services, Black Tank Outstation, Footprints Forward and Jungala Enterprises.
DBERD’s IBIS group was also present at the mining supply expo and seminar held in March this year promoting programs for industry support and indigenous engagement. IBIS continues to develop and encourage indigenous enterprise through the Central and Barkly regions. These business initiatives include a free-range egg farm; Art and Cultural Tourism, Jungala Enterprises; Kata-Anga Tea Rooms in Hermannsburg; Northern Barkly Indigenous Development Pty Ltd providing advice to the company on how to utilise royalty money for enterprise development; the Internet Caf at Ali Curung; and cultural tourism at Black Tank Outstation.
On matters economic, the government is listening and engaging with communities of interest across the Territory through the creation of economic development committees that raise broad strategies and priorities with government through the development of economic development plans. The Alice Springs Economic Development Committee is made up of people from the community, business, the Chamber of Commerce, and from the federal and Northern Territory governments. Recently, I received the first economic development plan produced by an economic development committee. I am delighted to say it was from the Alice Springs committee. I thank these people who have given up their valuable time to deliver such a comprehensive document.
Government is now in a position to consider the recommended economic strategies and priorities developed by the committee. It was my pleasure to meet with committee members on Monday this week and, again, I thank them for investing their time and energy into the important work of the committee for the benefit of the Alice Springs region.
Madam Speaker, I turn to another portfolio: sport. Alice Springs people are excellent, especially when it comes to getting involved and participating in sports. I thank the volunteers for all their hard work and know that people, week in and week out, participate in sports locally.
Our government supports sport. It is part of the great Territorian lifestyle. It was clear the priority for sport after the Martin Labor government was first elected in 2001 was to address areas of chronic neglect left by the previous CLP government. Three areas that were targeted: fixing up previous great facilities; building new facilities; and bringing elite sports to the Territory.
Our government’s $142m investment in sport has delivered AFL Wizard and NAB Challenge matches; an ARL trial match in 2005 between the Newcastle Knights and Penrith Panthers at Anzac Oval; significant improvements at Traeger Park; and investment, major and minor, in other sports and sporting infrastructure.
The Alice Springs Pistol Club received $101 000 over three years from 2003-06 to construct an indoor pistol range. The club is now able to hold national level competitions. The Alice Springs Golf Club received $95 000 over two financial years to upgrade their pump house and construct ablution facilities. The Wallace Rockhole Community received funding over three years from 2003-06 of $100 000 to build a basketball and netball court, and half-court tennis, which has lights and is fully fenced. The Alice Springs Motor Cycle Club received $16 000 in 2005-06 to modify the track to increase safety, improve the facility, and provide a challenging venue. Arunga Park Speedway Association received $22 500 in 2005-06 which allowed them to repair the speedway track safety wall. The pistol range at the Alice Springs Shooting Complex at Ilparpa was closed in early 2004 due to residential encroachment which made the range unsafe to use. We invested over $250 000 to ensure the range at Ilparpa met acceptable safety standards. The range was used during the Alice Springs Master Games in October 2006.
We committed $5m for improvements and upgrade of Traeger Park. The Alice Springs Hockey Centre upgrade was completed in October 2002 at a cost of $800 000. The floodlight upgrade project was completed in February 2004 at a cost of $1.7m. The grandstand was left with $2.4m. A $3m contract was awarded to Probuild Pty Ltd on 20 July 2005 to construct what is a fantastic new grandstand at Traeger Park.
In June 2006, the government invested $20 000, going three ways with the Alice Springs Town Council and Cricket NT for a new pitch for the 2007 Imparja Cup. A $130 000 capital grant was provided to the Alice Springs Golf Club to plant soil ridges and grass on the fairways.
In 2005, the Territory budget included a capital grant of $800 000 for a new drag racing strip adjacent to the Finke Desert Race. Yesterday, I announced a further $250 000 grant to the Central Australia Drag Racing Association to complete their new drag strip. The additional money will ensure the drag strip meets strict environmental conditions. Not only will Alice residents receive a brand new quarter-mile drag strip, we will provide the money for the construction of one-eighth mile. Yesterday, I was advised by the members of CADRA that they had done a redesign of the whole project. They did a lot of work for themselves, and they have now designed and are going to construct a quarter-mile national and international standard drag strip which will provide the opportunity for people in Australia and other places in the world to compete in Alice Springs. Not only that, they said if they needed more money they would attempt to fundraise it themselves, and I congratulate them. It was fantastic news, because it means not only quality racing in Central Australia, but also more tourists will come to watch these races, or accompany those racing on the drag strip. Our government is both economically and environmentally responsible, and that is why we have the best economy and lifestyle in Australia. Central Australians love their sport and their motor racing, and I am pleased to assist in getting this drag race strip complete.
The Alice Springs Town Council received a $500 000 capital grant for upgrading Ross Park for soccer. The $8.1m election promise for the Alice Springs Aquatic Indoor Centre is the largest funding investment for an aquatic centre ever made by a government to a local council in the Northern Territory. The Alice Springs Town Council has the money invested in an account and it is ready to be spent. There is no doubt, $8.1m is a lot of money and will buy the people of Alice Springs a fantastic aquatic centre. The council has advised me they are working to secure additional funds and they are waiting on a decision by the Australian government. The good news now is that the council has committed to a deadline of 25 June 2007. They decided they wanted a few more things, and that is great. But something they should consider is that people have waited a long time to have an aquatic centre, and they can use it. It is an exciting project and Alice Springs people have waited long enough. We are all looking forward to council getting on with the job.
I would like to take a moment to talk about the Northern Territory Institute of Sport and some of the elite sportspeople in Alice Springs and the region that it has produced recently. The Northern Territory Institute of Sport has maintained a southern regional office in Alice Springs for the past 10 years, providing Centralians with the opportunity for special advice on strength and conditioning and high performance management. A physiotherapy service is also provided to Alice Springs-based scholarship holders. Northern Territory Institute of Sport staff ensure others in the region are provided with other services, including sports science, sports psychology, athlete career and education, and nutrition and coaching. Elite athletes like tenpin bowler Andrew McArthur are able to remain in Alice Springs and still be selected for Australian teams because of NTIS services based in the Centre.
The NTIS annually conducts, in conjunction with sponsors, Centrebet and YMCA, an NTIS southern region awards event to recognise the efforts of our athletes and the many volunteers involved, including coaches, sports medicine personnel, and parents.
There have been many successes.
NTIS early development scholarship holder, tenpin bowler Andrew McArthur, is the winner of the New South Wales Open 2006; Brunswick Open 2005; Australian Masters, Melbourne Cup, Cannington Classic in 2004; national squad representative since 2004; and Australian representative in 2004;
NTIS Junior Elite Development scholarship holder in cycling, Daniel Johnston, winner of the national series Under 19s 2006, Oceania championships and dual Australian representative in Under 19s in mountain biking;
David Johnston, cycling squad member and brother of Daniel Johnston, winner of the Under 17s national series in 2006;
John Pyper, Australian cycling Under 19 road coach in 2006 and selected as assistant coach to the Under 21s Australian Road Team in 2007;
cyclist, Matthew Stephens, an Under 17 Australian …
Mr NATT: Madam Speaker, I move that the minister be granted an extension of time to complete his remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, continue for 10 minutes.
Mr VATSKALIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Rugby League - Mitchell Morgan placed on a Canberra Raiders scholarship; and Aaron Costello played with the Australian Affiliated States merit team at the World Youth Championship in Moscow in 2005 …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Obviously, the member for Greatorex does not want to listen about Centralians doing well and that is why he is murmuring. Of course, we do not take any notice, we are used to it. We continue with the work because we want to see more Centralians take part in world-class events. I congratulate them – all of them – and Matty Campbell, Dashiell Hewett, Jamie White, Miebaka Dede, Cameron Finlay and Leshay Maidement, who are currently playing with the Australian Hockey League for the Territory Stingers and Pearls respectively. Also, Elizabeth Andrew, a police officer located at Hermannsburg, who represented Australia in IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2001. In addition to the work done by the NTIS, we support 14 community sport and recreation officers in the Alice Springs region.
Much has been achieved by our investment of time and money in sports, but there is more to be done. We understand sport’s importance to the Territory’s great lifestyle. After fixing areas of chronic neglect and getting sport back to where it should have been, the job is now to look around and work out where we want to be in 10 years time. A long-term vision is necessary. We are developing a comprehensive sport and recreation policy that will encompass every aspect of sport across the Territory.
Work in this area has already been done by the Sport and Youth parliamentary committee, chaired by the member for Port Darwin, Kerry Sacilotto. Their work will influence where the Martin Labor government’s significant investment in sport will be directed in the future. We will work with the great Territorians who love their sport - dedicated volunteers who devote their time to their chosen sport, professional administrators, past players and administrators - to develop a comprehensive sports policy that will make sure the Territory’s lifestyle remains the best in Australia.
Madam Speaker, our government is investing in Central Australia, has invested and will continue to invest. We believe that the future of Central Australia is bright. Yes, of course, there problems. We are the first to acknowledge that, but as the member for Braitling said: ‘Do not come here all the time with your problems; come here sometimes with some solutions’. Working together, both sides of parliament and the Independents, we might find some solutions we can apply to Central Australia and you can apply in other places, as the member for Katherine said, because these problems are not unique in Central Australia, or even to the Northern Territory. They are unique to the north part of Australia and are problems that we face now and, if we do nothing, we will face for years to come.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage): Madam Speaker, I will talk about being inspired, the challenges and opportunities in Central Australia.
Although I am very much a saltwater woman, my father’s people are from Central Australia, so a part of me will always belong here. It is for this reason that I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the Chief Minister’s statement on initiatives and achievements in this important part of the Northern Territory. It gives me the chance, as well, to say something of what I understand is the character of Central Australia and its people. As a starting point, let me tell the House of two recent experiences.
Firstly, a month ago, I had the pleasure of opening an exhibition of work by two Centralian artists showing in Sydney. It was called Skin and was the work of two non-indigenous artists, Dan Murphy and Deborah Clarke. In my remarks on the night, I made the point that there had been a quiet revolution in the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists in Central Australia, which is barely matched anywhere in Australia. It is why, in my view, Central Australia is developing, much more than other parts of the Territory for that matter, as a creative community in country which has always been alive through the dreamings that stretch back many thousands of years. The nature of that quiet revolution has been that non-indigenous artists have come to Central Australia and have developed knowledge, understanding and, above all, an engagement with the lands and people of the region.
They have brought with them many different tools and techniques, some of which have, in turn, been picked up by Aboriginal artists, but they have not brought with them the minds of the coloniser or the prejudices of the invader. They have engaged with country and sought not to subjugate it. In other words, we are seeing new cultural understandings of what it is to live and work in Central Australia that builds on heritages of both ancient and more recent times, and of the knowledge and experience of both indigenous and non indigenous Territorians.
This was reflected as well a week before that when I was privileged to launch the program for the 2007 Araluen Arts Centre. The slogan for the program is ‘Be Inspired’. It is certainly that. The diversity of events to be staged at Araluen in the coming year is striking enough in itself, but the breadth and depth of active engagement from the peoples of Central Australia in cultural life tells a much wider story and provides us with pointers to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Central Australia. While at what is known as the Araluen Cultural Precinct, I was struck once again at how limiting the idea of a discrete isolated cultural precinct can be. I was reminded of the words of the member for Macdonnell in calling for a shared creative citizenship in Central Australia. She made the point and I quote: ‘The whole of Central Australia is a cultural precinct and we should all start thinking like that. That should be our common ground for all of us here in Central Australia, and how we approach Central Australia creatively is how we will achieve a shared citizenship in this vast and beautiful region’.
This is the approach of this government to the challenges and opportunities of Central Australia through the work of my Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, a shared creative partnership with the citizens of Central Australia. It is an approach that seeks to integrate and coordinate government assets and activities across the region dedicated to the social, economic and cultural advancement of Central Australia through policies of sustainable development. It is an approach that sees opportunities for Central Australians in sustaining jobs and enterprises while at the same time nurturing and looking after the land that sustains us all here in Central Australia.
It is an approach in which we will move away from dislocation and isolation towards embracing integration of assets and resources in partnership with private enterprise and which takes an exclusively regional approach to Central Australia. It means taking an holistic view. It can be summed up in a straightforward philosophy. The first one is caring for county, knowing country, sharing country and learning from country. For example, national parks are not just repositories of plants and animals or stock as picture postcard landscapes. It contains within them non-indigenous and indigenous heritage from our exploration, pastoral and mining histories through the rock art. For that matter, our pastoral estate is not just cattle runs to be mustered and turned off each season. It is a source of biodiversity which must also be cared for into the future. Our water resources go well beyond the turning of a tap or the sinking of a bore. They are a precious legacy that must be sustained for our children and grandchildren.
We are working with the people of Central Australia to care for country, to know our country, to share country, and to learn from country.
This government has, through its Framework for the Future process, significantly expanded the national parks estate in the Northern Territory through agreements with traditional owners throughout the Territory, not least in Central Australia. The West MacDonnell National Park is set to become one of the most important destinations in the Territory, indeed the nation. The park is already recognised as Australia’s first national landscape and work is being carried out towards World Heritage listing, including consultation with traditional Aboriginal owner groups in the Western MacDonnell region.
The Development of the Red Centre Way is a high priority and planning is well under way for the development of the Red Centre Way Visitor Centre, which is to be integrated with the Alice Springs Desert Park after extensive consultation with regional stakeholders. This will herald a new era of enterprise development in the region, particularly amongst indigenous communities and, indeed, a new era of tourists integrating the destinations of Watarrka, Uluru and the Western MacDonnells.
We are working to increase the capacity of our staff to implement joint management principles for our expanded national parks estate in Central Australia. For this, I must thank the Central Land Council and the traditional owners it represents for a lot of hard work.
Joint management plans for Rainbow Valley and the Devils Marbles are well advanced and drafts will be put out for public comment in the near future. A critical part of the work of our national parks people is that of maintaining visitor facilities to enhance the experience of people who come to our parks. To this end, we are developing a comprehensive asset management system, including evaluation of whole of asset system in order to strategically plan for ongoing management requirements. Of course, quality visitor experience is highly dependent on high quality information being available. While we will continue to produce and reassess fact sheets and interpretive signage, we are also actively investigating web-based linkages for the visitor, including making material available through MP3 technology.
We recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Alice Springs Desert Park. The Desert Park, for which the previous CLP government must be given credit, has developed into an important destination for tourists but also become something that is seen as an asset for Central Australians themselves. There is significant use of the park by schoolchildren and the park has also opened itself up through open days. There has been more recent use of the park for night desert art markets. The Desert Park is certainly becoming the people’s park. Work is well under way to develop new five- and 10-year plans for the Desert Park, and its future integration with the Red Centre Way West MacDonnells Visitor Centre will allow cost-effective ways of consolidating the Desert Park as well as the West MacDonnells as one of the Centre’s most important destinations. A key to this has been the development of closer links with the community and local business and an expanded role for the park in the conference market.
Finally, we have committed continued and additional support for the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens with strong support and assistance from its hard-working and dedicated community board.
No one is under any illusion that the development of land in arid regions such as the deserts of Central Australia is easy. It presents challenges that have been made no more simple due to ongoing community and scientific debate as to definitions of sustainable resource use. Nevertheless, assessment of land and water for agriculture is critical, particularly for new horticultural and cropping development. The challenge is to provide, on a timely basis, assessments which meet the needs of external and internal clients. The demand is high. Smart assessment technology is expensive and requires high skills, and we must not only assess resources, but we must also assess possible impacts on the environment. The identification of sustainable uses and yields is not easy. There are many different definitions and interpretations. There is a challenge with the public conception of sustainability.
A further challenge with land and water resource assessment for development projects is handling the question of impacts. All development will, by its nature, have impacts on natural resources, but the question is: will they be significant in the foreseeable future? There is believed to be significant, good quality groundwater resources on Aboriginal land in Central Australia. Suited as water supplies for horticultural development, it has the potential to support work opportunities for Aboriginal Territorians in many rural towns and communities in Central Australia.
The challenge is to undertake the assessments necessary to enable sustainable development to proceed so that we can actually make a difference. This means lining up the key players inside and outside of government who work together to achieve successful and timely outcomes which is a formidable task. The land and water assessment and information branches provide extensive information to industry, the public and government. A challenge here is to provide quality information for the increasing demand, using technology and smart communication systems which meet the needs of the user.
The management of natural resources in the desert present a huge challenge, but one I believe the people of the region are tough enough to meet. The recent welcome heavy rains in Central Australia, for example, will assist pastoralists, but will inevitably contribute to an intense fire season. A detailed fire forecast is currently being developed by our Natural Resource Division which will assist meeting this challenge.
Related to this is the issue facing the continued sustainability and growth of the pastoral industry in the Centre generally. We are committed to supporting the continued economic growth of a sustainable pastoral industry, while ensuring that pastoral lands are healthy and biodiversity is maintained. Policies and guidelines will be required for the implementation of non-pastoral, commercial or conservation use for existing pastoral operations. In this, we will work alongside native title holders throughout Central Australia. This year, we will commence a revision of soil conservation legislation and guidelines to provide guidance and certainty for industry, and to improve management of one of our most valuable natural resources.
Water management, as I have mentioned, is a continuing issue, especially in major residential areas such as Alice Springs, or commercial use, such as that around Ti Tree. The last thing any of us want to repeat is the mistakes of the southern and eastern states in their approach to water management. Central Australians understand this only too well. We have promoted the formation and support of the Water Advisory Committees in Alice Springs and Ti Tree. These committees will provide advice on the development and implementation of water allocation plans. These plans will be built from the ground up through the Water Advisory Committees, and any licensing and regulations that may flow from water management plans will be ones that assist the stakeholders that are represented on these committees. A critical input into this will be the implementation of the Central Australia Water Conservation Project.
We are currently reviewing the Northern Territory Weed Strategy, which is a huge issue for Central Australia. I do not pretend to have the answers, but it will involve:
the coordination and management of externally funded projects for the strategic control of Athel pine;
a rational approach to buffel grass which is emerging as a potentially contentious issue. While it provides fodder on the one hand - and we see the same thing with gamba grass - on the other hand it impacts negatively on biodiversity and fire regimes; and
the consideration of widespread weed management issues, such as the rubber bush and Parkinsonia, for which the development and implementation of a strategic approach is difficult due to the scale of the landscape, the scale of the areas affected and the low numbers and resources to landowners.
Turning a full circle, I make a simple point about our arts community in Central Australia. The arts community is very much like the rest of Central Australia. They are pretty damn hot, and they are inspired. You only have to attend some of the highlights of the cultural calendar to gauge this. The Centralian Advocate Art Award, the Beanie Festival, the Alice Desert Festival, Wearable Arts and Desert Mob are inspirations to the work of the artists and the dedicated band of people who make these events possible.
Of course, there are challenges and difficulties, but that does not stop the artists of Central Australia. Instead of bemoaning the Berrimah Line, they have gone out to forge new directions and new approaches. Their directions and their approaches have been highly successful, particularly in the last round of the arts grants from Arts NT which are awarded competitively. Central Australians did far better, pound for pound, than their colleagues up north. They have not wasted time. They have gone out, got the job done, and continue to do so.
That goes to what I said at the outset about the development of a strong, creative community here in Central Australia. In a very real sense, it is do with the country around here. It breeds toughness but also engenders a philosophy of getting the job done in a spirit of partnership where people can learn from each other.
Mr Deputy Speaker, the region of Central Australia faces enormous social and economic problems - no one pretends otherwise. However, I believe Central Australians from all walks of life are tough enough, and certainly smart enough, to seek collective solutions that will benefit us all. The real challenge, as the member for Macdonnell said to us last year, is how we approach Central Australia creatively and, therefore, how we will achieve a shared citizenship in this vast and beautiful region. That is what we are working on. I commend the Chief Minister’s statement to the House.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the minister for NRETA for her discussion on a couple of important issues that I was not particularly going to raise in my discussion about Central Australia. However, water and weeds is a familiar topic in the north as well. Perhaps, although there is a lot of talk about the Berrimah Line and Central Australia versus the north, I regard myself as a Territorian. My number plate is exactly the same as the people down here; it says ‘Outback Australia’.
I first came to Central Australia in 1964 as a young geography student. We came up in a city bus with the school and it fell apart because the road out to Ayers Rock going across the South Australia/Northern Territory border was all corrugated gravel, and the road back from Ayers Rock - as it was called then - to the bitumen was all corrugated as well. I remember we spent some time in Alice Springs welding the bus back. How things have changed in Central Australia since then, with much improved road transport, the increase of rail transport and improvements in rail. That is obvious by the number of people who come to visit Central Australia.
I love Alice Springs. It is a great change to come down here from the humid north and wake up under a doona. That is something that does not happen very often, not if you have lived in the north for a long time. I love all parts of the Northern Territory because there are so many different climates and geographies; it is such a wonderful place to live.
I would like to hone in a little more on the Chief Minister’s statement. Obviously, when you read the statement, there are many good things happening in Central Australia, especially Alice Springs. The government has many programs it is trying to put forward. On the other hand, no matter what you think of the rallies we have had so far outside the parliament, it would be difficult to dismiss that and say it was just a few people who had a gripe. It obviously shows that there some serious concerns in Central Australia about issues that really are not just exclusive to Central Australia. You will find gangs, crime, and alcohol abuse in various places throughout the Territory. I know the member for Katherine will agree with that.
I, for one, even though I have lived in the Territory for a long time, have pulled up at Red Rooster in Katherine about 8 pm and found it a little scary, to be honest with you, right opposite the takeaway there at the local pub. If I found it a bit daunting, imagine what tourists who pull up at Katherine at that time of the evening think. It is not good and neither is it not good for the image of the Territory.
Although there has been much discussion about tourism and how tourism numbers have increased, there was talk today at the Chamber of Commerce breakfast that one of the problems is repeat visitors are not a very high number when you look at the statistics on how many people come back to the Centre. I may be guessing, but you do wonder, although people have a wonderful holiday here, whether some of the images that they confront are the reason that they do not come back. I hope that is not the case. I can understand why if people, especially older people - and we have to remember many people come to the Territory in their retirement with the caravans behind them. I came down from Darwin on Saturday and Sunday and I was also in Alice Springs the last weekend, both times travelling by road. There were certainly many caravans moving north so the road tourist season is well and truly on its way. They are the people we must make sure are looked after and they are the people we hope will return.
I would just like to say a few things about the issues that are of concern to many people in Central Australia. I have a concern about these things in general that are happening in the Northern Territory. The government still is not willing to bite the bullet when it comes to looking at alternative ways of tackling crime. I have said for a long time the idea of having just two forms of prison, the Alice Springs gaol and the Berrimah gaol, is not the right approach. The closure of the Wildman River Wildness Camp is a disgrace. I believe there is a great need for alternative forms of detention, especially with young people. I have said before that I visited the work camp at Wyndham last year. This work camp enables low- to medium-grade prisoners to work out in the community from a base. They are not working from the prison; they are working from a camp, you might say, which is made up from demountable living quarters. These people look after themselves. They get up in the morning and make their own breakfast, and head off for work. They cannot leave the place unless they are going to work, but there is a fair bit of responsibility for washing their own clothes, making sure they are on time for work, all those sort of things. In other words, they learn some skills, they learn how to go to work, and it has been very successful in Western Australia. There are about six work camps there.
We could do a variation on that especially for juveniles. My daughter worked for a number of years on cattle stations. She learned to be a ringer at the Mataranka Station which trains young people in horse skills. From my understanding, on most cattle stations, ringers get up really early in the morning around 4:30, have breakfast, get the horses ready, do mustering or fencing until about 12 o’clock and, in the heat of the day, they either relax or have a sleep. At the end of the day they tether up the horses or do some other odd jobs.
There is a great opportunity to have four or five work camps operating in the Territory where young people who may be involved in gangs - after all, we have now have legislation which says we can tackle these gangs - where these gangs can be broken up and some of these young people are sent out by a magistrate for three, four, five, six months to work on these cattle stations and to learn some skills like fencing and horse riding. In the afternoon, they get some education. Perhaps you have the old silver bullet-type caravan that follows them round so in the afternoon they learn some basic education to try to bring them up to a standard where they are at least are able to catch up on their school work which they would have missed normally.
Work camps are very important because there is one thing that you need in life: some time to get out on your own and to think about what you are going. I take time off during the year. I have done trips to places that I have always driven past. I have been to Butterfly Gorge and Umbrawarra Gorge. Believe it or not, I have stayed two nights at Renner Springs and walked up to what they call Lubra Hill and sat up there. It is a beautiful place. I have stayed at Banka Banka. Most people drive through Banka Banka or just stay overnight. There is a beautiful walk into Banka Banka. It has a lot of Aboriginal, World War II and pastoral history. It is a wonderful little place. It is peaceful and quiet. We are missing that to some extent with the way we are dealing with some of our juveniles.
Yes, they need work, they need education, but they need time to reflect on where they are going in life because many of these kids are at the crossroads. They might not have committed a serious crime. Being in a gang is not really what you would call a serious crime, but it can potentially lead to serious crime. Pinching a car may not be regarded as the top of the scale in crime, but it is the sort of crime that if you can get the culprits early, you may be able to turn them around.
Wildman River was what that was all about. Kids worked part-time for Parks and Wildlife. Sometimes they were doing sandbags on the barrages to prevent the salt water coming through. They were doing fencing. In the afternoon, they were doing education. There were good classrooms there. They had a small football field and swimming pool. They had to cook their own meals in the evening and the only difference was that they were locked up at night.
For all intents and purposes, the concept was get these kids, give them some sort of focus, give them some sort of goal, give them a chance to think because there is nothing better than to go out into the bush and have a think. Have a look at Dillinya, the alcohol rehabilitation place south of Katherine out towards Top Springs. Why is it way out in the middle of nowhere? It is about 250 km west of Katherine. It is there because Sheila Millar knows that by getting people back to their country you have a lot better chance of getting these people to change their ways. She has been very successful. She is out in the bush. She has a beautiful set-up. The houses are all clean. It is a great place. It is a similar philosophy.
People need to get away from the place which is causing them problems. If these kids are mixed up in gangs, which are about a couple of leaders and a lot of followers, break them up and you have a chance of changing these kids around. Are we doing something? No. We have the Don Dale Centre. The Don Dale Centre might have its purpose, but one size does not fit all. We need other kinds of facilities for young people, and for older people. As I mentioned, the work camp at Wyndham is for older people.
It is the same when it comes to the issue of alcohol abuse. I have stood in this House since day one and spoken about alcohol abuse. The situation has not improved. In fact, it is worse. Unless the government takes some really strong approaches to alcohol, we are not going to change it. We still associate alcohol and sport. We still have enormous amounts of advertising. The alcohol industry is enormously powerful. Go to any football match. What are the advertising signs? Alcohol. Alcohol and sport are very much part of the culture of the Northern Territory.
We can look at all the ways of trying to change people’s habits of abusing alcohol, but I bet you that, behind it all, breweries are not saying: ‘We really want you to stop all that’. They might say it to make you feel good, but the reality is there are big bucks in alcohol. The fact is that in places like Alice Springs and other communities, we have to pick up the consequences of the abuse of alcohol.
It is time that, either through taxation or direct contribution from the breweries, large amounts of money from that area are put into alcohol rehabilitation. That can include community dry out areas. I have mentioned before that people will go through the revolving doors of rehabilitation time and time again. Through the alcohol courts, there should be places where these people are required to go. They must stay maybe for six months and they receive medical attention. There might be a garden or small workshop where they can learn some basic skills of woodwork or metal work, do some basic literacy and numeracy. However, they are required to stay there. The alternative is gaol. We give them the alternative, but they cannot stay on the streets any longer.
There comes a time when society says enough is enough. If people cannot help themselves, then that is why we have a government: to help those people. It is not a matter of incarcerating people. I recall a meeting the minister for NRETA attended here many years ago, as part of the substance abuse committee where, as soon as we said people should be put away somewhere and helped, there was talk about the Stolen Generation. I found that really offensive in the sense that this would not apply to any particular race or creed; this is applying to human beings who have come to the end, who are basically helpless because they cannot help themselves. We need places where we can require those people to attend. That would improve our own society, because those people would not be on the streets, but we would be trying to help those people get over what is a major health issue that they cannot pull themselves up from. That is an area where we are not doing enough. It is those two areas we need to spend some money on.
The government could look at putting more pressure on the federal government to require breweries to put more money back into rehabilitation of people who are affected by alcohol, to put more money back into programs to teach people to use alcohol wisely. Breweries have a responsibility; they produce the product. They might say, well we are not responsible for the way people use it. I say: ‘You produce a product that you know can be abused, I believe you have to take some responsibility. I do not think you take it all, but you do take some responsibility. You make millions’. We know that because of the amount of advertising that is on television, and we know that from the huge sales of alcohol in Australia. I believe that breweries should take some responsibility.
On a couple of other things the Chief Minister mentioned. I congratulate the idea of the Clontarf Academy coming to Alice Springs. That is a great idea. What we have to do is make sure we do not get carried away with the gloss of it. The objectives of it are terrific, but what we need to do is make sure that not only are kids going to school, but the achievements are really there. I say that because I have some background in this area. I know and am able to get some information occasionally about this. We have to be careful that it is not all about footy, that the real changes, the real academic achievements are going hand in hand with the football achievements. It is a great idea. It is a great thing for the Territory, and I congratulate the minister for Education – I presume he had a lot to do with getting it here, even though he is a fan of that other form of football – good to see him slowly changing. It is great that it has come here.
The solar city is great news for Central Australia. It really is good but I would like to see it further than just Central Australia. In her statement, the Chief Minister talked about the great record the government has on energy conservation. I must admit, I absolutely disagree with her. I go past houses in the new suburb of Farrar that have black tiled roofs. I go past units in town that are so close together you are lucky to get a breeze. I believe we have lost it when it comes to energy conservation. I would love to know the number of airconditioned buildings in Darwin over the last five or six years. I saw in town the other day – or was it written in the newspaper - about some new troppo-type design houses that do not require airconditioning. What was the cost of the houses? About $800 000 each . There has to be something wrong. Surely we can build houses for less than that which do not use airconditioners or have black roofs.
The new suburbs of Palmerston – I do not know who has made the ruling; it is something to do with covenants – have dark red, dark green, dark blue, and black roofs on houses in the tropics. If the government says it is serious about energy conservation, surely it should be looking seriously at why that is happening. All those houses will have higher temperatures, and what will they require? They will require airconditioning. What will that mean? More greenhouse gases, if that is the way we are putting things today. We are going to have to produce more power and burn up more gas to run those airconditioners. I really believe we have to look seriously at the design of houses in the Northern Territory, especially in the tropics.
The last thing, and I know the minister next to me will probably wonder what I am going to say, is about the cost of land. It is mentioned in here. I have mentioned it several times when speaking in parliament in Darwin. I believe we have to do a lot more for first homeowners. It is not about affecting the market. Many first homeowners cannot now get into the market because the HomeNorth system does not give you enough money to get into the system.
I was looking at some of the housing costs in Alice Springs. I see a new estate with 800 m blocks for about $180 000. HomeNorth goes to $260 000, that you leaves you an $80 000 house - not much to build on. They have units, but if I have a couple of kids, some of those units are very small. I really believe the government has to look at releasing Crown land and keeping some of those blocks for itself, and then releasing those blocks to bona fide first homeowners at a price which is relevant to the cost of developing the blocks. Maybe there is a small margin for profit. They should put a 10-year covenant on them, so people must build within the first two years but cannot sell for 10 years unless they sell back to the government. We can do a lot more to help young people and people on low incomes to find a place to live.
Look at the waiting time for public housing; it is about 28 months in Darwin. That means we do not have enough public housing. Look what happened to the people at Sundowner Caravan Park; they struggled to find a place to live. There is a real requirement for government to help these people and I do not think we are doing enough about it. You can do it, because we have the land, but you are not. That is something that the government should take on. They should not be talking about the market if it is something so great, because the economy is booming. That might be great, but they must not forget the young families, the low income families and the battlers, because they need help as well. That is a role of government; not just to protect the economy.
Ms LAWRIE (Planning and Lands): Mr Deputy Speaker, I commend the Chief Minister’s statement on the government’s initiatives and achievements in Central Australia. There are two things very evident from her statement: there is certainly a lot of positive activity in Alice Springs and throughout Central Australia, and the government is also implementing detailed plans to deal with some of the serious challenges facing the region. The Territory’s economy is strong and Alice Springs is a key part of that strength. The Chief Minister and other ministers have talked about our strong economic management. There are areas within my portfolios that play an important role in this strong management.
An important aspect of the economy is the property market. The property market has been very strong in the Territory in recent years and Alice Springs has not missed out. There is always much debate about the future of the property market, given its speculative nature, but the government is confident that the market will remain strong; so are several independent observers. The Housing Institute of Australia March 2007 economic report said: ‘2007 should be another great year for the Northern Territory’. Chris Anderson from Access Economics said earlier this week that: ‘The Territory’s economy is running very, very sweetly at the moment’, and ‘I actually think that housing construction in the Territory will continue at pretty solid rates’.
The median house price in Alice Springs has grown from around $200 000 four years ago to around $270 000 currently. Many regional areas of Australia have property markets currently in decline, so it is good to see Alice Springs as a regional town bucking that trend. Obviously, this strong property market is good news for home owners, but it is also good news for those looking to get into the market, as the Territory has the highest rate of first home buyers in Australia. Since July 2004, there have been 236 HomeNorth loans granted in Alice Springs, worth a combined value of $45.5m.
Appropriate land release strategies are an essential component of a property market. The wholesale release of land, as called for by the CLP, would wipe out values of current properties. A smaller city like Alice Springs would be particularly susceptible to such a market drop if too much land was released. The Martin government is managing land release in Alice Springs.
An indigenous land use agreement was signed in 2004 which cleared the way for the development of 40 residential lots at Stirling Heights and a further 39 lots on Albrecht Drive. The Stirling Heights development has been completed; 18 building permits have been issued. There are now some very fine homes in that new subdivision. The Albrecht Drive development was again passed in at auction and is now available for sale at a reserve price of $1m. Government will purchase six blocks from this development for first home buyers, and the multiple dwelling block for public housing.
The next release of land will be at Mt John Valley. Negotiations have commenced for the native title holders, and I recently received a letter from the new working executive of the Lhere Artepe agreeing to the release of land. The release will provide for around 70 pristine blocks. In the private sector there are 25 blocks available at the North Edge subdivision. Prices range from $99 000 to $152 000 and block sizes range from 422 m2 to 1790 m2. Preliminary work has commenced on a 62 lot rural subdivision on Ragonesi Road. A total of 256 lots are proposed in six stages. There is much happening with some very good land opportunities coming online.
Construction and infrastructure: last sittings, I provided a statement on the construction industry in the Territory and how simply you cannot have a strong economy without a strong construction sector. This is especially true in Alice Springs and I am glad to say that Alice Springs is certainly contributing to this very strong construction industry.
In 2005–06, the Alice Springs economy received $100m in infrastructure spending from the Martin government. This spending has created 900 jobs in the Centre. The latest construction snapshot put out by my department shows the high level of activity in Alice Springs. The value of construction projects in Alice Springs is $91.5m. This includes both government and private sector projects. Some of the higher profile projects include the Red Centre Way; Namatjira Drive; the Desert Knowledge Project; Business and Innovation Centre; Centralian College middle school project; Stuart Lodge redevelopment; Yeperenye Centre, which is both commercial and retail expansion; Imparja Television studios; Quest Apartments; and the North Edge residential development. There will be more to come in this year’s budget announcements.
Roads funding is a large part of our construction budget. This year we had the highest budget for roads ever in the Territory. At more than $130m, it is $50m more than the CLP’s 2001 roads budget. Central Australia has been a big winner. Some of the projects include the Red Centre Way, the Tanami Highway, the Outback or Plenty Highway, Lasseter Highway, Santa Teresa Road and Maryvale Road. All of these projects create jobs and help the economy of the region.
While we are talking about the Alice Springs economy it is important to set straight a few mistruths that are being spread in relation to vehicle testing in the region. The first mistruth is a notion that the police supported the application for exemptions to the speed limit. Nothing could be further from the truth. The police did not support such an exemption from our road safety laws, neither does the government. That is why, like other jurisdictions right across the country, we have decided to not allow an exemption. Any potential impact this might have on the economy of Alice Springs remains to be seen. Speed is only a very small component of the vehicle testing and Central Australia remains an ideal location for heat, dust, endurance, and other testing. Certainly the government has been approached by companies since the speed limits were introduced for them to continue testing within the road laws. Claims by the CLP that the industry will end are clearly wrong. I am advised that there are four companies testing in Alice Springs.
Members would be aware that the Commonwealth government applied for an exceptional development application for two sites in Alice Springs to develop short-term visitor accommodation facilities. Last month, as Planning minister, I approved the Commonwealth’s applications because the government believes that the provision of short-term visitor accommodation is an essential component of the town camp strategy and will help alleviate some of the social problems occurring in Alice Springs. The government is very aware of the concerns of the community over the Commonwealth government’s development of these facilities. That is why we only approved their application on the condition that a very stringent management plan is put in place. This management plan will help ensure that nearby residences and businesses are not adversely affected.
The CLP in-fighting over this issue has been quite incredible. In the Centralian Advocate the member for Greatorex said: ‘I’m all for it’. The CLP Senator, Nigel Scullion, described the decision as ‘fantastic’, and yet the Leader of the Opposition called the decision ‘an act of bastardry’. One thing is very clear: if the CLP had been managing this issue, then $70m would not be injected into the Alice Springs economy and the town camps would not need fixing.
The government was very aware of potential sacred site considerations at the Dalgety Road site. That is why, as part of the approval, we have included the condition that the development must comply with an authority certificate.
Earlier this week, I provided a report on the work the government, police and youth service providers are undertaking to address the unacceptable number and ages of children on the streets of Alice Springs at night. The After Hours Youth Strategy is working to address this issue. The member for Greatorex responded to the report and failed to mention one single thing that the CLP would do to address this critical issue. It shows that they are lazy, have no policies, and have no plans. They simply whinge and whine from the sidelines.
The member for Greatorex went further in claiming there were no youth programs - further evidence that he is out of touch. Some of the youth services that government funds include: the Alice Springs Youth Accommodation and Support Services, $909 000 for crisis and medium-term accommodation; Anglicare, $576 000 for supported accommodation; the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, $255 000 for the after-hours service formerly called the YDIC; and Tangentyere Council, $1.53m for the Safer Families program. The fact that the member for Greatorex claimed in parliament on Tuesday that he did not know of any of these programs shows he is even more out of touch than I thought. I had a meeting with the youth services sector that evening, and I had to apologise to them for his ignorance. It was quite extraordinary.
Cool Mob do a fantastic job in diversionary youth focus programs. I congratulate Cool Mob, which is based out at DASA. They are fantastic in their diversionary programs.
The Chief Minister has talked extensively about the work that the government is doing to address the problems in Alice Springs that are related to alcohol. The government has a whole-of-government approach to dealing with problems caused by alcohol. These problems underpin our social problems in Central Australia.
Other ministers have talked about the work that they and their respective agencies are undertaking as part of the government’s alcohol management plan. There have been some very good early results: an 11% reduction in sales; and the number of people being taken into custody has been cut in half.
As Minister for Family and Community Services, my responsibility relates to treatment and rehabilitation. We have increased the Alcohol and Other Drugs budget by 80% since we came to government, up from $11.5m in 2001 to more than $20m this year, which is more than an 80% increase.
Treatment services are provided through Alcohol and Other Drugs Services administered or provided through the department, and if you had listened to the member for Nelson’s earlier speech, you would have thought we were doing none of this. However, for his information, I will take him through some of the services that we fund in Alice Springs: Tangentyere Council, $473 000 for remote area Night Patrol and community Day Patrol; Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programs Unit, fondly known as CAAAPU, $413 000 for outreach referral and a 20-bed residential treatment centre; Congress, $250 000 for youth programs; DASA, $1.4m and 40 beds for residential rehab, withdrawal, counselling, sobering-up shelter and that Deadly Bush Mob program which is fantastic, they do a great outreach program; Holyoake, $219 000 for non-residential assessment, counselling and community education; and Alcohol and Other Drug Services Central Australia, $1.1m for specialist medical withdrawal.
At the last sitting of parliament in Alice Springs two years ago, the government was outlining the volatile substance abuse legislation that was about to be introduced to parliament. We had also just announced $10m towards treatment services for petrol sniffers. At the same time, the roll-out of Opal by the Commonwealth government was only just beginning.
Two years later, and much has happened. Tragically, petrol sniffing is still occurring, but there has been an overall reduction across Central Australia. Since the introduction of our legislation and the roll-out of Opal, several communities that have been prone to the problems of sniffing for decades have largely become sniffing-free. It is a credit to those communities. Some other communities, sadly, have not seen the same improvements and we will continue to work with them to ensure that everything possible is done to help them achieve this.
One community that has seen some big improvements is Papunya. The local member for Macdonnell has worked hard with this community and they have been very successful. A community management plan for Papunya comes into effect on 1 May. This will be the first community management plan under the VSA legislation. It will be the first of many, as there are dozens in the process of being developed and implemented over the coming months. I congratulate the member for Macdonnell and the community president, Syd Anderson, and the community of Papunya for the work that they have undertaken in developing this plan and in working so hard to curb the scourge of petrol sniffing.
Tragically, deaths are still occurring, and we must continue our efforts. However, it is clear that we are on the right track. I thank the frontline workers from organisations like CAYLUS and NPY, who get out there and work with the communities to ensure that support and the care of sniffers and the former sniffers is being provided in the communities. There is no doubt that we have not wiped out sniffing in Central Australia; however, when you compare now to where we were two years ago, it seems as if we have come light years. It has been a phenomenal effort right across Central Australia, from those frontline workers and the agencies, including agencies within government and non-government organisations and, importantly, the work in the communities to get the results we have seen today.
One thing is certain, though, if the CLP approach to petrol sniffing had been implemented, then things would not have improved. They would have become worse. Two years ago, the CLP demanded that the government immediately cancel the $10m for treatment, and they spoke out loudly against the roll-out of Opal. I go to some of the quotes from the CLP in the Parliamentary Record from that time: ‘$10m for petrol sniffers, that is not a good priority’; ‘$10m to address petrol sniffing problems is a dumb way to spend money’; ‘The idea that Australians have to power their vehicles with a different fuel because some people chose to inappropriately use it to their own detriment and the detriment of their communities is crazy thinking’. Sadly, two years later, nothing seems to have changed. The lazy CLP still has no policies and no commitment to addressing this issue - absolutely no policies.
Regarding child protection, Central Australia has been in the national spotlight in recent times regarding concerns facing our indigenous communities and the care of children ...
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr Mills: I know what is going on, on your side.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Picking up on the interjection there, Mr Deputy Speaker, it appears there is a push on in the CLP, there will be a leadership change next week.
The Chief Minister’s inquiry into child abuse in the Territory is designed to lift the veil of secrecy that exists in our communities. I congratulate the Chief Minister for her inquiry and look forward to the recommendations coming down from the eminent people who are running that inquiry, Rex Wild QC and Pat Anderson. I have every confidence in the recommendations that will be coming forward. As Minister for Family and Community Services, I look forward to working with the government to respond appropriately to any recommendations that they make.
In child protection in Alice Springs, I congratulate first and foremost those frontline child protection workers in Alice Springs. They do an incredibly difficult job. We have doubled the notifications coming into our system and doubled the number of children in out-of-home care; that is, children we have removed from their families. That is an enormous workload increase on child protection workers. We have not done that without putting in additional resources. We have additional resources. In Alice Springs alone, for example, we have 21 additional staff in child protection workers. They cannot work on their own. They work very closely with non-government organisations such as Congress, Tangentyere, Waltja, ASYASS, and NPY. There is a collection of significant agencies under the umbrella of the child welfare coalition. I have met with them on a number of occasions, and they are now working very closely with Family and Community Services staff.
I thank the work of particularly Penny Fielding and Julianne Donnelly who have carried out a very difficult task in pulling together a sector which was, at times, mistrustful of an agency that was going through tremendous reforms from 2003 onwards - at the same time confronted with an avalanche of child protection notifications coming in through the door. The work done by the staff at all levels of FACS, as well as the non-government organisations, has been outstanding in Central Australia. I also acknowledge that, without the cooperation of those non-government organisations, we would not have the degree of tight case management that we see today in the welfare system. It is that case management that is starting to bring dividends in how we are able to care for the children in a comprehensive way: the changes in the protocols between the government agency and the non-government sector; the additional resources that have been put in by government to deal with the increasing demands and workload in this area; and, increasingly, the complex nature of cases that are coming before us. We now have specialist teams in place and we are always trying to recruit foster carers, particularly indigenous foster carers.
I also thank the police. The police have joined forces with the FACS workers within the agency. They have what we call CAT Force which is the child abuse task force. It is quite an innovative approach in terms of the Australian response to child abuse. CAT Force exists in the Territory. It is relatively new and has been running for some month now. Early results are extremely promising. Where we have notifications of abuse, the combined investigative powers and skills of both the police, as well as the expertise …
Mr WARREN: Mr Deputy Speaker, I move an extension of time to allow the member for Karama to continue her remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.
Motion agreed to.
Mr Mills: No, because of the offensive comments earlier …
Ms LAWRIE: You are gagging me?
Mrs Braham: I think the ayes have it.
Mr Mills: The ayes do have it, but …
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: But there is a no against it. Sorry.
Ms LAWRIE: The member for Blain does not want to hear about the work of the CAT Force. It is quite astounding …
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Mr Deputy Speaker, I move that so much of standing orders be suspended as would allow …
Mrs Braham: No, no it was a motion; it was not a …
Mr STIRLING: No, I am moving a motion to suspend so much of standing orders as would allow the member for Karama to finish her remarks.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: One moment, I will seek clarification. The Treasurer has moved a motion.
Motion agreed to.
Ms LAWRIE: Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the Deputy Chief Minister and the Chamber. As I was saying, the combined investigative skills and powers of the police, as well as the inquiry skills of the child protection workers - and we put our top workers into CAT Force - in child protection has reaped dividends already. Where we have abuse notifications we are now, for the first time in many years, getting very quick results with charges being laid. That is good news to anyone who wants to send a very clear message out there to the community that no one will tolerate the abuse of our children. I thank those frontline workers in both police and FACS who formed CAT Force. It is probably the most unpleasant task that any government employee has to encounter.
Regarding Multicultural Affairs, the last portfolio responsibility that I carry, Alice Springs has had a rich multicultural history ever since the original Afghan camel herders arrived, and the German missionaries set up at Hermannsburg in the 19th century. This has continued ever since and, nowadays, we have about one in five Alice Springs residents born overseas. The government supports multicultural community in Alice Springs and provides a range of grants to organisations to help them to undertake specific projects and share their culture.
Just this financial year, a total of $128 000 has been provided for Alice Springs-based projects and initiatives. The government provides operational funding to the multicultural community services of Central Australia. I thank Michelle Castagna and her team. We have significantly increased this amount from $34 000 in 2002 to $56 500 this financial year.
Alice Springs has achieved a very high level of skilled migration in the last few years. Since 2003, 280 skilled migrants have come to Alice and have seamlessly integrated into the community. Skilled workers in Alice Springs have come from countries like the Philippines, South Africa, India, the United Kingdom, Fiji and Thailand. They are working in the trades, health, hospitality, tourism and general business sectors.
It is great to see the number of groups actively involved in Harmony Day activities during the month of March. This year, schools such as Sadadeen Primary, St Philip’s College, as well as groups like the Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia and Incite Youth Arts undertook Harmony Day-related activities with sponsorship from the government. I understand the Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia activity was very well attended with about 400 people from a very wide variety of cultural groups.
As well as sponsoring multicultural initiatives in Alice it is important to mention that Eric Sultan was recently recognised for his contribution to multiculturalism with the Charles See Kee Award, our highest award. Eric is a descendant of one of the first Afghan camel train drivers in Central Australia. He has been a very important part of establishing and promoting the Islamic faith in Alice Springs, as well as the contribution of the Afghans in this region. Eric was instrumental in the establishment of the Alice Springs Mosque and has worked tirelessly to share the Afghan culture and the Islamic faith.
The government will continue to support the multicultural community of Alice Springs as we continue to watch them make such a wonderful contribution to the town.
Mr Deputy Speaker, as Minister for Planning, Infrastructure, Family and Community Services, and Multicultural Affairs I commend the Chief Minister’s statement. I pledge to continue to work with the Alice Springs community across its diversity to tackle the challenges that Central Australia faces.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Mr Deputy Speaker, I did not intend to speak today, but I was stirred into action by the Minister for Planning and Lands and some of the things she had to say. The Chief Minister’s statement does list all the good things, and yes, it is great that those things are happening. However, the statement is deficient in many areas and it is what is not said that is important.
I need to correct the minister who said that she would not allow permits for the testing of cars at higher speed limits than we have. A media release has been issued by Test-Trak; they were completely gob smacked by the attitude of this government. The government did not even consult with the industry before making the decision ...
Ms Lawrie: The Chamber of Commerce ….
Mrs BRAHAM: That is not the car testing industry, minister, I am sorry. Alice Springs businesses stand to lose an industry worth millions of dollars after this minister refused a request to implement a permit system for car testing in Central Australia. The tests are not racing cars; they are not acting as hoons on our roads. They are done under strictly controlled conditions with highly-trained and qualified drivers and over relatively short distances. These tests are conducted for the safety of the people involved under the OH&S policies of some of the world’s most respected companies.
This industry has been in Central Australia for 40 years. Never once in those 40 years has there been a safety incident arising from these tests. What does that tell you? It tells you that we have a highly professional group of people coming to Central Australia to do testing in conditions that suit them. With just one stroke of a pen this minister has wiped that all out. The industry attracts many benefits for Central Australia as well as for the car companies themselves. They recognise that. As Test-Trak says, the industry had not been consulted before the introduction of the Territory’s new speed limits which meant that many companies did not allow time to modify their testing plans, especially overseas companies which ship cars to Australia to test. The industry has always maintained strict controls over testing; only a small proportion of the testing involves high speeds.
Mr Gould from Test-Trak said he had met with government, tourism and business groups in Darwin and Alice Springs, and met with widespread support:
As I said, they often bring their cars from overseas. Most rearranged their testing to do speed tests before the new speed limits took effect and that is why they are still here. Car companies are now exploring other options for testing elsewhere in Australia or overseas.
We get all this hype: ‘We are promoting Alice Springs, we are trying to encourage economic development, and Alice is a great place’ but, just by that stupid decision they have wiped out an industry that has been going for 40 years. I do not think government ministers had full details when they made that decision. I suggest that government ministers go back and rethink this ...
Mr Vatskalis interjecting.
Mrs BRAHAM: Because what are you going to do, Minister for Sport and Recreation? Are you going to allow the Finke Desert Race participants to go over the speed limit? Are you going to allow that, Minister for Sport and Recreation? Are you going to allow those participants to go over 130 km/h or will they have to stick to it? These participants are on a major road and you are going to allow them to break the speed limit. The irony of this government is amazing. The fact that they say to an industry worth millions of dollars to the Centre: ‘No, you cannot go over 130 km/h ...
Mr Stirling: Where is the evidence it is millions of dollars? That is what we asked for. We are unable to get it …
Mrs BRAHAM: No, you are wrong, minister. Perhaps you asked the wrong people. It is all there.
Mr Stirling: … provide the evidence.
Mrs BRAHAM: You did not go to the right people. So now we have perhaps the Finke Desert Race in jeopardy, do we? Are we going to have problems with them going over 130 km/h an hour? Come on! If you can give them permits to do that, then you could have given the car testing companies permits to do it. Read the letter that was sent to the minister, might I add, from Test-Trak with all the information that the Treasurer said he did not have. Go and read that.
The Chief Minister in her statement, and the minister who spoke before me, talked about land being open for Alice Springs. Wow! We just had Stirling Heights and we have Mt John. A block of land at Stirling Heights of 800 m - guess how much? $187 000. Here is another one - $165 000. That really helps people in Alice Springs, doesn’t it? It really helps first home buyers; all these people we keep saying should buy their own homes. The price of land is ridiculous. Government is not providing us with land at a reasonable price. I say to the minister: have a look at the local real estate figures, have a look at what is on sale at the moment and tell me it is a good thing that you are now opening up land at Larapinta at $180 000 a block, or at Mt John, which will probably be $280 000 a block.
That is the situation we are caught in. That is where we are stuck and we cannot afford that sort of money just for a block of land and then get our young people to build a home as well. No wonder people are leaving Alice Springs. Who can afford to build and buy at that rate? That is what the Chief Minister did not say in her statement.
I also want to raise with the Minister for Sport and Recreation, now that I have caught his eye: can you give reassurance to the sporting bodies of Alice Springs regarding the decision to move the Alice Springs Masters Games event away from the local organisers and voluntary committees to Major Events Company Pty Ltd? It is a proprietary limited company. Will you guarantee that local sporting associations will not be financially disadvantaged with the transfer of this fantastic event to Major Events Company? Under what guidelines did you make that decision? Will the financial arrangements, which have happened at each Masters Games since 1986, continue? Are you aware that, since 1986, sporting organisations get a portion of each competitor’s entry fees of their sport, and that helps pay them to conduct the games at their respective sporting venues?
I would like to know the answer to those questions, and I raise them now. If I get the chance to ask more than one question, I will certainly ask you that. There is great concern in this town that the Masters Games will be taken over by Major Events, a company that does not have a great deal of regard in this town because of some of the things that have happened in the past. I say to you: you do not want to lose your volunteers; you do not want to lose your local sporting bodies by this move. Give me some guarantee that they are not going to be disadvantaged in any way because of that decision. Perhaps you can justify for me just why that decision was made. I think it is crazy.
I do not see why the Department of Sport and Recreation could not have kept it on. I always thought they did a very good job, and I am quite sure the people in Sport and Recreation were also proud of the job they did. There was certainly a great cooperation between the community and the department. Perhaps you can tell me why that is?
I hope the Minister for Planning and Lands listened to the rally at lunchtime. We did try to present it in way that said: ‘We are concerned citizens’. We did not get out there and make abusive remarks, and yell and scream, except when she made that terrible silly statement of sexual abuse of young children. That was not what we were discussing, and that was really not a very good thing to open up at a rally like that. Some of those people went away from that rally to speak to the minister concerned, and they will be coming back to us. I know the minister has said she would take on board some of their concerns and take it to Cabinet again. If the Chief Minister is sincere in what she says in this statement, by ensuring Alice Springs is a safe place, that there is community harmony and community commitment, then she will listen to those residents because they have raised genuine concerns.
I do not intend to dwell on it for long, but I am quite sure every member in this House heard the custodians, briefly, and felt for them, for the quandary they are in and the position they are placed in. I believe you saw the elderly people from the Old Timers, and I am quite sure you heard the residents from Dalgety Road. Might I say, and I will be a bit political here, that I thought it was ironic that the Leader of the Opposition, suddenly, when this became a public issue, decided that she would support the people against the dongas, although her member for Greatorex, her deputy, had already come out strongly in favour of the dongas, had gone to the local meeting and spoke in front of the Old Timers and said he would support the dongas development being built out at the Tyeweretye Club. I believe he also even put in a submission to the DCA.
It is fairly sad that now the Leader of the Opposition does not even have the member for Greatorex to apologise to the people. She has not condemned him for what he has said. She has just jumped on the bandwagon and kept going with it. If you talk to those Old Timers out there, sorry, member for Greatorex, you have lost a lot of votes, and their faith in you has gone, because you have not retracted those words and you have not sorted it out with your Leader of the Opposition. I met with the Northside Action Group and, as we have said, we will try to keep it bipartisan. I do not want the people out there to be fooled and to be kidded by what is going on. If the Leader of the Opposition was really sincere in what she was talking about, then she would have condemned the member for Greatorex and made him retract those words.
The Chief Minister also talked about grog restrictions and the need for a safer community. If you talk to people, the North Side in particular has suffered most of all through this change in grog restrictions. From a peaceful, harmonious little shopping centre, we have now become the battle ground. It is opposite Hoppy’s Camp, which is probably one of the worse camps in town. Why on earth we do not close it down I will never know. We need to see what is happening. I have parents out there saying they are starting to feel that they cannot send their kids to the shops after school because of the loitering of the drunks around that area. Too many things are happening in that particular precinct. Although I know the police and security are good, as soon as they go, the drunks roll in again. Unfortunately, grog restrictions have not helped. They may have lowered something – I am not quite sure – but they have raised the community’s distress, the level of insecurity, and lack of safety. Quite frankly, before it goes on much longer we need to get rid of them.
We need to open the takeaway shops, if we must have them, at 10 am in the morning, and close them earlier. Do not let them buy their casks at 6 pm to get drunk at night, and then go and bang on the doors of people like the member for Macdonnell seeking refuge late at night. We do not need that. If we are going to have any sense in grog restrictions, then start thinking about the people who have to live with it, and who have to put up with the consequences. Let us stop continually putting bandaids and hoping we are fixing it. Of course, we have gone into the area of let Aboriginal people drink or do not let them drink; let them spend their Centrelink payments, or do not let them spend it by giving them vouchers. Let us make some strong decisions.
If we are going to say: ‘Yes, you can drink’, then at least let us do it in a controlled manner, and stop the abuse that is happening, and the distress that is happening out there in the suburbs. For goodness sake, for their own humanity and survival stop Aboriginal people from killing, bashing and hurting each other. It is not just the rest of the community that is suffering; they are suffering as well. I am sure the member for Macdonnell will agree with me on that.
The Chief Minister also did not mention – and I have mentioned it before - the remand centre. We have a holding centre here that is only meant to hold people for a few days. We do not want our juveniles going to Don Dale. They come back worse than when they went away. Government, if you want to do something for us and get a plus, set up a juvenile detention centre out at Owen Springs. You own Owen Springs. Set up a wilderness program similar to what you had at Wildman River. Let them get out there in the MacDonnell Ranges, clean up the place, plant more trees, clean up the rubbish, do all the things necessary to make that MacDonnell Range park pristine again. There is plenty they could do that would keep them out of mischief. perhaps change their attitude so that when they come back into town they might have a different focus on life. Remember they can be held, I think, for 28 days on remand. Twenty of those days out there in the wilderness, doing it a bit hard and a bit physical, with good help at night to understand what is happening, is not a bad way to go before they get into court. If they have done that successfully, then the magistrate has good reason to say: ‘Okay, you are on the way, this is what you should do’. The diversionary programs we have at the moment do not really work. We need to get something a bit stronger and a bit longer. Chief Minister, when you reply tell me whether you think it would be a good idea to have some sort of detention centre here in Alice Springs. The little holding bay we have at Aranda House is just not sufficient.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I could go on and on, as all of us could, about Alice Springs. I have said enough times that I love this place; it is a great town. There is much to be done. There are really good things happening, and I have mentioned some. However, there are some bad things happening and it is the bad things that we have to modify. It is the bad things that need tough decisions.
I noticed the Chief Minister did not mention once the problem for people on communities. Where is her plan for improving community life out there in the bush? Where is her plan for making sure the facilities out there are such that those people love their homes? There is not one mention in that statement about what government is going to do about the communities in the Central Australia. I would have thought that was a fairly important part of any government which is looking at the Centre and a solution to the problems. It is almost as though they do not exist in this statement. It is almost as though they do not have any influence on Alice Springs – and that is crazy. It is almost as though they do not know where Alice Springs is. You need to formulate a plan; you need to look at how you can foster employment, education, sport and recreation. All those things that make little towns so successful in any part of Australia.
Little towns are good because they gel together and they pull together. Many of our communities are pulling themselves apart. I ask government: why have not you mentioned them in this statement? I say to the Chief Minister: you have forgotten one of the most important elements of Central Australia, and they are the people living in the remote areas. I hope when I hear the members for Macdonnell and Stuart speak, that they have some plans written into their speech to show us that they are thinking of their people and they will plan for them as well.
Mr WARREN (Goyder): Mr Deputy Speaker, I am very pleased to speak in support of the Chief Minister’s statement on Central Australia. I had not been going to speak, but one thing that has really struck me since I have been here - and I have been very encouraged to meet the local people, they have been really great and it has been a really good time to come down here – and really saddened me, and I find it very depressing, is the way the local members, other than the three Centralian members on our side of the House, are talking down Alice Springs, and talking down Central Australia.
Member for Braitling, you just made a very depressing speech. I was not going to speak until I heard you speak. It was a very depressing talk and, really disappointing. I will be quite honest with you. You are an Independent, member for Braitling. When the member for Nelson comes out to speak on behalf of the rural electorate, like I do, he is upbeat about it. The member for Blain knows that. He knows that we are very proud to be rural members. We are always upbeat about it. I come here and all I am hearing is a lot of negatives about Alice Springs. This is a great place. This is an absolutely fantastic place. I have met the local people and have nothing but pride for my fellow Territorians in Central Australia. They are a great bunch of people.
I take up one point that the member for Braitling raised, and it might also have been the member for Greatorex but I will not categorically say it was him. Certainly someone on the opposition bench spoke about people leaving town. This place does not look exactly deserted to me - it really does not. The economy is going along quite well. It looks pretty upbeat to me. Let us take up on that point, because I am only a person who has three degrees, one of them being a Masters Degree in Economics, so I guess I am speaking from maybe an ill-informed point of view. My understanding is that if house prices are going up - which they are, because I checked them. I believe it is a great place to invest here, but if house prices are going up, then supply and demand says that there cannot be people leaving in droves from the place. There must be more people coming in, because supply and demand basically tells you that prices go up because people are buying. If people were leaving town, the prices would be going down but they are not. They are going gangbusters here and that is great for this economy.
I am really pleased when I get around with the members for Barkly, Macdonnell and Stuart to hear the way they are upbeat about the economy in this part of the Territory, which I am also very proud of. It is great being here. I am really proud of Central Australians. I urge you to be a bit more upbeat about it. The member for Braitling is generally pretty upbeat, but do you have different water over there or something? I do not know.
I have been coming here for nearly 30 years and I have seen this place grow. I am a proud Territorian and I am proud of Alice Springs as much as I am of the rest of the Territory. I came here in the early days, and that was when even the CLP was young and innovative and had a bit of zest and things were happening. There was a lot of federal money around as well. Of course, it was federal Labor. That is fine because Labor governments are about social issues. There were a whole lot of things happening. The people are still here and they are fine, but it is lacklustre support that they are getting from the opposition and, unfortunately, from the local Independent and that is a bit sad.
I will tell you about some good times that I have had here ...
Mr Kiely: This is being recorded.
Mr WARREN: I have nothing to be ashamed of, in anything I have done here. This is a great place.
Prior to entering politics, I was a consultant geological engineer for many years ...
Mr Mills interjecting.
Mr WARREN: Yes, I am very proud, member for Blain, to be part of building of the Territory, and that is the Alice Springs to Darwin railway. I was the geological engineer for that project, which was a great project and big part of it was down here. I met some really good people while I was here.
What you have to understand is that you talk it down, but you had an iconic project that started here and was moving north. This is where it all started. This was a vision that had been around for over 100 years, and your government started that and then you were suddenly bagging everything and bagging the place.
We picked up the baton and we ran with it. It was a great project. Tim Fischer, the Deputy Prime Minister at the time, said it was the new Snowy. That is what he called it, and it was. It was a great project. There was a lot of employment out there; many things were happening because of that project and it was a major employer. It provided a major monetary injection into the local economy.
It was at a time when we had just come to power, and it was a great fillip for the whole economy down here, but had it not been for the drive of the people on our side of politics to continue that, it would have faltered. The opposition was clearly out of steam, but we picked it up and ran with it. It was the Labor government that delivered that start-up for the economy down here and it has continued to this day.
We have transferred the economic benefits out of that, as a good Labor government should, into social reforms for the whole of the Territory, but particularly here. It shows when you meet the average people out in the street. There are a few people who hang around the CLP who are a bit negative, but these are not the people we are meeting.
As part of that project, the manpower resources ranged from small townships that picked up work and a lot of people from outside the Territory who learned to appreciate the Territory. The little townships were fed by the economy from down here; local contractors and businesses coming and going all the time and servicing those mobile townships and construction camps. It was really fabulous and there was a real spirit and buoyancy down here.
I first came here for the drilling of the bridges and culverts and, being the geological engineer, I had to do all the preliminary foundation work. The welcoming nature of the people down here was really great and they were really keen to see the benefits of this project. So we had these mobile townships out there and they were really going gangbusters and the economy was booming. It was really great. I spent a lot of time on the earthworks here. I was going up and down the railway. Most of my time was in the area between Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. I got to meet a lot of the roadhouse people along the road, very nice long-term Territorians, and it was really great.
We have had a significant project here. We had the earthworks going on to start with, and that went on for 18 months, almost two years before the actual ballast and rail construction started. We had the bridges and the culverts. In fact, I was heavily involved in the construction of a major cutting on the outside of town here, as I was involved in all the big cuttings along the railway route. I can recall the days of guys sitting down and the banter we had over whether the batter slopes were at the right angles and different things.
These are important stories and it is a pity the opposition members are walking out on this very important story. They will learn a bit about the history of Alice Springs, unfortunately from a northerner, but if they open their eyes they would see it as well.
Anyway, to listen to the banter that went on with the local people getting involved, and also the whole engagement of the community, it was really vibrant. I remember we were working the batter angles out, and we had a bit of back blast at one time. We had to actually widen the cuts, and that really made the cutting safer. No one really appreciated it at the time but they made them safer. There was a whole logistical support that went into this project that I really want to come back to, and that is from the township here and the input from the local contractors and businesses. You can only bring so much from outside; you cannot continue to bring things from outside. You really have to rely on the local community, and they really lifted their game to ensure that they were part of that major project.
I am also indebted and grateful to the principal contractors who actually undertook to engage indigenous employment and training programs as part of that project. Originally, the target was 10%, but it actually grew to about 20%, particularly in the construction of the ballasting and rail construction.
I will side track for a minute, because I remember, after the end of the project, going off to Perth and meeting some of the guys that I had worked with up here. I was very proud to see some of the local indigenous people from the country who had actually continued on and gained skills from that particular project, and that was really great.
Iconic projects like this - and the Labor government is the one that has really carried these through in a strong way - have delivered to the whole of the Territory. Also, of course, down here because this is a very important part of the Territory, as I said - unlike the opposition who seem to want to talk this place down.
Whilst the railway construction is one of the most significant projects to occur in Central Australia, it is by no means the only one. We have had significant mining projects here, road construction over the years, and things like that. Many were funded under the Hawke and Keating years of the Labor government and there was federal monies coming in, so it is good to see that even though we have had to struggle for whatever dollars we get out of the feds, this Labor government is prepared to carry those things on.
When you guys are talking down this place, please think of the people out there who are not talking it down. The opposition is not in touch with the local community, because I am hearing two stories. I am hearing a fairly uplifting, very proud story of local businesses and local people, and a somewhat depressing, negative slant on things by the opposition.
There is another thing I wanted to talk about while I was here, and this is an uplifting story. I had the opportunity last year when I was here to walk the Larapinta Trail. I am a very keen and avid bushwalker when I get the time - you would not think so to look at my shape - but I do actually get stuck into it now and then, and I do lose a lot of weight but it is not the reason I do it. The reason I do it is because I enjoy doing it, and I enjoy doing it in very spectacular, brilliant and amazing, visually enhancing parts of Australia particularly. I have walked the Bibbulmun Track, that is 1000 km, and that took me 49 days, or 7 weeks. It took me 15 days to walk the Larapinta Trail, and that was 15 days of absolute brilliance. It was really great. I was meeting people; many tourists who had nothing but praise about the Central Australian experience, and the good people that they met here, and they way they had been treated well by local people.
This is a tribute to the government now, which has invested quite a considerable amount of money into that trail. There is water every day. You get up and you walk. I know with a pack it is hard, but that is what the whole experience is about. It is not just about getting out there and walking along a flat bit of ground; it is about getting up into the high country at different times and having a look at the whole perspective of the land. Let me tell you, when you are looking at the sunset and the hues and different colours bouncing off the rocks in Central Australia, every five minutes the scenery changes and it is very spectacular. I am very proud that we have such an iconic trail as part of our tourist attractions in the Northern Territory.
When I spoke to hikers out there they told me that this was one of the top 10 hiking walks of the world. These are people from all over the world who were telling me this. Let us not underrate the potential that we have here in things like the Larapinta Trail because it is great. Just even going outside to look out at the hills you get a perspective on the Larapinta Trail and the offerings of Central Australia. It is great.
I would just like to talk a little more about some of the things I have experienced down here. Whilst this is very much an important aspect for the Alice Springs Labor members - and they have done a really fantastic job, and are great ambassadors, I might add, for the area - also the ministers have some important points to make. It is not often that someone like me, as a backbencher, is able to talk on things that are of value in Central Australia. Therefore, what I have been doing is meeting some of the students. The Education minister should be very proud of the bright, cheerful, upbeat ways of the students who are coming in. They are very excited. They are spending some time here. This is a fairly important thing for them, and it is great for them to engage. This government has spent a lot of money and effort in engaging kids in the whole concept of understanding what parliament is about. It is not just in Darwin, it is down here as well. It is also the students, member for Braitling, who are engaged and uplifting around here. You have a good bunch of students down here.
I was also very pleased last night to attend a ceremony with the Education minister where - I think it was about 25 to 30 - senior teachers who had been teaching for at least 25 years received recognition that the minister had prompted - very much so. This is the sort of thing that this government does. We are socially aware - recognising the great value and the effort of the unsung heroes of our professions like the teachers. They should be recognised and that is really important. Often, we go through life and we are not recognised for the value that we input into life. The teachers here are the same as Territorians everywhere. Territorians everywhere are the same. They are upbeat, so …
A member interjecting.
Mr WARREN: I am sorry, I do not pad. I speak to the fact. You want me to get downbeat and speak downbeat like the opposition? No, I will not do that. I refuse to downplay the Alice Springs area.
I just really wanted to stress that this government is uplifting. It is about taking up the challenge and the economy. We are proud of the economy we have here. We are proud on our side of the House. I urge the members on the other side of the House, particularly the Alice Springs members, to not get dragged into this downward spiral of negativity. Just acknowledge that the economy is going very well. Just acknowledge it and play off that. Swing off that and put your bid in for things in the area down here, just like the three local Centralian members who have been very strong advocates for this area here. Get in there and put a bid in for the projects that you need here. Do not sit back and carp and whinge and downplay the whole area. It is not like that.
Alice Springs is a great place, it is a great part of the Territory. I am very proud …
Mrs Braham: What a shame you are not in Cabinet.
Mr WARREN: I am just happy to be able to speak upbeat about Alice Springs. That is cheer enough for me. I would rather be here than sitting over that side and hearing all the depressing - it must be really depressing.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I will conclude my statement and congratulate the Chief Minister on such a fine and uplifting speech on the benefits and the whole uplifting atmosphere of Central Australia. I am proud to be a Territorian member of parliament. I am proud to be speaking in this part of the world, because it really is very, very important for us all.
Mr BONSON (Millner): Mr Deputy Speaker, I was inspired by the member for Goyder. We have heard a lot of negativity over the last day-and-a-half. This man has three degrees, geo-engineering etcetera. If we have a look at the qualifications around this building, out of the 25 members he is arguably the most qualified individual in this House in work experience, educational background and general life experience. That is actually not a criticism of other members. It is just putting this person and the inspirational speech he just gave in context.
I am going to talk about a couple of things. Like the member for Goyder, I was not going to speak on this matter, but I have decided after listening to the doom and the gloom of the member for Braitling’s contribution. I was also here two years ago when I was inspired by the member for Braitling’s attempt to fight off the negativity brought down by the CLP. Unfortunately, this time, the member for Braitling did take a negative context in her speech about some of the issues. This is in contrast to what happened two years ago. I will not spend too long on it because we saw a conservative attempt, I suppose, every time we have brought the Assembly to Central Australia to create a negative feeling towards the NT government.
As we know, there is an historical relationship between Alice Springs and Darwin. Unfortunately, over a period of time, there is a perception of the Berrimah Line. What we have heard over the last three days is a positive contribution by the NT government on what we do in the Northern Territory.
We spend $3.2bn every year in the Northern Territory. For some unknown reason, apparently that $3.2bn is somehow concentrated in the 20 km area of Darwin. I reject that and I reject that for all the members of government. We have three of the best Central Australian representatives the Northern Territory government has ever had. That is not a criticism of the member for Braitling. She does a wonderful job advocating on behalf of the Central Australians. The members for Macdonnell, Stuart and Barkly have, in private meetings away from the media, away from the general public, often spoken at great lengths about the needs of Central Australians, both in Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, and the remote and rural areas of these two great towns.
Historically, the Labor Party has shown with members like Neil Bell, the former member for Macdonnell, and Peter Toyne, the former member for Stuart, that it has produced great advocates for positive change in the Northern Territory for Central Australians. Unfortunately, I cannot say that about the CLP. I listened to some of the comments made in the last hour about the positive and negative contributions of all members. What came to the fore was that every member in this House, except for two, made positive contributions about their electorates. The two members, of course, are the members for Greatorex and Araluen, and it is solely based on political pursuit of power.
Every member of the government talks positively about their electorates and the good things that are happening. The Independent members, the members for Braitling and Nelson, consistently talk about positive things. The member for Nelson is not a member of this government, yet every time he speaks about the issues in Nelson, he does it in a positive light. He makes positive contributions. I understand, through the budget process, that he has even made budget bids. That is how positive he is towards the general feeling in the seat of Nelson.
Yet, we have the members for Greatorex and Araluen constantly talking about negative things happening in Alice Springs. The member for Katherine makes contributions as well and very rarely if at all, would she make a negative contribution about her seat. The member for Blain makes contributions and very rarely does he make negative contributions about the seat of Blain. Yet we have two members, the members for Araluen and Greatorex, who, for political purposes - and we know they cannot sit in the same room together or talk together, and I believe the member for Greatorex should be seriously looking at a leadership challenge, but that is only my opinion …
Mr Stirling: Yes, well keep it to yourself.
Mr BONSON: Keep it to myself? Okay. The point is that we have an opportunity here to sell a positive message. What is government’s role? Government’s role is pretty simple. Every government, whether they are federal or state or territory, has specific roles such as providing eduction and health care for its citizens, providing safety through police and fire and emergency services, etcetera; fundamental foundations of the role of government.
One of the other roles of government is to develop a strong economy. What we have seen under the Deputy Chief Minister, the member for Nhulunbuy, the Treasurer, for the last six years of a Territory Labor government, for the first time, is a very positive tax regime for small businesses, a very competitive housing regime, and very competitive stamp duty. We are, and I stand to be corrected, Treasurer, the lowest taxing small business government in Australia.
Mr Stirling: Yes.
Mr BONSON: This gives people the opportunity to create wealth. Every member on the government side talks positively about the economy in terms of small business, tourism and mining. What we have seen in Darwin is the creation of the feeling that it is good to invest in your house, it is good to buy a property, to go to the shop to spend money on household goods. This has created a feeling of wealth creation. We have seen this mostly in the house prices boom for home ownership in Darwin.
It was interesting to listen to the member for Karama, in her ministerial capacity, talk about the growth of Alice Springs housing. We have the claims that everyone is leaving Alice Springs. The reality is in the Territory from one election to the next, we have a 40% turnover. That is an historical fact due to many factors with people coming here for work or business opportunities, but for a number of different reasons, in Katherine, Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek deciding that because of family in South Australia or Victoria or Queensland, etcetera, they will return home. We do have a 40% turnover, but we have a large proportion of people who are committed Territorians, one of whom is me, being a born and bred Territorian.
We will hear from the members for Macdonnell and Stuart. I have spoken to the member for Stuart about what he should talk about, and one of the issues he will talk about is his family’s connection to Alice Springs. His family’s connection is that it is one of the founding familles of Alice Springs, pioneers, in fact. The Hampton family are well known and well respected throughout the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in Alice Springs. It is no surprise to me that a family like his is now represented in this honourable House.
As years develop and his knowledge of the workings of politics in this House go forward, there is no doubt in my mind that the member for Stuart’s political career will be very positive. With the members for Stuart and Macdonnell, we have people who are born and bred Territorians, who know the issues around Alice Springs and remote areas, who have a cultural and language background, family connections, and have opinions of what they think should be done in Alice Springs.
Over the last three weeks and further back in time, both those members, and the member for Barkly, have strongly advocated in caucus meetings on behalf of the people of Alice Springs with different ministers about what they think should be happening in the Territory.
When we talk about this creation of a perception of positive things happening, the member for Karama in her ministerial role quoted the housing construction price figures. The mean price when we were first elected was $200 000 and the mean price now is $270 000. That works out to nearly a 35% increase in capital housing growth. We have the members for Greatorex and Araluen saying that Alice Springs is going to rack and ruin, that it is a terrible place to live, that you would not want to raise your families here - yada yada yada. Yet people are investing in Alice Springs, they are buying houses in Alice Springs.
I walked passed a real estate agency and had a look at the prices for myself regarding investing in Alice Springs, because I am confident, from what the members for Barkly, Macdonnell and Stuart say about Alice Springs. I am confident to invest in Alice Springs and I am thinking about it. Unfortunately, with people like the members for Greatorex and Araluen, how can I believe that I am going to have a positive return here if the local members are always talking it down? I am being honest. Imagine someone who is not connected to this parliamentary system, who does not know the reality of what is happening regarding growth and positive outcomes happening in Alice Springs. What if you were a down south investor; how would you have confidence if you rang the member for Greatorex’s office or the member for Araluen’s office? You would not have any confidence.
I have some notes here. We have met with hundreds of people and we have had, I would estimate, nearly 2000 people come through already in the last two days. No doubt we are going to get a big turnout tonight, and that is fantastic for democracy. But we have been hearing some of the social problems that we have had to deal with as a government. I believe that some of those social problems come down to education. I have spoken about this over the last six years. What we have is a large proportion of the community, for whatever historical reasons and variety of different reasons, over the last 200 years have not been able to fully participate in the capital system in which we operate. If you were to go to a business owner and say to them that 28% of their business was not profitable, would it be worth investing any profits that you have into that 28% to increase your profits? The simple answer would be yes, whether you are BHP, the National Australia Bank, or you are the small newsagency on the corner street. The reality is, we are a business, we are in the business of government, and we have a population for historical reasons, due to remoteness, language difficulties, racial relations, and cultural background that, unfortunately, are not fully participating in the economy of the Territory.
As a government, we decided six years ago in 2001, as a group, to take a stance on this issue. We decided to invest in that 28%. The former Education minister, the member for Nhulunbuy, and the current minister, have proudly come out and said we are building schools out in remote and rural areas. We are building eight or nine. That is a major capital investment in hoping to get a return. Indigenous education will help with many of the social issues in Alice Springs.
I have spoken about the issue of attendance a number of times. I have to give credit to the member for Daly when he outlined some of the statistical facts about Wadeye which has currently hit the news. The reality is that there are approximately – and these figures can be argued – 1000 kids who could be considered school aged, living in Wadeye. We have on the figures - if I can recall off the top of my head - around 600 to 700 places there, yet we have 150 kids turning up for school.
There are two issues there. One is that is the NT government’s and the Commonwealth government’s responsibility to provide education. Should we be doing that? Yes. Are you trying to do that? Yes. Will we continue to do that? Yes. The other side of it, of course, is Aboriginal people saying: ‘We have places for 600 to 700 kids there but 150 of them go and that is inconsistent. How do we get the other 600 to 700 to go to school?’ This is where it comes down to parents and their families. There is not one Aboriginal member of parliament here who, without their family support, and some level of education, would not have been a success. I cannot think of the degrees that the members for Barkly and Arafura hold. Of course, education helped me achieve a Law degree. The Law degree taught me how to teach myself. It taught me processes about a mainstream society that, unfortunately, indigenous people have a problem participating in. However, people are breaking through that ceiling.
The light on the hill, for instance, and what I have heard about in Alice Springs. In 2002, I went to the Clontarf Academy and spoke to Gerard Neesham and Derek Kickett, famous names in AFL. I saw the program run. I came back and spoke to the then Sports minister about that issue. It took four or five years behind closed doors to boom it up, because there were different issues about funding, etcetera. I am very proud that the current Education minister said: ‘Yes, this is a good program; it is a fantastic program’.
The success rate of students attending that - and I understand the figure is 150 already. I met with them today. I am going to talk to the young men on Friday. They train twice a week. They get to play footy games and get promotional gear such as shirts and clothing if they turn up to school. The success rate in Western Australia with a similar Aboriginal community is 80% of kids going through the program make Year 12. Unbelievable! Eighty per cent of this group get work. Gerard Neesham and I became friends over the last five years. I must admit the last time I was in Perth I rang him up and got tickets to the Dockers game. The reality is this: he believes in Aboriginal people like we do, and Aboriginal people believe in football. Therefore, we need to encourage it. Whether we understand all the reasons why – I have my own theories on why we do – the reality is Aboriginal people, particularly young men, are attracted to footy and proving themselves on the football field. Guess what? We are going to use this carrot to get them into school, because 99% of them are not going to make it to the AFL, but 80% of them, on these figures, can make it to Year 12. That is what it is all about.
We heard the ministers talking about the town camps and the educational strategies happening in these town camps. The reality is that we have Australian citizens, first recognised in the referendum some 40 years ago as having a right to get education. The reality is, because of resourcing, the NT government historically had decided not to invest in remote areas. Well, this government has decided to. That is where our main strategy has been - in education. That has been led by a member whose electorate is in the bush, in the middle of Arnhem Land, where 80% of the people are indigenous and has seen some of the issues. It was picked up by a northern suburbs member in Darwin who said: ‘This is not just the right thing to do; it is the only thing to do’.
We have promised 10 000 new apprenticeships and traineeships in a jobs plan, a jobs plan we simply never had. Where is the positive contribution by the CLP in anything we hear about in Alice Springs and Darwin? It is all negative, negative, negative, trying to run negative campaigns to win the next election. We are about community building, about nation building, about Territory building. I love saying this word - statistics. Statistics are very important in proving the methodology of what we want to do into the future. The simple truth is that the …
Mr HENDERSON: Mr Deputy Speaker, I move that an extension of time to allow the member for Millner to conclude his remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr BONSON: I thank the Leader of Government Business for that extension because I was beginning to rush my contribution. As you can see I have a little to talk about and I would like to talk about some of the famous statistics we have in apprenticeships and trainees currently in training in Alice Springs. In 2001, when we took over from the CLP, we had 402 people in training. We have now 606, nearly a 33% increase from my mathematics, but I will stand corrected on that. Indigenous people in training: Alice Springs, 90, sounds like a small number, but 90 is better than nil in 2001 under the CLP. Now we have 142. My mathematical calculations is that is about 60%, and I stand corrected if that is wrong. Women in training: in Alice Springs, 112 under the CLP in 2001; 162 in 2007. That is roughly 50% to 60% increase again. Traditional trade apprentices in training by region: Alice Springs, 177 in 2001; in 2007, 310 - fantastic. Traditional trades in apprenticeships and in training: Alice Springs in 2001, 177; in 2007, 310. That breaks down to 8.7% in mechanical and fabrication engineering; 25% in automotive; 28% in construction; 25% in electrical; and 11% in food.
What we have seen over the last few years is a concerted effort by a group of individuals known as the Northern Territory government. That has been led by the members based in Central Australia, including the members for Macdonnell and Stuart, and the member for Barkly as a minister.
I will not talk further, even though I could talk for hours about my relationship with Alice Springs in terms of football trips, basketball trips, family connections, inter-marriages, etcetera. There is no doubt that there is a proud feeling of competition between Alice Springs and Darwin on the sporting field and sometimes that flows on into belief of how people have been treated. The reality is Alice Springs’ tourism, construction, health, education, and employment is one of the highest priorities of this government.
Madam Speaker, in closing, the reality is that 23 of the 25 members of this parliament make positive contributions about their electorates. We have two members, based in the urban areas of Alice Springs, the members for Araluen and Greatorex - unfortunately, one is the Leader of the Opposition – and all they want to do is create negative perceptions about their home city. If we could work together with them, we could find greater solutions. Everyone in government has put out their hand in love and compassion and said: ‘Come on, let us walk hand in hand down the Todd Street Mall’. But where are they? Where is the opposition? It is disappointing that they are not in this House to hear this contribution.
Ms SACILOTTO (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, as a former resident of Alice Springs, I am very happy to be back in the Centre. I have such fond memories of living in this special town and the remnants of that time have been friendships forged and maintained. I hear regularly from the people I worked with and had friendships with in Alice Springs. I get to Alice Springs as often as I can. I enjoy the town and I enjoy the people who are here.
I was pleased yesterday morning to see so many local business people using the Alice Springs sittings of parliament as a productive way of highlighting issues which have serious impacts on their lives and businesses. It is their right and responsibility to bring these issues to the forefront, and I commend them for the commitment to the town. That was shown loud and clear by business people taking time out of their day, money making time, and closing their businesses to demonstrate the level of concern and passion they have for the town.
There is a problem. There are concerns, and this has been recognised not only this week, but in the past by our Chief Minister and all ministers. There is work going on. There is a plan. Our own Chief Minister in this House yesterday said Alice is one of her most important major projects. How can business help? Business is going well in Alice Springs. Talking to old friends and old business colleagues, house prices are going up, and things seem to be going well in the economy. Business can help by employing apprentices and trainees. How many apprentices and trainees have been employed by Alice Springs business? We have heard from the member for Millner, and that is fantastic, but there are more young people out there with time on their hands and untapped talents. We also need to ask ourselves how many indigenous apprentices and trainees have been employed by Alice Springs businesses. I urge Alice Springs business to investigate incentives to employ apprentices and trainees and to tap into the largely untapped resource particularly of young people, but of young indigenous people as well.
As a former small business owner-operator, I understand the importance of small business to the Territory in both Darwin and Alice Springs. Small business is a major employer for the Northern Territory and, as such, needs to be nurtured and supported. Our Business minister has told us of some of the incentives for small business and larger business in employing trainees and apprentices, and I urge all Alice Springs businesses, if they are able, to employ a young person in their business.
This town is a strong town and has been built over many years by families that are still here, still working and still have very strong ties to Alice Springs and the Territory. Some of these families are the Loy family which still own businesses and employs people in both Alice Springs and Darwin. The Sitzler family is still employing, still building, still providing a strong presence in Alice Springs and Darwin. I acknowledge Mr John Cameron and people like Paul Edgar, whose very early business, Eager Beavers, was one of the first supermarkets in Alice Springs.
I had a chance to speak to Mr Andrew Doyle, one of the principals of Frampton’s First National, who was out the front yesterday. A former colleague and someone I count as a friend, he has been here for a long time and he has a passion for Alice Springs. He loves the place, as I did when I lived here. He wants to bring his family up here and he wants to continue working here. The economy is such that business is good for him. His business is growing, he has new premises, he employs many people in Alice Springs and is a serious contributor to the economy and the employment in Alice Springs. I commend Andrew for his contribution to Alice Springs.
When I first came here in 1996, I was only here for two years so I can hardly claim to be a local, although I do have fond feelings for the place. There was a good feeling in the town generally, although there were the same issues at that time in varying degrees. It does seem to work on a cyclical basis. There were other issues at the time, such as employment. I was an employee of the NT government at the time, on maternity leave, and came to Alice Springs and wanted to work in the government in Alice Springs. At the time, there had been a re-JESing of quite a few positions across the government. I believe it was called the Efficiency Review; the ERC Committee had gone through. Some people in the government sector had lost their jobs at the time, and it was quite difficult. There were many people who were displaced from their positions and did not have a position as such. I turned to the private sector, and it was good to work in the private sector. It was interesting and I learned many of my business skills there which I took to my own small business.
At the time, in 1996, the economy was not going so well. Employment was not as good as it is now. It has picked up a lot since then, and although there are many issues and many concerns which are totally legitimate, as far as the economy goes, real estate – at the time I was in real estate, and was one of the salespeople who sold some of the properties at 111 Bloomfield Street - was going for about $97 000, and they were trickling away but they certainly were not running. I noticed the other night in a real estate window that they were going for around $250 000 now. That has certainly been a good increase in the price of real estate.
There is also the issue of land release in Alice Springs. One of the business leaders, at a function in Darwin the other night, said to me that he feels that if the town is to grow, there needs to be some land released so that people can have their first home and grow a family here. I believe that needs to be worked on, and I know that the minister is working on that at the moment.
I am very confident that there are many things happening. Although they are not to fruition at this point, you need a plan, and you need to action it in a sensible and staged way. Nothing can happen overnight to change all the concerns and all the issues, but with a steady implementation of sensible planning, the issues that are concerning people at the moment will reduce. Alice Springs, as far as the economy and the people and the strength of this town go, will prevail through these difficult issues.
The Chief Minister speaks very passionately about Alice Springs. Yesterday, we were all accused of not being in Alice Springs. The Chief Minister was absolutely right. We represent different electorates. I represent Port Darwin. Obviously, you would not expect to see me in Alice Springs every week. The members who are here - the members for Macdonnell, Stuart, Greatorex, Braitling and Araluen - have an absolute responsibility to be positive about this town and to be helpful on issues, to be representing their communities. The members for Stuart and Macdonnell are very passionate advocates for their electorates. I believe we need to see some more passion from the other members. The member for Braitling speaks quite passionately, but there could be more passion from the other side of the Chamber, and that will make the difference. People want their member to represent them in a strong and passionate way about the Alice Springs area.
In closing, Alice Springs has been such a strong town for so many years that it really can be again. I call on the members for Greatorex, Araluen and Braitling to stand up and to support their community by being their strong voice for Alice Springs.
Debate adjourned.
Continued from 22 February 2007.
Mr NATT (Primary Industry and Fisheries): Madam Speaker, I support the minister for Education’s statement. There are challenges faced by this government in taking education and training to a higher level. I am proud to say that we have met those challenges head on and, indeed, taken education to a higher level. This is due to the hard work and commitment of this government and the teachers and school staff.
I am pleased to see the middle school reform moving ahead. My son came through the middle school process in Adelaide and was lucky enough to remain in the system when he came to Darwin to attend Kormilda College. The stages of middle schooling most definitely helped him throughout his schooling years. My son is very much a chip off the old block; he would rather have kicked a football than read a book or studied. When I went to school many years ago, I went through the old system - primary school to Year 7, and then high school to Year 12. The transition to high school was daunting, with little or no choice offered, and little or no support provided. That is the way it was - like it or lump it. There was no choice, we had to like it.
In preparing my reply to the minister for Education’s statement on education, I cast my mind back to when I moved from primary school to high school. I remember back to the time and the range of personalities, characteristics and maturity of my classmates. It was quite vast, as you can imagine.
Unlike my road to high school, my son was fortunate to experience a smooth transition. My wife and I were extremely pleased to know that the middle years schooling process helped him immensely. Although he may have had a few scary moments, his transition through those years was smooth. His issues during his development stages were catered for and, importantly, were understood. He had the room to move and expand into the wonderful young man he is today.
I applaud the previous minister for his decision to undertake the step into middle schooling. I congratulate the current minister for his passion for ensuring there will be better secondary outcomes for our students. The Northern Territory schooling outcomes were the poorest in the country, and this record is simply unacceptable. Something had to be done to provide a greater focus on the different needs of students in the secondary system. I understand this will take a few years to fall into place, but the important issue is that we have accepted that a change was needed in the system, and we have made that change. The new system will, over time, cater for the young adolescents. It is a far cry from the old system. The students now have an opportunity to move through their formative years in a comfortable environment - something they would not have had if we had persisted with the old system.
As part of the role into middle schools I am heartened to hear that 20 new school counsellor positions have been created. This will be a comprehensive resource for the secondary school system to cater for the social and, importantly, the emotional needs of our young people. These young people have to contend with the growing awareness of themselves and their peers, being asked to take greater responsibility, dealing with peer group values and view, and many other significant changes. I understand counsellors want to undertake active consultation with young people, and also consult and interact with parents and families to identify the needs of the person and potential assistance outside of the system. This is a fantastic innovation for the young people of the Territory.
Some young people may experience difficulties in sharing and discussing their thoughts, views and challenges with a parent. Having a counsellor at hand during times of social and emotional crisis will be a great help. Confidence can be gained over time and a rapport struck. This will mean students will have sounding board and a support mechanism to work through their needs.
Sadly, behavioural issues in today’s student population seem to me to be slowly increasing. This is, obviously, due to a number of factors. I have witnessed it firsthand while employed in my previous role at the AFLNT. In the junior grades, emotions do run high as they would in any sporting event, whether playing or as a spectator. The retaliatory nature of some responses to a bump from other players is quite extraordinary. Many players react to the so-called indiscretions with a violent act, which is quite disturbing.
A focus for addressing behavioural issues at school is great news for many teachers, school staff and parents and, of course, fellow students. The more important issue with employment of the counsellors is working with the students and their issues so they can refocus to achieve a positive outcome.
Another aspect of the Better School process that this government is undertaking, in which I have a great deal of interest, is the expansion of a range of vocational exercises and VET curricula. Having come from a mechanical background, I am keen to see that the importance of our trades is recognised. With the business, building and construction industry enjoying a wonderful time at the moment we need to ensure a skilled workforce foundation is created to face future needs. One way to ensure that our trades are supported is to encourage young students in their last years of secondary school into a trade. To ease them into various sections of industry, the VET program gives them the start and confidence they need.
My son is a prime example of the success of this program. While in Years 11 and 12 he entered the VET program visiting various industries on work assignments to broaden his understanding and insight on his future working life. On the back of this experience, he decided to take a step into the workforce as an apprentice in the field of carpentry/construction – a direct result of the confidence and interest gained in the VET program. I understand that planning has been finalised for the 2007 In-schools Workshops for VET coordinators throughout the Northern Territory. The planning workshops will inform and enhance the VET coordination practices and better facilitate and coordinate the operation of the program. The aim of the project is to offer a more relevant curriculum to the senior students of secondary schools by expanding vocation expertise and VET curriculum.
The Expertise Establishment Grants Program will assist the schools to work with their local communities to utilise skills the students have learned from VET programs. The new School to Work Transition Strategic Plan 2007 to 2009 is, I understand, to be implemented in the first half of this year. The strategy will fulfil the aims of this project including initiatives to increase the involvement of business and industry of VET in Schools. I am extremely pleased to see these initiatives implemented to assist our young Territorians. These initiatives will improve the delivery of vocational learning to the VET students which equates to capable skilled young people in the workforce supporting the future of business in the Northern Territory.
The Palmerston High School has a very successful program working under the VET scheme. It has established a Palmerston Future Charter Partnership Agreement with local businesses which provides avenues of work to the Palmerston High School VET students. The program is a wonderful success story. It has grown each and every year and the interest shown by the local businesses is extremely gratifying. Businesses in Palmerston and beyond know that the future is in training our young Territorians. I thank them for their continued support and also congratulate the Palmerston High School for showing such initiatives to ensure many of its students have the capacity to broaden their horizons and provide their much needed stepping stone into the workforce.
Another program I am extremely excited about involves two schools in my electorate. The Driver Primary School and the Palmerston High School will trial the new computer technology Student Learning Profiles and Portal Services. I understand this program will be rolled out this month and it is an initiative to bring the classroom into the home and make schools virtually available 24 hours a day. Any initiative to enhance and engage students to improve their educational outcomes is to be applauded. To have such a tool that will provide teachers and students with access to a digital environment where they can access work and online learning systems is fantastic. I understand that later in the year the system will be upgraded to give parents access to important information about their child.
The portal will also allow access for parents to go online to view enrolment details, attendance and achievement details of their children. This will assist parents to monitor and become even more involved in education. I see the sharing of information between teachers and their students a vital link to assist the learning needs and plans of the student. The Martin government remains committed to ensuring that students have access to modern technology to complement their learning needs. I am extremely pleased that the Palmerston High School and the Driver Primary School are part of this pilot program.
I welcome the minister’s statement and congratulate the department and the school staff for their proactive approach to the new education system. Something had to be done. Our younger population was suffering under the old system of subject-centred teaching and learning. Our students were not achieving the results at a satisfactory level when you consider the national average. Standards across the Territory varied greatly, and there was no consistency in the staging of schooling. By moving it into the new era, literacy and numeracy standards and results will improve. Attendance and retention will also increase, and students and parent satisfaction will rise.
The most significant results will be seen in the increased student numbers completing their NTCE to a satisfactory standard in the hope we can improve our national standing. As has been stated, there is much more work to be done and we are on track to deliver better schools and better outcomes to our young Territorians as they undertake their important educational journey. I am pleased to support and commend the minister’s statement to the House.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, I support the statement and recognise that, amongst the many highest priorities of this current government there is one high priority that I will support and recognise as the highest priority. That is education and the quality of education. It is for that reason I support the statement.
For those churlish members opposite if I make some comments which you may sense to be slightly critical, recognise that I have a role in this parliament to run the other side of the argument and perhaps to look underneath the spin and gloss to ensure that we have a fair argument and a fair deal for Territorians and, in fact, we have the truth.
There are many aspects of this statement that I and the CLP will support. I will use the words contained within the statement which indicate that we are together in this. On page 9, the minister said:
It is indeed:
The results, of which we are all aware, demand that kind of approach. There may be tough debates that we will have. It is a little difficult in this parliament because it often descends into defending personal positions and you think it is about yourself. It is not about you; it is about the children and families out there. It is a time for some tough debates, philosophical debates, discussions of the real matters that concern families that will unlock the potential of our young people, and to deal honestly with the problems with which we are faced.
Because I have limited time, I cannot go through it all, but to satisfy members opposite there are aspects of this statement I genuinely support without a doubt. I support the sentiment of it as well, but there are some important questions that need to be answered. As a member of the opposition, I have asked genuine questions on a number of occasions and received political, defensive responses. I hope that is not the case because we are dealing with something that is a very serious matter and it does require some deeper discussion.
My first question is whether the current minister for Education, when becoming the Chief Minister, will he retain this portfolio? If the answer is no, obviously there is one amongst us who has the academic qualifications to take that role, and I am sure that the minister knows to whom I refer. It is an important question because if it is to be the highest priority of government, it may well be the case that the Education minister should also be the Chief Minister.
I move on. If you are going to be the minister for Education, you must truly be the minister for Education and not be trapped by the department of Education. There is a distinct difference between being the Education minister and being the minister for the department of Education – a colossal difference – and you need to lift and inspire this debate. I urge the honourable member to ensure that we contain reference to the whole sector when we are speaking of education, because much of the hard work, leadership, and achievement that has occurred in education, particularly in indigenous education, has occurred in the non-government sector. In fact, I cannot find any reference to the non-government sector in this statement. That underlines and underscores my deeper concern that we are not talking about education. We are talking about programs and policies that are originating from the department of Education. We need to lift and inspire, and we need to talk about education as a concept, as an idea, as a vocation, as something much higher than bureaucracies and departments and spending of money.
If the title of it is to gain some strength, being we are to improve outcomes, obviously we want to improve outcomes. But what is an outcome in education? What is an outcome, and how is that outcome to be measured? We can say we want to improve outcomes. We do. But we are not quite sure what an outcome in education actually is. We need to be very specific about what is the outcome that we are endeavouring to measure. Is there such a thing? In fact, it is very difficult, because the current curriculum is so abstract that it is very difficult to find the means to accurately measure an outcome. They are subjective and vague. As a result, no one really knows what kind of real academic progress is occurring in education. We see, generally, the achievement is expenditure, when really we should be able to find accurate and quality means to actually measure an outcome. Unless we can identify and define what an outcome is in education, we do not really know whether there is real academic, intellectual improvement.
The minister spoke of middle schools, and I ask: what evidence is referred to in the statement when claiming that a move to middle schools structures increases learning outcomes? It would be a difficult thing to argue. I know there is a sense of change and there is a benefit in these structures. I was a practitioner, I started a middle school, and there are some benefits in it. But you ask the harder question – how do you actually measure an academic outcome, a learning outcome? What evidence is that statement based on? I ask the minister to respond to that. How is a learning outcome actually measured? This is critical. Otherwise, we make statements and we see an achievement as expenditure. What indicators will be measured to gauge educational improvement? What actual measures? Will it be a feeling? Will it be subjective? Who knows? Or will it be something that you can measure? One clear measure would be attendance at school. Another clear measure is what kind of academic progress is seen.
There is debate about performance pay for teachers, a position I cannot completely agree with the current federal minister on because it is difficult to actually measure academic progress in real terms. Then there is the debate that comes in on the side for members opposed to the federal government’s position that it is going to be elitist. Not at all. You can have progress from a very low base, and there are some of our most outstanding teachers who bring change and improvement to someone, or a cohort, or a class, who have had great difficulty and their achievement may be, in fact, more significant than the achievement of those capable students who are just treading water, passing the time.
We do not actually have the means to accurately measure learning. Really, we do not have the tools to do so. That is the point of the debate that is going on around this country about objective or outcomes-based education - a debate I tried to bring on in the Chamber in our last sittings which, clearly, by the response, the minister misunderstood. It is a debate that is the most serious of debates. If we want to change education, we need to understand what we are talking about when it is outcomes-based education. It is vague, abstract, a burden to teachers and a confusion to parents. We need to bring back standards and clarity into education and provide teachers with clear tools and proper road maps so that they know where they are going, and parents understand how their children are going - and not be afraid of having a standard that, if a child reaches that standard, fine, but if they do not, we know where we can strengthen them to help them reach that standard.
There are alternative pathways. We do not have that with an outcomes-based approach to education. Everybody wins but, secretly, they are unsure whether they are achieving or not …
Mrs Braham: You are making good sense, Terry.
Mr MILLS: Sorry?
Mrs Braham: You are making good sense.
Mr MILLS: Everybody has a general sense that we are doing stuff in education. We have a vague and abstract approach where we think an achievement is expenditure. Then government will say: ‘We are spending more money on education then ever before’, when, in fact, the expenditure of money is on timetables, structures and buildings. That is not a spend on education; that is a spend on something else. A spend on education to produce a real outcome is something you can actually measure in learning - real learning - something a parent can understand. ‘How is my kid going at school?’ You have real information to say: ‘I need to prop them up a bit. I need to help them at home with their reading’. At the moment, there is a general sense that we are all doing stuff in education, and there is a general sense of confusion. I believe we have to change direction.
The facts are clear and we have to do more than just skate over the service. A publication which just came into my office - the minister would have seen this I am sure - ICEEM Publications in Education No 2 - Participation in Year 12 mathematics across Australia 1995 to 2004. I got that before I came here to Alice Springs. It shows at the highest level in mathematics, for example - it talks about elementary, intermediate and advanced maths - the percentage of students in the Territory on an equivalent basis, who are studying advanced maths is 3.2% and it is declining. The national average in advanced maths - just as one marker; and there will be defences made of this but it just one indicator - is 11.7%.
They issued a media release after the benchmark results come out - benchmark results are a basic standard. To achieve a benchmark is just to make the grade; to be in the ballpark. We have to recognise that and be brutally honest about it. That is why I hope the words written in this statement actually have more weight to them that just another statement, as it is deadly serious.
When we have 22 out of 27 benchmarks not achieved by Territory students, we cannot afford to spend time talking backward and forward across the Chamber about ‘27 years of this’, and the great and wonderful things the Martin Labor government has done. For goodness sake, we will finish that silly debate and the issues will remain unaddressed. As we see the results come through year after year, they will decline, and then we will mask them with press releases and the altering of programs to hide the fact that, to our own political shame, kids are failing, and we are failing them. Let us put our attention where it should be.
Another important point which must be raised in this response is that I accuse the minister of walking both sides of the fence on a very important matter; that is, attendance at school. We are starting to see a change of language right across the country. When I first spoke to Brendan Nelson about the need to be tougher - and you are tough not because you want to hurt but because you want to help. If parents are neglectful in choosing not to send their children to school, we cannot abide that any longer. Brendan Nelson, at that time, was a bit wary of taking that robust approach. However, I am so concerned I believe we must make a stand. We cannot just say it and then offer an excuse for not actually implementing it in a robust manner. We have to do it. It is a time for no status quo any more. It is a time for serious action to arrest a change.
Eighteen months ago there was a statement made, and the cornerstone of this statement made by the former minister were these words:
talking about indigenous schools:
I cannot agree more, but how many of those agreements have been brokered? How many of those documents hang on the walls in the communities? How much of this work has, in fact, been done? The excuse that is given when we are urged by the popular debate that we need to change our language - and that is to be tougher on parents who do not send their kids to school - will say we do not want to raise a big stick, we want to get into some sort of agreement with these communities. Eighteen months ago, that was the course embarked upon; 18 months later do we have any of these contracts?
I know there are good families out there who want someone to stand up and support them and to stare down the other side who would much prefer to take that money from their child’s education, from their own future, and do something else with it that is not welfare. They are demanding someone to stand up and support them. I was at Wadeye and those of us who were at Wadeye and heard those indigenous teachers nearly brought us to tears. They need people to stand up for them and take the tough line, and then we will see things turn around. They will know that we mean business.
As my time runs to a close there is another important matter about which I must question the minister. In the statement, and in defence of the Northern Territory curriculum framework, the minister said it is a quality curriculum, and it is both robust and defensible. He said:
I hereby formally request a copy of that independent, external evaluation by Mr Bruce Wilson because it is important. My suspicions are this: Mr Bruce Wilson is, of recent times, a critic of outcomes-based education. I am very interested to know what is the nature of this external evaluation.
It is time for change. There have been some very strong and very important debates that have occurred around our country. Parents and teachers are concerned. We can no longer just play the game and to run the tune of the department. I am not running down the department but we have to make sure of how this system works. We are elected to lead. We are the ones to take the risks. We are the ones to break a new path. The department desires that kind of leadership. It is going to be tough because we can skate around this for ever and a day, and we will swan around this parliament, and we will leave it and we will not, in fact, have made a difference.
There has been some superficial change. There have been some meaningful programs put in place. I am not taking that away but there is a deeper resolve that is required and some stronger debates that must occur. You will have the support if you actually move a little deeper in some of these discussions. We want to see change.
When the reference is made to holding schools accountable, that sounds great but how is that going to be effected? You talk about that in the statement. I could give you some specific measures of how to measure how schools are going. Did the kids turn up? You should have that. How many have turned up? What is the quality of the curriculum in that school? It should be able to be assessed independently. Did the kids learn anything? You should be able to measure whether the kids are leaning stuff at school or not. Are they improving over time? You should be able to track these kids and see how they are improving. We have a curriculum that does not allow that. It is a broad and general curriculum.
Those dear teachers who are working so hard, are those teachers properly resourced? Are they participating in appropriate in-servicing? Most importantly, and I deliberately left this until the end, are our remote teachers. We must make a greater and more courageous effort to support them ...
Dr LIM: Madam Speaker, I move that an extension of time pursuant to Standing Order 77 in order that my colleague may conclude his comments.
Motion agreed to.
Mr MILLS: For teachers who are working in remote areas, it is critical that we find a structure and that systems are in place. We only have to look to Western Australia where they have found ways of valuing and strengthening that dedicated service in a remote location. They are the places where you need to have a teacher stay longer. If we talk about tourism in terms of extra nights in a bed, the extra terms and years, the length of service in the bush, is more valuable than anything. There are ways of honouring, respecting and valuing that remote service. We can ill afford to have a system in place that does not properly value that service. There are systems in place and I urge the minister to consider them. It will be a courageous debate around the Cabinet table, particularly when considering Treasury divvying up amounts, but if we are serious we have to go there. We have to back it up with sound systems to ensure that parents send their kids to school.
It is simply not acceptable to say: ‘We have written a letter to Mal Brough so it is in his court. Do not look at us’. That is not really good enough and it is not quite honest because there is the capacity, if you are serious, in your own act to show that you mean what you say. I know that in previous estimates, the question was asked by the concerned opposition, the Labor Party at that time, of the government: how many parents have been fined for not sending their kids to school? That was often asked. You will have the same answer today. The same capacity is there. The positions have changed. The language has changed. They are saying: ‘Yes, we think that parents must take that responsibility but it is Mal Brough’s responsibility’.
If you are deadly serious, there is something you can do about it. You have tons of advisors. Maybe the money that you give the parents at the start of the year could be tied up with it. There is something that can be done, surely. Do not give me the ‘Yes, but it is going to be hard’. Find a solution and find a way of implementing that while Mal Brough looks at a letter that has been written to him. I urge that kind of attention.
Finally, because I have had the grant of an extension of time, in terms of remote service, we are still having the debate in opposition, but I am a believer in bilingual education. We need to show some rigour in considering the application of bilingual education in our remote locations. There are many communities that were supported by the Labor government when they were in opposition on that very question. It has merit and must be revisited in a very sensible way, but not without the issues and the frameworks that I have already discussed regarding a quality, rigorous standards-based education.
You cannot have a loose, subjective, broad curriculum and a bilingual approach. That is why the Accelerated Literacy Program is so good: it is clear. If you add to that clarity and that focus in curriculum a bilingual approach, you will start to make progress. Add to that length of valued service of teachers in remote locations, genuine consequences for parents who do not send their kids to school, and genuine rewards and support for those who do the right thing, then you can turn it around.
You have to do those things. You have to provide that leadership. You have to make a decision and do more than present a paper. That is good, there is lots of merit in it, but we are requiring change, real change. I take the minister’s words seriously when he said:
For eight months now, the Leader of the Opposition has seen education as a very low portfolio. She has referred to the change in portfolio responsibilities as a demotion - so that the new minister actually got a demotion for getting education. I have it in Hansard on dozens of occasions where the Leader of the Opposition has referred to education as a junior portfolio, as a demotion from other portfolios that the current minister formerly held. That is the stark contrast in opinions about education from the CLP opposition and the Labor government.
What is important, in this first statement of the minister, is his focus on education. He came into this portfolio with his eyes wide open, and also building on the great work done by the former minister, the member for Nhulunbuy. What the Martin Labor government noticed is that, without the core education level, nobody can ever succeed in this modern world. Gone are the days of Sydney Kidman who, at the age of 13, ran away with five shillings in his pocket on a one-eyed horse. He went on to become, as we all know, a drover and built a huge pastoral empire. Nobody can do that now in this modern economy and this modern world.
Education means success. It means a better society. It means a better local and regional economic advantage. It also means you can maintain and care for the environment that we live in.
The former speaker, the shadow minister, talked about a range of things, but he was basically saying: ‘You are not doing anything’. I challenge the shadow minister: you came out with a whole range of ideas. Have you ever written, or sat down with the Education minister with those ideas, to talk to him about it? I do not believe you have at all. He also put a challenge to the minister, whether he would actually retain his portfolio if he became Chief Minister. Well, perhaps the challenge goes back to the member for Blain: when he becomes the Leader of the Opposition, will he maintain Education …
Mrs Miller interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: You are supporting him, member for Katherine? Well, you only have to get one more. It is up to you, member for Greatorex.
The minister mentioned the challenges that happen, and the churn that happens with children, and particularly with ADF families. There are other challenges. The challenge that will specifically affect my electorate is that the regional and remote isolation poses increasing pressures on the Northern Territory government in providing an acceptable level and standard of education. We have a complex arrangement, such as to the extreme of the mission schools agreement; we have single classroom/one teacher schools hundreds of kilometres from regional centres; we have schools which are isolated by floods up to five months during the year; we have schools located in communities where unemployment rates are over 90% and there are associated problems with that; and communities where English is not the dominant language in the whole region. Also, the sheer cost of providing maintenance, renovations or upgrades is high and is also increasing.
As the minister mentioned, the previous CLP government ran down the Northern Territory budget prior to 2001. It totally neglected the education infrastructure in the bush. The neglect of the CLP administration in handling of our taxpayer money has been a massive bill of catch-up in the bush.
The situation in our education system in the Northern Territory is fairly stark. The Northern Territory is five percentage points below the South Australian level. South Australia, of all the states, is the lowest. That is the stark difference in all that.
The minister also talked about distance education. The Katherine School of the Air is a fine institution and provides services throughout my electorate. I have visited them on numerous occasions. It has a current enrolment of over 200 students; 105 of whom have access to the IDL system, which is Interactive Distance Learning. There is a studio available there. There are 105 students who have access at the moment and 45 students are coming online in the near future. So, 150 students will have access to the IDL system.
The Katherine School of the Air’s principal, Jen Coad, is part of a highly-skilled team that the government supports: 22 teachers delivering an education program to students and their families in the bush. Katherine School of the Air has embraced the middle schools approach and, this year, it saw the start of middle schools program with the first enrolment of Year 8 students, and 2008 will see Year 9 students included as part of the program. This gives remote families the opportunity to keep children close at home and still have access to a comprehensive education. Katherine School of the Air has a dedicated middle years team working with alternative pathways for students to retain and engage them in the school. Excitingly, this year will see the Katherine School of the Air middle school years first residential at the Northern Territory Regional College, another learning institution in my electorate.
The minister also discussed infrastructure. He highlighted the huge infrastructure investment that this government has made in education and, more specifically, education in the bush. It is this investment that invests in opportunities and commitment to the education in the bush. In fact, the former minister visited one of my remote communities in 2004, Emu Point, which is roughly 50 km to the west of Daly River. The then minister saw this community. What he saw was around 40 kids being educated under a bough shelter by a local qualified Aboriginal teacher. The minister immediately went back to Cabinet and sought funds to build a school there. He was supported by his Labor Cabinet colleagues. I went out with the new minister for Education to the opening of that school on 13 September 2006. They are absolutely delighted with that investment that this government has made in education in the bush.
Another commitment to education in the bush is at Wadeye, where the government has prioritised this community in allocating $5.5m to build a secondary education facility, and also build six houses for teachers. This government said: ‘This community needs this facility and they will have to have it’. It is a great facility and I hope the minister will be at the community in the coming weeks for the opening.
Other infrastructure which has been delivered out in the bush includes: $1m at the Minyerri community for a secondary school facility; more secondary school facilities at Kalkarindji, $1m; Maningrida, $2.2m; Shepherdson College, $2.5m; and Papunya, $1m. There are significant upgrades in the bush including Utopia, Mulga Bore, Alcoota, $550 000; Milyakburra, $500 000; Gunbalanya, $750 000, and there are several other schools.
New schools that have been built total $7m. Apart from Emu Point, we have also nearly $1m allocated and built at Manyallaluk, Wugularr $2.5m, and Croker Island, $2.2m. That is a huge investment out bush.
With that investment is the personnel. Over 90 positions have been created and $6m in recurrent is allocated to those positions. Thirty-one of the 100 new teachers are in remote areas: 12 accelerated literacy teachers; 10 ESL teachers; five assistant principals at the group schools; two music teachers; and two working in remote resource packages. Three new Regional Director positions have been created. There are 18 teachers in the middle schools; 20 teachers are pooled for speciality teaching; and 10 teachers for distance education and regional learning. For the mobile preschool, there is one full-time position and 17 part-time positions. We have a teacher support position and a homeland secondary trial at Garrthalala. So there are 90 positions going out into the bush which is a huge investment which nobody can deny is being made.
Much has been said about the middle schools and there is a lot happening in my electorate. There are upgrades happening at Taminmin with $4.6m and in Katherine, $500 000. The Batchelor Area School is also adopting the middle schools approach. They have made some radical changes this year introducing Years 7, 8 and 9 doing middle school and they have seen the advantages of amalgamating classes for specific programs. Middle school has provided teachers with new and different teaching challenges. They are working through the challenges with the children and there are going to be benefits from that.
There is also early age entry trials happening and there are three in my area: Mataranka, Pine Creek and Timber Creek. I believe there is also a trial at Pigeon Hole in the electorate of Stuart. This is stuff that is happening out there and it is a positive focus of this government.
Last year, I had the pleasure of travelling around a number of my schools to present the Chief Minister’s Literacy Awards at the end of year ceremonies at Batchelor, Adelaide River and Timber Creek, and I also attended some in Darwin. These programs are a bold incentive for the students to increase their literacy.
The last point I want to make is the minister's discussion regarding the remote learning partnerships. A concept of engagement with the communities as constructively looking at serious educational barriers such as attendance. Without overlooking other issues around education, the main game is getting every kid in front of a teacher for at least four days in a week, for 40 weeks of the year. It does not matter what their curriculum is or how good the teachers are, or all the infrastructure you have, you do not have a chance of educating a child unless they are in front of a teacher in a classroom. It is attendance, attendance, attendance; that is the key. Everything flows on from that. This point has not been lost on the community leaders, school councils, teaching staff, and this government.
The leadership group at Wadeye have long been trying to get the community children to school as they know that it is the key to getting an education. Education is the key to a healthy and productive life, and also society. I attended a public meeting called by community leaders in December to talk about getting the kids to school. As has been mentioned previously, Wadeye has near on 1000 school-aged children. This number fluctuates. At the beginning of the year it is up around 500 and tends to sink back to around 250. This government has invested $430 000 in an attendance strategy to try to encourage those children to go to school. That strategy is currently under way; however, the attendance still struggles. The shadow minister talked about this government standing up and being counted. I can tell you, member for Blain, this minister is standing up, has taken advice from me, has visited that community, and listened to those people.
Several months ago, I went to see the Education minister about issues at the community. That community is extremely frustrated with parents within the community for not sending their children to school. It obviously has a major impact when you have only 20% to 30% of children going to school. When you look at the 60% to 70% who are not going to school, there are the associated life problems that causes by not getting an education. It puts pressure on educated people in the community and those people move away so you are left with a bigger problem.
The Education minister travelled with me to Wadeye and met with the leadership group. We were accompanied by the Catholic Education Office and officers from DEET. The community has put a proposal to the minister about attendance, and I support that. I know the minister is giving deep consideration to that proposal, and it does centre around the Education Act, shadow minister ...
Mr Mills: It is good to hear. Do not be so defensive.
Mr KNIGHT: I am not being defensive, member for Blain. I researched this and I know that the former CLP government had a look at it 10 years ago and backed away, like so many things it backed away from, because it could not do it. It did not care about the bush. Why didn’t you do it?
Mr Mills: Get over it! Get over it!
Mr KNIGHT: For those people who have not read the Education Act …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: You are preaching to the minister about how to run his department and you have not even been near it. Have you been a minister in the government? No, you have not.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Daly, please direct your comments through the Chair.
Mr KNIGHT: I will, Madam Speaker. The shadow minister was preaching to the minister for Education about how he should run his department. He has no experience in the area of managing a department.
For people unaware of the Education Act, section 22 deals with compulsory attendance:
We have an act which provides for that. It is being considered. It is certainly my wish that it is being considered. There is a range of initiatives that need to be examined. There are associated issues around why a child does not go to school - I have trouble getting my children to school. There are issues around housing, family matters, and law and order. That is what we should be working on. We should be working on clearing those barriers and getting those kids to school because we know that is the answer to the success of these communities.
As you have heard during these sittings, the Chief Minister has approached the federal minister, Mal Brough, in relation to social security payments, specifically around child payments, which everyone knows as ‘kid money’. If we couple these two approaches together, it is fairly tough but, like speeding, we do not want to fine anybody, but we do want them to go to school. The ideal would be that we do not fine anyone and we get 100% school attendance ...
Mr BONSON: Madam Speaker, I move that the member be granted an extension of time to complete his remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, I will conclude. I support that view of the Chief Minister. It is strange that the Commonwealth government has been strangely silent on this request. It is a little odd in that their mantra for the last few years has been all about mutual obligation. Here we have a classic example of mutual obligation. The general society, through taxation and through government payments, is supporting families and children and their families to send them to school. It should be pretty straightforward and I hope the federal minister can show some leadership on this matter and see some foresight to work with the Northern Territory government in this area.
I know they trialled it at Balgo. There were issues there. I really believe that you need to start from the premise of ‘how can we do this’ rather than ‘what is stopping us from doing this’.
I will conclude in relation to children and education. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states, in article 28:
This is from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. We need to have a good think about those things that are happening and what the international community sees as important with education. We know it is the answer. I believe we need to bite the bullet with education. I know the shadow minister is passionate about it. I hope that he try to work with the minister for Education in achieving this. Sometimes your policy development is a little off at times ...
A member interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: The only policy announcement you have had on education has been Lifelong Learning. This is policy by Google. We have Lifelong Learning, Reading for Life, we also had some mention of Reading Rewards Challenge. You Google those and you get a whole range of things which strangely meet up with your ideas ...
Mr Mills: Be careful, that is one that you pinched.
Mr KNIGHT: Oh, well, did we pinch it? So, in the Chief Minister’s Reading Rewards Challenge, this is proposed by you, 2006: ‘The Chief Minister’s Reading Rewards’. So apparently it is going to start in 2007. You have somehow instructed the Chief Minister, Clare Martin, who is obviously still in office, to be giving out $30 certificates, book vouchers - it has apparently already started. I am unaware of it. I will have to talk to my schools. It says: ‘The challenge begins at the start of the school year and officially ends before September’ of this year. It talks about ambassadors ...
Mr Mills interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: This is your announcement. It also talks about the link to immunisation. Promoting education and reading by giving a child a needle is somehow an incentive for that child ...
Mr Mills: Have you written to me and requested a briefing on any of this?
Mr KNIGHT: I will.
Mr Mills: I think you ought to.
Mr KNIGHT: So, at the age of one the child gets three books. They have to wait for another three years before they get another three books. On the fourth birthday, they will get another three books. That is quite nice of you, after three years to give them another book. It is very interesting. I listened to you, shadow minister, and you had a couple of good ideas.
The government certainly has a comprehensive package. This minister is absolutely committed to this strategy and education. I know he will make a difference. I know this government will make a difference because we have to. We have allocated resources and we are totally focused on achieving the outcomes that need to be achieved. I commend the statement to the House.
Debate suspended.
Madam SPEAKER: I advise honourable members of the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of the Deputy Administrator of the Northern Territory, Mrs Pat Miller; Hon Warren Snowdon MP, member for Lingiari; Hon Bob Sneath MLC, President of the South Australian Legislative Council and Mrs Pam Sneath; Hon Nick Griffiths MLC, President of the Western Australian Legislative Council; Ms Gay Thompson, Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly of South Australia; Mr Scott McKenzie, Clerk of the Tasmanian Legislative Council; Mr Nigel Lake, Clerk Assistant Committees, Western Australian Legislative Assembly; Ms Rachel Callinan, Committee Director, New South Wales Legislative Council. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I move that this House censure the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services for:
1. lying to the residents of Alice Springs about the capacity of local police to respond to the deteriorating crime situation in this town;
2. abandoning Aboriginal women who are predominately the victims of domestic violence by gutting the Domestic Violence Unit which your government said was a police priority;
3. incompetently failing to provide Alice Springs residents with an effective capacity to contact the police; and
4. responding to the law and order crisis in this town as a political issue that needs to be managed by spin rather than a matter of civil order that requires an effective response.
This, like the censure yesterday, will be an easy censure to prosecute. This is a minister and a representative of the government who is prepared to lie and mislead the constituents – by that I mean all constituents of the Northern Territory – in order to ensure that they return to government.
This minister, like his predecessor, had great faith in the mobile police van. Questions have been asked about the mobile police van. In fact, I wrote a question to the minister about the mobile police van. I asked a number of specific questions in my letter of 1 March this year, such as
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I do not have the exact wording of the motion before us, but it does go to the Domestic Violence Unit in the police and a phone number that Alice Springs people are asked to call. We have suspended the business of the House to bring on this censure motion. I call on you to ask the Leader of the Opposition to address the contents of the motion. We have had this debate about the police van yesterday. It is not mentioned in the motion. If she wants to interrupt the business of the House, call Question Time short on a grandstanding censure motion, she can at least address her comments to the motion that she has put before the Chair - not a motion we debated yesterday.
Ms CARNEY: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker. The first point of the censure motion is ‘lying to the residents of Alice Springs about the capacity of local police to respond to the deteriorating crime situation in the town’. There are numerous examples - and I propose to go through them – of the lack of capacity compared to what the minister says. The police van is just one of those examples.
Madam SPEAKER: I do not have a copy of the motion, and I would like to receive one very soon. I consider there is no point of order. However, Leader of the Opposition, can keep your comments as close as possible to the motion you have put forward.
Ms CARNEY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We are, of course, talking about, as the minister knows, his capacity, his willingness to lie and squib to the people of Alice Springs when it comes to talking about the capacity of our much-respected and much-loved police force, to respond to the problems in this town which, until this week, the minister apparently had not even heard of. Perhaps on occasion he tried to ring the police but could not get through.
On 1 March, I wrote to the minister for Police asking some of those specific questions. I received a letter in return which listed where the police van had been, such as at the cyanide spill up the road and at the football. None of my specific questions were answered. What does this tell us? It tells us that this minister simply will not tell the truth when asked to do so in relation to the capacity of our local police to respond to crime in this town.
There are a number of examples - so many, too many to mention in a censure motion divided into four parts. I also take this opportunity to welcome members of Advance Alice - called vigilantes by the Police minister. I invite you to do so to their face, minister. If you have the courage of your convictions, you will do it to their faces. They are not vigilantes at all; they are decent people from Alice Springs. However, I digress.
There are numerous examples of deteriorating crime in this town. The crime figures - not our figures, your figures - show that crime is deteriorating. Would crime deteriorate if we had enough police resources to meet the needs? No! What does that tell you? It should tell you something. I guess I was not surprised when I heard the comments made by His Honour Trevor Riley in the Supreme Court earlier this month or late last month. It received national coverage. His Honour said that violence had gone from bad to worse - from bad to worse. It is under your watch, minister. There are numerous examples of crime deteriorating under your watch. Minister, you should be ashamed.
You should be seriously ashamed to have a situation in Alice Springs where crime has reached a level where the mums and dads of Alice Springs, the business owners of Alice Springs, and everyone in between, came to Parliament House yesterday and participated in a protest that I have never experienced since living in this town. Why are they protesting? Because they see how hard our police are working. I see a couple of them in the gallery tonight. We all know how hard they work.
When my constituents ring me to tell me about crime and tell me that they cannot get through, you know what they always say, without exception? ‘We do not blame the police. We know that our coppers work hard’. Who do they blame? They blame the government. They blame a Police minister who is prepared to lie to them about the capacity of our local police force. I have received numerous complaints, and I will detail some shortly, about the capacity of police to respond.
Crime has become worse. There is no doubt that crime has become worse, and it happened under your watch. If one tracks your own crime figures, we see that, in Alice Springs for instance, if you look at the December quarter in 2004 compared to the quarter just released, offences against the person increased - and increased significantly.
Property crime in the last three years - your figures - in Alice Springs has increased. In December 2003, there was an average of 600 property crimes per quarter. That is now 900 crimes per quarter, and most of the people here tonight will say: ‘Yes, that is probably about right’. When you are talking about crimes - and the minister is given to not looking at the human aspect of this - you are talking about people’s cars being broken into, business owners having their shop windows broken to such an extent, as one person told me tonight, that she and her husband have stopped getting the business name painted on the front of the window as that is an additional cost so, when the window gets smashed again, as it certainly will, then they cannot recover the cost of painting on their insurance. That is the human cost of the deteriorating crime, and that is why, minister, the people of Alice Springs and the opposition is not prepared to let you off the hook.
This is a minister who certainly fudges. He was asked about police by Katya Quigley on ABC radio on 4 April:
The minister said:
Absolutely, it is. Did you know, minister, that five police officers have left either on the weekend or last week to go to the AFP? I suppose if the town council has its way, they will be back before too long. Minister, you were then asked by Ms Quigley:
Answer:
Blah, blah, blah. You were not even honest enough to answer that question. Therefore, we do not know whether those extra 15 police will represent extra police on the beat. Because, minister, you have form when it comes to fudging, when it comes to avoiding and evading specific questions - whether it is on the mobile police van, from an ABC reporter; frankly whether it is about just about anything - the people of Alice Springs continue to not believe you.
I will move to the second part of the censure which deals with abandoning Aboriginal women who are predominantly the victims of domestic violence by your decision yesterday - no doubt after the rally - to gut the Domestic Violence Unit which your government said was a priority. How many officers do you have there? Ten. Why? Because I checked last night. How many of them are you going to move into General Duties? You did that so that the people of Alice Springs would think something was being done
Minister, you and, indeed, the previous minister for police, have spoken at length in the parliament. These are just some of the things you have had to say about the Domestic Violence Unit. You have been very proud of it. You have talked about the modern police force. You said in parliament on 21 February that it includes a whole range of units within police to deal with domestic violence and intelligence-led policing, particularly against property crime - and you are gutting that one too.
On 30 November 2005, you spoke again about Domestic Violence Units in Darwin and Alice Springs. You were chuffed. In fact, I think that was your predecessor. That is right. Chief Ministerial aspirant and sacked Police minister - and I am glad he was. I actually thought that you could not be any worse but, now, it is abundantly clear that you are because, whereas the leadership contender on the other side spoke proudly of the Domestic Violence Unit and, until yesterday, so did you, you are now in a position of dismantling, or at least reducing the capacity - and this goes back, in a sense, to the first point of the censure - of the Domestic Violence Units to deal with the matters that they appropriately should, particularly in Alice Springs, given that so many domestic violence victims are Aboriginal women.
The list goes on. You have talked about it. Your friend over there – I do not know; the leadership division is such, he might not be your friend. You and your colleague over there have talked about it a great deal and, yet, after the rally you say: ‘Whoops! Better make sure we are doing something. We will just shuffle a few around and that should keep the people of Alice Springs happy because we are going back on Friday and we will not need to come back for a while’.
This government has atrocious form when it comes to Aboriginal victims of violence. Why do I say that, Madam Speaker? Well, one need only remember – and it is appropriate that we are in Alice Springs because most people in the gallery, I suspect, would know Dr Nanette Rogers, Senior Prosecutor at the DPP. I also suspect most people in the gallery saw the Lateline interview ...
Mr Henderson interjecting.
Ms CARNEY: The Leader of Government Business says he does not think so. No doubt he is having a go, as he is wont to do, at the people of Alice Springs. He probably does not think that they are good enough to watch the ABC, not like the Chardonnay-sipping socialists on the other side ...
Mr Henderson interjecting.
Ms CARNEY: It is not really a matter for the Leader of Government Business to tell them what television station to watch. However, we do know that the Chief Minister did not watch it. It was promoted heavily. I left a function to go home and watch it. Did anyone on the Chief Minister’s staff - she has about 80 or so – say: ‘Chief Minister, this could be a really interesting’ …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We have broken the business of parliament to deal with a censure motion that is censuring the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services. The second point of the motion is that we are abandoning Aboriginal women who are predominately the victims of domestic violence. Therefore, the censure is against the minister for Police in regards to a case that the Leader of the Opposition needs to prosecute about what he has done in his time in the portfolio in regards to this issue. Going back to a program on the ABC some many months ago is totally irrelevant to the point at hand with regard to this particular censure against the Police minister. I urge you to ask the Leader of the Opposition to get back to the motion.
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There does seem to be a fairly big deviation from the motion, Leader of the Opposition. I ask you to come to the point fairly quickly.
Ms CARNEY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is, naturally enough, a degree of latitude in a censure motion, just for the benefit of people in the gallery. However, the second point of the censure as it relates to the minister for Police is about abandoning Aboriginal women. It would be remiss of me, I believe, as a representative from Alice Springs, not to mention the way in which the Chief Minister so readily abandoned Aboriginal women and children with her handling of events after the Lateline interview.
This Chief Minister, of course, the Police minister’s boss, embarrassed herself, the party and the Northern Territory with her handling of events after the interview. I note that in an article written by The Bulletin - and I will not quote all of it, I have quoted it in parliament before – Paul Toohey said that the Chief Minister had failed to represent Aborigines; she had failed her Aboriginal parliamentary colleagues, and so on.
We have talked about that before. We know that the inquiry into sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities was called as a result of the national embarrassment of the Chief Minister which, of course, led to the now famous leaked memo, which was written by the member for Millner.
However, going back to the abandonment of Aboriginal women, the domestic violence victims, the Police minister said, on 14 February, that the officers in the Domestic Violence Unit:
I invite the minister for Police, in his reply, to reconcile his decision made yesterday with the statement he made only two months ago. Is it the case that there will be fewer officers? How will they continue in an effective way and the way they want, to focus on repeat offenders and victims and, indeed, support families with a range of problems?
This is political expediency. This was a decision made on the run. This was a decision made to placate the people of Alice Springs - the old Labor trick of smoke and mirrors so that, when they all get on the plane on Friday they will think ‘We do not have to deal with them in Alice Springs anymore’.
I now move to the third part of the censure motion, which is for incompetently failing to provide Alice Springs residents with an effective capacity to contact police. I suppose it is worded in a somewhat unusual way. I was tempted, when I wrote this, to simply say ‘for failing to provide Alice Springs residents with an effective capacity to contact police’.
However, this minister has turned failure into an art form, and he now fails in the most unspeakably incompetent way. You do not even fail well, minister; you fail very badly. Let us tell you why you have failed the people of Alice Springs by failing to provide them with an effective capacity to contact the police. By contacting the police, we are talking about contacting them on the phone. We are also talking about contacting them when they are riding through town, as they did about 18 months ago. We had a mounted police unit that was an experiment, no doubt. It was pulled back and we do not have one any more, so the people cannot contact mounted police officers as they are riding through Alice Springs.
Invariably, they cannot contact police officers in the mobile police van. There are a couple of reasons for that. One is we rarely see it. We have, however, seen it in the last couple of weeks. Call me a cynic, but some of us think that has something to do with parliament sitting in Alice Springs. As I said yesterday, I have friends who work at the court house. People who know Alice Springs well will know that certain positions at the back of the court house overlook the police compound or the car park. I am reliably informed that the mobile police van is not as mobile as you would have us believe.
However, that day I saw it in the mall, I was walking with a colleague. It is worth repeating the story for the benefit of Alice Springs residents here. I was walking with a member of staff; we were going to Oscars for lunch. We walked up the mall and I saw the police van. I touched the police van because I wanted to make sure it was real. Then I went one step further; I thought I would knock on the door. Knocked on the door of the mobile police van - and do you know? - I could not contact a police officer because one was not there. The police van was parked on that occasion under the sails in Todd Mall. That was just my experience walking down Todd Mall, knocking on the door of the police van ...
Members interjecting.
Ms CARNEY: I will come to the political spin later. I thought it was very interesting when you issued your glossy brochure in Alice Springs a couple of weeks ago, Matt Conlan on 8HA said that he has seen the mobile police van more in government brochures than in reality on the streets of Alice Springs. I will come back to that.
Can the people of Alice Springs contact the mounted police? No! Can the people of Alice Springs contact police in the police van? Well, I could not and I am sure other people had similar experiences.
Now, let us get to the numbers. The night before 18 October 2006, Harry Osborne rang my home. The minister will remember this because we were sitting in parliament in Darwin. The next day, I asked you this question:
As we understood it at that point:
The phone rang out. That was just one experience. Somewhat predictably, you did not answer that question but, I think in a subsequent media release you said that the phone had been fixed. In fact, you did say in a subsequent media interview that the phone had been fixed, which brings me to your fascinating interview on 8HA on 1 March 2007. You were asked then about Harry Osborne. Harry Osborne rang in and he said: ‘Hello, minister, I was the idiot who tried to ring the police last October’. Then he wanted a response from you. You then said:
Your words, minister, not mine. That was on 1 March 2007. You told the people of Alice Springs that the phone problem had been fixed. It goes back to your propensity to lie to the residents of Alice Springs.
I have some e-mails here. I will quote relevant parts of them, and I am happy to table them. I have, naturally, removed the identity of people. An e-mail to me on 24 March reads:
That was on 24 March; the problem was not fixed. You must have known that the problem was not fixed. Last week, on 11 April, a constituent rang my office. The file note from my electorate officer says:
On 13 April I got this e-mail from my electorate officer:
and your repeated advice, minister:
Then we have your answer. No doubt you will say the police came up with it with it because you are not a bloke who likes to take responsibility. However, the buck does stop with you; that is why you are being censured, and why you thoroughly deserve the censure motion. I have read out just some of the complaints. I have a big file of them, and I am sure people in this place know someone by now if it has not happened to them. Everyone knows it is happening; surely, you must know as well.
On 3 April in the Centralian Advocate was the announcement of the answering machine. This Police minister, in essence, said to the people of Alice Springs: ‘Yes, when you have the bad guys on your doorstep, when they are thumping down the door, ring 8951 8888. If that does not work, ring 131 444. If that does not work try 000. If that does not work, maybe you will get the answering machine’. Of course, we all know the jokes about press 1 if you are having a heart attack; press 2 if you are about to fall off the perch now; press 3, blah, blah, blah. That is what the people of Alice Springs are saying when it comes to the communication system that your government has to repair and replace so these good people can ring the police.
The cartoon in the Centralian Advocate on 3 April is a ripper and it speaks volumes. It says ‘the police communications problem’, and one guy says: ‘They won’t miss any now. The new phone has a siren and a flashing light’. Maybe people are going to have to send up smoke signals to get the police officers to come round. Do the police officers want to come around? Absolutely! Do they want to fight law and order? Absolutely! Do we want them to do that? Absolutely!
This is not about talking down the town; it is not about talking down the police officers. However, it is about talking you down, minister. I did think you would be somewhat better than the previous one who was sacked - and we know he was sacked because he was a leadership contender. I did think you were better, but you have failed the people of Alice Springs, and you continue to do so.
Moving briefly to the final point of this censure motion, which is ‘for responding to the law and order crisis in this town as a political issue that needs to be managed by spin, rather than a matter of civil order which requires an effective response’.
We have the glossies Labor said they would never do. This one, delivered recently, has the mobile van - I reckon that is in the mall - and has three police officers standing outside it. I can understand why a minister who lies to the residents of Alice Springs, and the Chief Minister who has now joined him, would really like that photo to go into the letterboxes of the people of Alice Springs.
This is only half of it. Then there was the thing in the Centralian Advocate on 5 April – I wonder how much the big heading cost? – ‘Safe streets, safe kids’. There was nothing about the number you should ring, or a commitment to upgrade the communications system at the Alice Springs Police Station. Is that spin? Yes, it is spin. Is it satisfactory for the people of Alice Springs? No, it is not. I said to the people who were demonstrating outside earlier that offering the people of Alice Springs beads and trinkets is not enough; they deserve and expect more.
Yesterday, you were censured for a number of different reasons. Today, you are censured for other reasons. We have had three demonstrations in two days in Alice Springs. They are targeted at you and your government for failing to respond. In that fascinating interview on 8HA on 1 March, when quizzed about how much time you spend here, you said:
He was in Darwin when he was talking about us:
Reporter, Matt Conlan:
He got an answer; the minister said:
Matt Conlan:
You need to spend significantly more time in Alice Springs. You need to stop lying to the residents of Alice Springs about the capacity of local police to respond to deteriorating crime. You should not be shuffling police officers from a unit of which your predecessor was very proud - and you should have been, too. You are now shuffling police officers around that. I wonder how victims of, and advocates against, domestic violence will feel about your decision.
You deserve the censure for so badly, so incompetently failing to provide Alice Springs residents with an effective capacity to contact police. You were asked in Question Time, in essence, what number they should ring. You stood at the Dispatch Box and said ‘131 444’. Why is it that you do not know - and you are the minister for Police, a minister of the Crown - that people are still not going to get through? Certainly, they get through sometimes, probably often. However, when people are coming to their local members in desperation saying: ‘I cannot get through to the cops and that really frightens me’, you should be deeply concerned about that.
Frankly, you owe the people of Alice Springs an apology. How dare you stand here and say: ‘No. Job is right’. How dare you say on 1 March in that interview: ‘Oh, I am told the problem has been fixed. Not my problem’. It is, minister. The people of this town are looking to you to respond in an appropriate way. They are looking for you to respond in a way that is not just spin. If you were not moved and rocked by the demonstration outside the parliament yesterday, then you should resign. If you are not going to fix the police communications system, you should resign. You owe the people here an explanation. You deserve the censure ...
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, your time has expired.
Dr BURNS (Police, Fire and Emergency Services): Madam Speaker, I am glad to speak in this censure motion. It revolves around numbers that people should ring when they want to contact police. I stand by what I said here earlier today regarding the numbers that people should ring if they want to contact police.
For urgent calls, people should ring 000. As I stated earlier tonight - and I stand by it - that is the number to ring in the case of an emergency. The aim of the police is to answer those calls within 10 seconds. In fact, their aim is to answer 90% of those within 10 seconds. Last year, in 2005-06, they achieved 86% of that target. They did fall short for 000, but it was very close to the 90% that they have as a target to answer within 10 seconds.
In relation to a non-urgent calls, 131 444, as I stated earlier, is the number that people should ring. Police aim to answer 80% of those calls within 20 seconds. Last year, 2005-06, they achieved 79%. I am not going to hide away from the fact that, in some cases, it may be longer, depending on the incidents that are occurring in the particular town.
The Opposition Leader has made much about people of Alice Springs regarding these numbers. These numbers apply across the Territory; therefore, if you are in Darwin you will ring 000 if it is an emergency or, if it is not an emergency, you ring 131 444. Similarly, in Alice Springs. I am informed, as of tonight - because we are talking about it tonight - in Darwin there are five people answering the 131 444 number, and there are two people answering 131 444 in Alice Springs. There may be times when there are - and I have not backed the way from that - delays in the 131 444 number. However, I still encourage people to use that number for non-urgent calls, and the 000 for urgent calls.
Yesterday, we had a censure motion. I was censured here yesterday by the opposition. It was a fairly similar censure yesterday. It was about the mobile police station, police visibility, and law and order in the Northern Territory. Basically, the censure debate took up, I suppose, about an hour-and-a-half or two hours of parliament. It is very interesting to read what the member for Braitling said about that very similar censure debate that occurred yesterday. As I said earlier this evening, I have a lot of respect for the member for Braitling; I believe she is a very wise woman who is very even in her opinions and reflects a broader view. I will repeat from the Hansard what she said yesterday regarding the opposition:
Then, at the end of the debate, she ended with these words:
It will be interesting to see what the Independents have to say about this particular motion - whether they have a similar view.
To talk about the mobile police van again, which is what the Leader of the Opposition spoke about yesterday, I made it very plain that it is a mobile police van; that is its function. It did go to the cyanide spill; it has been used in the mall; it was used in the NAB Cup; and it has been used on Northside. It is deployed as the police require it. It is an operational issue as to how that police van is deployed. As I said yesterday, there is a $100 000 investment in that police van. It has state-of-the-art communications. It is a wonderful tool for police, which is in stark contrast to what they had before under the previous government.
This government is resourcing the police force. There has been much debate over the past few days and, in Question Time, many questions about police resources in the Northern Territory, and in Alice Springs in particular. I believe this government has demonstrated that we have made a significant investment in policing. After the previous CLP government had a recruitment freeze …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: No, you do not want to hear it, Leader of the Opposition. … had a recruitment freeze on police in the 1990s for some three or four years, which is still having an effect on our police force. We have invested $75m to recruit 200 extra police into our police force.
I talked about stunts here earlier tonight. People in Alice Springs might be aware that this Opposition Leader tabled a bogus document in relation …
Ms Carney: Oh, rubbish!
Dr BURNS: Yes, you did! For those who want to see the Hansard, the Leader of the Opposition was called on for misleading parliament by the Speaker herself over that particular document …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: She should be ashamed of herself. She has spent a lot of the time here this evening - okay, I can take it, I am a politician. You can point the finger at me, you can throw the spears at me.
I believe you have been denigrating police and the work that they do and the job that they have to do, and the two police answering that phone in Alice Springs. You have reflected very badly on those people and the job they are doing, member for Araluen …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Dr BURNS: Oh, yes, you have! You have form about phones ringing out. Members might recall that the CLP had an advertisement on this very issue: ‘The phones are ringing out in the local police station’. Their advertisement was aired at prime time during news: ‘Ring this number’. What happened to the CLP advertisement? Someone rang it up and the phone rang out. People in glass houses should not throw stones, and you should not be throwing them at police …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I urge that the member for Araluen withdraws the shrieking claims of lying across the Chamber. It is totally unparliamentary. We can take it in debate, but abuse being shrieked and hurled across the Chamber is not parliamentary. I urge you to ask her to withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition …
A member interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: No, I have already made a decision. Leader of the Opposition, whilst this is a censure motion, the comments that you have made are not in relation to the censure motion itself. I ask you to withdraw those interjections.
Ms CARNEY: Madam Speaker, you have not allowed me to speak to the point of order. I have no choice other than to withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you. Minister, please continue.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Another issue that was raised by the Leader of the Opposition was in relation to Northern Territory Police being seconded to the Australian Federal Police. It is a valid question that was also raised today by the Alice Springs Town Council. It is true that some 40 officers from the Northern Territory Police have been seconded to the Australian Federal Police - we are talking all over the Territory here - for airport duties. This is an arrangement that has been entered into by the Northern Territory government with the federal government. The federal government, obviously, has a priority in ensuring airport security, and we all realise that. What people should realise is that part of that agreement is that the federal government funds the Territory government for those positions and the training to refill those positions. Therefore, whilst it is true there may be five, I think in Alice Springs, Northern Territory Police who have been seconded into the Australian Federal Police for those duties, in that particular case, the federal government is funding a replacement of those five positions within the Northern Territory Police Force and, also, the training of those officers to fill those positions. That is important …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Dr BURNS: I am placing it on the record here, member for Greatorex; that is very important. It is an arrangement that was given the tick by the Prime Minister, member for Greatorex. If you wander into his office you will find out about that particular arrangement.
The Northern Territory government is pleased to support the federal government in airport security, and welcomes this style of funding because it presents opportunities also for our police to get experience in this particular area.
In her assertions within her speech, the Leader of Opposition talked about police numbers. I believe we have talked about police numbers in detail here. We started from a low base in Alice Springs. I have already quoted from the O’Sullivan Report earlier this evening showing 50% of uniformed police in Alice Springs. We have been building it gradually over the past four years, and now it is up to establishment. I stand by that, just as I stand by the decision of the Commissioner of Police.
Unlike what was asserted by the Leader of the Opposition, it was my decision to mobilise police from certain units into uniform duties, to have a high visibility within the Alice Springs community. That is a decision made by the Commissioner of Police. The Leader of the Opposition should be aware of something called a separation of powers. I do not direct the police in operational matters …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Dr BURNS: I do not direct police in operational matters! I do not say to the police: ‘You will have 10 police in the mall next Saturday night, or 15 police at the football’, or anything like that. I do not say that; I cannot say that; I would not say that. It is obvious that the Leader of the Opposition would try to trample all over the established conventions of our Westminster system. She is someone who does not understand those conventions. She does not understand how police operate and, basically, she is making a fool of herself in this regard.
I applaud the …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Dr BURNS: Let me finish please, Leader of the Opposition.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Leader of the Opposition, cease interjecting.
Dr BURNS: Furthermore, I will place on the public record here tonight that I support the decision of the Police Commissioner and senior police in Alice Springs to mobilise police in such a fashion. As I said in Question Time, this is a flexible response to the needs of the Alice Springs community. Certainly, the clear message of the Alice Springs community is that they want this high visibility policing to address the issues that confront this community and have been articulated by a number of groups in Alice Springs. I support the Police Commissioner in that.
The Leader of the Opposition is also over the top to assert that this government - and me in particular - is abandoning Aboriginal women. This is the sort of emotive language that the Leader of the Opposition embarks upon and embraces all the time. Basically, it is offensive. As I said in Question Time, the work of the Domestic Violence Unit and property crime reduction will continue.
I place on the record tonight, as I did last night, the crime statistics for Alice Springs. Yes, property offences have been up in the last quarter of 2006 compared to 2005. These are things that require vigilance, and I am sure that the police will do that. Regarding offences against the person, in Alice Springs, quarter on quarter 2005 to 2006, there was a reduction of about 17% in 2006 compared to 2005.
I will quote again these longer term statistics and place them on the record: over the six years since we have been in power, in Alice Springs, assaults are down 18%, total offences against the person are down 16%, unlawful entry with intent down is 15%, motor vehicle theft is down 22%, and other theft is down 13%. As I said yesterday, any offence is one offence too many, but we are never going to have a society that is completely free of crime.
I acknowledge that, over the past months - and particularly a fortnight ago - there has been a rise in vicious assaults within Alice Springs, particularly in the mall. I have given my commitment a number of times in this parliament and in the meetings that I have had - and I will do it again - that it is important for people to feel safe at home and in the streets, in going about their duty.
As a government, we are committed to that. I am committed to that as Police minister. I believe the police have the resources to do the job that they have to do. At the meeting we had yesterday with the leaders of the demonstration, the police were asked that question. They responded that they believe they have the resources required to do the job. They also said that they would be mobilising further resources, as I said before, to address issues related to social disorder, which is so important to the people of Alice Springs.
The Chief Minister and I have read from a media release from the Police Commissioner. I believe it is worthwhile restating that again. In terms of City Safe, the Police Commissioner said:
He also said:
Then he said:
I would have thought the Leader of the Opposition would have been supporting these words. In fact, she is just trying to pick holes. Nothing that anyone would ever do would satisfy the Leader of the Opposition.
Considerable resources and undertakings have been given by the government in relation to this matter. The Leader of the Opposition and her staff continually belting the 131 444 number, trying to prove points, does not do anyone any good. It undermines confidence. What she has been doing has been undermining confidence in our police force and their ability to respond.
I should address the issue of my time in Alice Springs, which is a continual theme by the Leader of the Opposition. As I said yesterday, since I became Police minister late last year, I believe I have been in Alice Springs seven times, including this visit. I would like to come as often as I can. I do come as often as I can, but I have duties right across the Territory.
I can assure the people of Alice Springs that I am committed to them. I have offered to, and will, meet with representatives of Advance Alice in two months time to review the situation. I also gave that undertaking to the Alice Springs Town Council today. We will see what happens in that regard. I am more than happy to take constructive criticism and suggestions about how to improve situations. We have been doing that, which is never enough for the opposition.
The proof will be in the pudding, Madam Speaker. To repeat what the member for Braitling said yesterday:
Madam Speaker, I will close on that.
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I am surprised that the minister is unable to defend himself adequately. He deserves to be censured because he has failed in so many aspects of his police portfolio. He has failed to provide Alice Springs with the capacity to contact the local police station. He has failed to provide the police with capacity to deal with the lawlessness in this town. He has failed to ensure that people in Alice Springs can walk down their streets without getting into harm.
When you wake up in the morning and you get these newspaper headlines, how do you think you would feel? You would be terrified to live in a town where you see these sorts of headlines.
Dr Burns: Is that 1997?
Dr LIM: The minister mocks the Centralian Advocate!
Dr Burns: You did the same thing yesterday.
Dr LIM: This is 3 April 2007, less than two weeks ago. You wake up in the morning and you read this. That is why we are censuring you; you are incompetent in your police portfolio, just as you were incompetent as Minister for Health. You have been so incompetent, it is beyond a joke. When you tell people to ring the police station, you cannot even get the police station telephone number right. How competent is that?
To give people the wrong phone number is pure incompetence: 8981 8888. That is why you need to be censured. It is not my one big point. It is a demonstration of the incompetent man that you are. No wonder. I recall a letter that was written about you when the health discussion was going on. The letter called you ‘Bumbling Burns’. That is what you should be called ‘Bumbling Burns’, the incompetent Minister for Health and the incompetent minister for Police.
Minister, there is a real problem. The other day, I said that I rang the police station and my phone rang out. You interjected by calling it a stunt. Let me tell the story again so that you will know why I called the police station. It was on the Easter weekend. I was walking from my office into the Yeperenye Shopping Centre towards Woolworths. As I was entering the shopping centre, I saw an Aboriginal man flat on his back, apparently out to it - unconscious or asleep, I did not know. Many people walked past him going in and out of the shopping centre. I chose not to walk past. I stopped, and I rang the police station on my phone seeking assistance. If the man was unconscious because he had a head injury, he should have been in hospital. If the man was asleep on the footpath, well, he should not be sleeping there. If he was drunk, he should have been taken to the drying out shelter. I stopped and bent down and checked him out medically. In the process, I also called the police and the phone rang out …
A member interjecting.
Dr LIM: That is what I did. It was no stunt; it was a genuine act of concern …
Mr Henderson: Why didn’t you call 000?
Dr LIM: Until I found out whether the man was in trouble or not, 000 would be inappropriate.
Mr Henderson: It was a medical condition. It was not a law and order …
Dr LIM: It was not a medical condition yet. Anyway, coming back to the censure, until you disclose the person …
Mr Henderson: Why not call an ambulance?
Dr LIM: Madam Speaker, I think the Leader of Government Business could actually hold his voice while I talk about the censure.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Honourable members.
Dr LIM: The minister tells us 131 444 is the number to ring. I wonder whether his office staff has even tried today to find out how easy it is to get through. When you have people in Alice Springs complaining over and over again that there are issues in town, you have to listen.
Until the demonstration outside, with some 500 people from Alice Springs angrily demonstrating, you would not have listened. Every time we complained, you said we were talking the town down. In February 2006, I said at that time that there was anarchy in the streets of Alice Springs, and I was ridiculed by you and your fellow members. I have been proven right. When you walk down the street and you face unprovoked attacks in the mall, it is anarchy. It is anarchy because you, as Police minister, have failed to ensure that there are adequate police officers in this town.
It was not until just before the Easter weekend that you brought in 15 new police officers to complete the full establishment numbers for Alice Springs. You know that Alice Springs Police Station is the biggest in the Northern Territory. Alice Springs people may not know that, but it is the biggest police station in the Territory. In the Top End, you have one in Palmerston, one at Berrimah, one at Nightcliff and one in Mitchell Street in the city of Darwin. In Alice Springs, you have one large police station. You would expect that that police station can respond to phone calls from people who are in desperate need of help but, no, you do not.
I suggest that, perhaps, the minister should publicise his personal telephone numbers so that people who cannot get through to the police can at least get through to him, and then he can instruct the police to respond. That is his job. If his police department cannot respond to telephone calls, then perhaps he should be taking those calls. Have your telephone number listed in the phonebook and people might be able to access the police through you if they cannot get through in any other way.
You tell people that you will continue City Safe indefinitely, and then your police officers say: ‘No, we cannot sustain that indefinitely’. Then, you say: ‘Okay, we will take staff away from the Domestic Violence Unit to try to cover the police on the beat’. I know what patients who suffer domestic violence go through. I have treated them in the ED of the Alice Springs Hospital. That is a very important unit that protects defenceless women, particularly amongst our indigenous community in Alice Springs. To take staff away from that unit is very inappropriate. If you happen to continue City Safe in Alice Springs, make sure you have the right numbers. Because of your wish to divert police from one unit to continue with City Safe, it tells me that you need more police in Alice Springs than your current establishment numbers; you do not have enough.
When the Leader of the Opposition talked about your police statistics - and you quote your own - the reality is that, year on year, from 2005 to 2006 there has been a great increase in crime in Alice Springs. You talked about the decrease of personal violence and injuries. Yes, murder has gone down between 2005 and 2006 but, in the three-and-a-half months of this year in Alice Springs alone, we have already had five killings. That has now shot your stats to pieces, hasn’t it? This town is facing a crisis in lawlessness, and I urge you to get out of your doldrums and deal with it. You are a PhD; you have the intellect. You have demonstrated to everybody in the Territory that you have a PhD behind your name. It is not that you are stupid; you are just incompetent.
Property offences continued to go up between 2005 and 2006 by 10.68%. That has to be a significant increase. I told you just recently, my next door neighbour’s house was broken into while he was at work. The perpetrators came through the back window and stole his belongings. Only about two weeks, a single woman who lives next door to me had her house broken into. How do you expect people to be able to stay in their own homes, on their own, and still feel safe? They cannot! They cannot feel safe. What you need is to have enough police on the beat, patrolling the streets on a very regular basis with high visibility, so that the perpetrators are scared off. Until you do that, it will not stop.
All you have to do is go through the recent newspaper articles in Alice Springs. You do not have to look elsewhere; just Alice Springs alone. The editorial of the Centralian Advocate on the 3 April this year had this to say:
More pertinently, it said:
It went on to say:
I have police officers come to my office on a regular basis, or they meet me in the street, telling me they cannot cope; they have lost the battle in the streets ...
Mr Henderson: Rubbish! When? Who?
Dr LIM: You see, the Leader of Government Business continues to interject and demands of me to name names. What will happen under this government? This vindictive government will penalise those public servants who would dare to go to the opposition to provide information. That is the problem! This minister would pursue those people down every burrow to try to get them out of the Territory. That is why, in opposition, I am not prepared to name those people. If the minister suggests I am lying about this then I suggest that he goes outside these front doors of parliament and call me liar. I challenge him to call me a liar. He does not dare.
Let me go to a few other examples of what is happening in Alice Springs. Less than one week later, even the Northern Territory News was concerned enough about Alice Springs that they went on the record, and said:
If the Northern Territory News expresses such concern yet this government does not, it has to demonstrate that this Police minister is out of touch with our community. Year after year after year, the opposition voiced its concern to government through speeches in parliament. We continue to be ignored over and over again. As people would see from the interjections that I get, they say we are all telling a lot of furphies.
Well, if it is furphies, why do you think people such as Advance Alice are prepared to wear their shirts and march in here tonight during Question Time? Why is it that you have 500 people standing outside parliament during the peak business trading hours, closing their shops and coming in here? They were here between 8 30 am and 9 30 am, 10 am. They were prepared to close their shops, do themselves out of business, while they expressed their concerns to you and to the Chief Minister. It is unprecedented that the Chief Minister has been booed by an angry mob such as the one that was outside yesterday morning. It is unprecedented that the Chief Minister has been heckled while she tried to make a response. That is where you have failed. That is why I keep saying you have failed Territorians.
Minister, you have demonstrated incompetence in the way you have handled this portfolio, over and over again – not only this current portfolio of Police, but also in your other portfolio of Health. You know that. You are nodding your head in agreement. Pull up your socks and do it properly - and I know you can. I know you can; you have the intellect; you have proven it over and over again. So, use it. Do it and let us see a better environment for Alice Springs so that we do not have to be fearful whenever we leave our homes.
Alice Springs has had enough of the Martin government continuing to ignore our pleas for help. It is time we have a permanent, fully-established police force in town. Then, ask the Commissioner of Police to consider how many more are required here.
One final point, and your colleague, the Leader for Government Business, might like to respond to this. You seemed to say yesterday in the media that you have fully funded the Commissioner of Police so that he can continue his operations in Alice Springs and throughout the Territory; you have given him all the resources you can possibly give him, now it is up to him to deliver. I recall another minister in Victoria who said: ‘Oh well, I have told the CEO of the Health Department that he has to do certain things and he has not and he has now been sacked’. Is the commissioner’s job on the line?
Mr HENDERSON (Employment, Education and Training): Madam Speaker, this is the weakest censure in a debate on law and order that I have heard in my eight years in parliament. The opportunity for the opposition to hold the government to account via a censure motion is to prosecute the case that lies in the censure motion, and both speakers have patently failed to do that.
Before I go to the technicality of motions and the way the parliament operates, I say to the people of Alice Springs, as we, as the government, have been saying all week and since we came to government in 2001: we recognise that there are very deep-seated social issues and problems leading to antisocial behaviour and crime in Alice Springs, in Central Australia, and across the Northern Territory. We have said repeatedly that these are deep-seated. There are no single silver bullet cures to rid the Northern Territory of crime and antisocial behaviour. We spend many hours in this parliament debating these issues. All 25 members of this House want to see an improvement in those areas.
We have a responsibility as leaders. Each one of us is elected by our constituents, not only to represent their views, but to show leadership by moving the Northern Territory ahead and creating a better social and economic climate. That is what our constituents entrust their faith in us to do in this parliament. It is not just about representing views.
In the two days that we have been debating these issues in Alice Springs, we have not had anything from the opposition in regard to strategies and what we need to do to try to improve the major issues that affect and confront this community. All we have is scaremongering and amplifying, through a megaphone, the problems that we have. I do not see that as the role of a member of parliament. Sure, we have to talk about the issues, but we have to offer solutions. We have to try to be constructive. We have to try to engage on how we will move the Territory ahead, rather than being a cheer squad and amplifying the problems.
Never let the facts get in the way of a good story from the Leader of the Opposition. The first part of the censure alleges that the minister for Police has lied to the residents of Alice Springs about the capacity of local police to respond to the deteriorating crime situation in this town. There are many planks to the allegation, but she did not prosecute where the Police minister had lied to the people of Alice Springs. There was no prosecution; nothing would have stood up in a court of law: ‘Yes, Your Honour, the Police minister is guilty of lying’. There was not even a direct allegation about where he actually lied. There were some loose tangents cobbled together to allow rhetoric and hyperbole to reign.
We then move to the next point of the censure motion. I nearly rose to call a point of order, but I wanted to see where the Leader of the Opposition was going with this. She directly alleged – and we do not have the Hansard; the rushes have not arrived – that, as a result of the demonstration out the front yesterday – the Leader of the Opposition talked about 500 people; I think estimates were around 250 to 300, but a significant demonstration nonetheless, and many angry and upset people whose right I respect to demonstrate to this parliament - the Police minister picked up the phone to the Police Commissioner and directed him to dismantle the Domestic Violence Unit and the Property Crimes Unit and redirect those resources to the frontline. What an outrageous allegation; it is almost contempt of this House, Madam Speaker.
The Leader of the Opposition is a lawyer. I am not going to comment about how good a lawyer she was or not; I will leave that for other people to determine. However, as a lawyer and as the Leader of the Opposition who purports to be a potential Chief Minister, as a member of parliament, she has an absolute responsibility to inform herself and to speak the truth in here. It is an offence to mislead this parliament. So great is the trust that the people put in us as their representatives, the single biggest offence that you can conduct in this parliament is to mislead it.
She made a direct allegation. I would have thought that, as a lawyer - and I believe she practised criminal law, I am not sure. However, if she did not practise it she must have studied it. The Police Administration Act is fundamental legislation that outlines the powers of the police. It is fundamental legislation which any lawyer worth their salt - any lawyer worth their salt - I would have thought would have understood pretty clearly. I will read from section 14 of the Police Administration Act, ‘Control and management of Police Force’:
(1) Subject to this Act, the Commissioner shall be charged and invested with the general control and management of the Police Force and may, in addition to those powers, exercise any powers conferred on a Superintendent or other officer of the Police Force.
In plain English, the commissioner is charged and invested with the general control and management of the police force. It then goes on to say:
(2) The Commissioner shall exercise and perform all the powers and functions of his office in accordance with directions in writing, if any, given to him by the minister.
Therefore, the only way the minister can direct the Police Commissioner to deploy resources or to make any decisions at all in relation to the general control and management of the police force - the only way that the minister can do that, otherwise it would be unlawful - is to direct the Police Commissioner in writing. I would have thought the Leader of the Opposition would have known that the Police minister has no capacity - it would be illegal for him - to pick up the phone and call the Police Commissioner, or the Commander of Police here at Alice Springs, and direct the commissioner or the commander to dismantle parts of the police force and redeploy them elsewhere.
If she does not know that, well, what a second-rate, third-rate lawyer she must be. If she does know that, then she has deliberately come into this House and misled this House. That is a very serious allegation. I am going to err on the side of generosity to the Leader of the Opposition, that maybe she does not understand what is in the Police Administration Act; that she was such an incompetent lawyer she does not understand that the Police minister can only direct the commissioner by way of a written instruction.
I believe, in the history of the Northern Territory since self-government, that no Police minister in the Northern Territory has ever issued such an instruction to our police commissioner, because to do so would be to show no confidence in the commissioner. If we do not have confidence in the Commissioner of Police, the powers of the police, the structures of police, to make decisions about where police need to be deployed to maintain order in the Northern Territory, then we would have no confidence in the commissioner. I and this side of the House have every confidence in our Police Commissioner; he does a fantastic job. We can all talk about facts and figures, but there has been a general reduction in crime across the Northern Territory since he became Commissioner of the NT Police Force.
For the Leader of the Opposition to abuse her very important responsibility to be informed, to show leadership, and come into this House tonight and allege, by way of the most serious motion that can be passed in this parliament, that the Police minister has abandoned his confidence in the commissioner and directed him in writing - because it is the only way he can do so - to deploy resources in Alice Springs is an absolute shame and one of the lowest points that I have seen in regard to her performance in this House. That is why this censure just does not stand up at all. Not to understand the very sound principles that govern our police force goes to show that she is either totally ignorant or she just wants to scaremonger and grandstand on these very important issues for the people of Alice Springs.
If we look at what happened here in Alice Springs - they were awful events; people were assaulted, stabbed, and we had, very tragically, two murders. I have probably been in the Territory longer than the Leader of the Opposition. I have been in the Northern Territory 24 years this year and, for many of those years, I have known many members of our police force through personal relationships. If you talk to any police officer who has been in the police force for 20 years in the Northern Territory, they will tell you about the issues and problems in Alice Springs. To come in here and say it has all gone to rack and ruin since the Labor government came to office – that is fine, that is political rhetoric, that plays well in the community, that is good - it does belie history of the underlying issues in this town.
The member for Greatorex stood up with his press clippings about all the awful events here. Well, I will go away and get equal press clippings over the last five years of the CLP government which will have exactly the same headlines. I believe our community expects more of their elected representatives than just to amplify problems; they want solutions from us. The Leader of the Opposition and the member for Greatorex showed contempt for our police in their contribution in debate tonight. Did the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Greatorex actually get up and congratulate our police force because, in each and every one of those events a couple of weeks ago where assaults occurred in the mall and, tragically, people were stabbed and murders were committed, arrests have been made and charges have been laid? In each and every one of those cases!
Did we hear the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Greatorex acknowledge that the police have done a very large part of what we asked them to do; which is bring these people to court? They have done that; they have shown great professionalism, very quickly, within two weeks, rounded up, arrested and charged a large number of people for those offences. Such is the contempt that the Leader of the Opposition has for our police force she could not bring herself to mention that in here and say: ‘Hey guys, and the women of our police force, well done’. That is the level of contempt that she holds those police in.
Regarding the issues about the phone number, again - talk about phonegate, watergate! Obviously, there are some technical issues there. I was minister for Police over 12 months ago - I cannot remember the exact date - when the police brought in the new Territory-wide number, 131 444. There was a lot of media coverage about it at the time. I know all local members were contacted directly that a new call number was in place. I believe all electorate offices were supplied with information about the new number …
Mr Bonson: And magnets
Mr HENDERSON: … and magnets for fridges and what have you - because we do all play a very important role as members of parliament in getting information out to our constituents.
For the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Greatorex not to know that the police had changed the general contact number for people to report crimes or make complaints to - well, I do not know where they have been. They are either totally incompetent or being deliberately mischievous …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Totally incompetent or deliberately mischievous. Instead of saying: ‘There must be something going wrong, Sensis must be wrong …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … but I know, because I am a responsible member of parliament wanting to serve my constituents, that the number that you should be calling is 131 444’. But, no, the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Greatorex would rather play cute games and try to score cheap political points than serve their constituents. That is where the Leader of the Opposition does not get it. That is where she does not get it; whether you represent your constituents or you are there to serve your constituents. You can do both. You can do both, Leader of the Opposition. You can walk and chew gum at the same time - maybe you cannot. There are obviously issues regarding the nonsense about the phone number, and they need to be fixed. However, the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Greatorex, as members of parliament, were told formally that this was a new number.
In the short time I have left today, I have to get stuck into the member for Greatorex because he really is the worst of the worst - the worst of the worst in abrogating his total responsibility to show leadership in this community. We talked a lot today about the importance of tourism to Alice Springs. We all know the importance of tourism to Alice Springs. We all know the thousands of jobs, the businesses that are supported by tourism in Alice Springs, Central Australia - the hundreds of businesses that are directly benefiting from tourists. For a member of parliament, for a local representative, to come in here tonight and claim, over and over again, that there is anarchy in the streets of Alice Springs is absolutely reprehensible regarding his responsibilities to show leadership.
I will read from the Oxford Dictionary the definition of ‘anarchy’. I am not a great person for quotes and where they came from but, as a politician, there are some fundamentals. We are governed by words. Words are very important to politicians, and we know and understand the powers of words. English Prime Minister Disraeli made that point. If we look at the definition of ‘anarchy’ in the Oxford English Dictionary, it states: ‘absence of government, a state of lawlessness due to the absence of the supreme power, political disorder’. It is a total and utter breakdown of law and order in our society; a lack of political governance; a total and utter breakdown. You are talking about Baghdad or somewhere like that. Even George Bush would not admit that there was anarchy occurring in Baghdad.
The member for Greatorex came in here and made those claims: a total absence of law and order. Each and every one of the alleged perpetrators of those acts have been apprehended and charged. Where does that demonstrate a total absence of law and order? We have issues and we have problems, but does the member for Greatorex really want front page headlines in national newspapers saying ‘Alice Springs MLA claims anarchy in the streets. Alice Springs MLA says there is a crisis of lawlessness’? Is that contributing to the solutions? Or is it really going to his constituents and saying: ‘I do not care about you. I want to shaft your property prices. I want to shaft tourism in this town. I do not want to be part of the solutions. My responsibilities are to amplify and exaggerate the problems’.
Madam Speaker, this has been a defining debate in this parliament tonight which shows a complete lack of leadership from what is a very responsible position in this parliament. As the Chief Minister said yesterday, the third most important position in this parliament is to show leadership and provide a very clear alternative. Well, there are problems here. The government may be accused of not doing everything it can. That is fine. But that is a long way from anarchy and a complete breakdown of law and order in our streets. That is a very dangerous thing to say in trying to attract tourists and workers to this town, in ensuring our businesses are profitable and that property prices stay strong where people have their whole lives invested in it. It is absolute shame on the member for Greatorex, in particular, in debate in this parliament tonight. If he does not run again at the next election, it will be best for the Territory.
Madam Speaker, I move that the motion be put.
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition!
There are two motions before the chair. The first is that the question be put and the second is the censure motion. The question, then, is that the question be put.
Motion agreed to.
Madam SPEAKER: The question now is that the censure motion as moved by the Leader of the Opposition be agreed to.
Motion negatived.
Continued from earlier this day.
Debate adjourned.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
Madam Speaker, Mr Mike Hindle, the Town Administrator for Nhulunbuy for the past 12 years has retired from the position and moved to Queensland. He became Town Administrator in April 1995 after working as a supervisor in the Commercial Department of Nabalco and, prior to that, was the Area Manager for the Northern Territory government’s Transport and Works.
He is a keen sportsman. Many old soccer players remember his formidable frame occupying the goal square as keeper. Cricket was another regular sport he enjoyed. Mike was also involved in various community groups and committees included the Arnhem Club and Rotary, and he was a foundation member of the Bowhunters and, in recent years, was a driving force behind the East Arnhem Harmony Mawaya Mala Group in an attempt to address antisocial behaviour. He brought together all stakeholders and, from that initial meeting three years ago, we now have the care centre operational, with the official opening just three weeks ago.
Another of Mike’s achievements was complying with new federal airport regulations, the runway being extended, and a new terminal building for Gove. In Mike’s time as Town Administrator, the implementation of beautifying the town in general, along with children’s parks and the skate park, is a credit to him. I thank Mike and Pauline for the huge contribution they have both made to our town. I wish them well as they begin a phase of their lives in Queensland.
Mr Paul Hocking will take over as Town Administrator. I wish him well. Paul and his wife, Michelle, and family have been in Gove for three years, after Paul accepted the accountant’s position at Nhulunbuy Corporation.
I also congratulate the new board members recently elected to the town board: Lynne Walker, Rick Mooney, Dave Suter and Geoff Hulme, whom I am sure, will represent Nhulunbuy in a dedicated manner.
‘Sit ‘em and clip ‘em in’ is the catch phase for a joint Nhulunbuy community road safety initiative generously sponsored by Alcan Gove. The driving force is our Officer-in-Charge of the Nhulunbuy Police, Tony Fuller.
In August 2006, an unrestrained three-month old baby was tragically killed in a double fatality road crash just outside Nhulunbuy. As a result of the accident, several community members got together to form a partnership to do something about the lack of car seats in the region. As the result, a number of child car seats are now available for use by residents of East Arnhem Land. Perkins assisted with freight, Rotary looked after the administration of funds, and Yirrkala Dhanbul has agreed to distribute the car seats and install them where necessary. The project involves an education enforcement program for parents to use the new seats. Nathan Djerrkura, Nhulunbuy’s latest export to the AFL and Geelong’s newest recruit, has lent his support behind the project by being its indigenous ambassador.
I was pleased to be part of the official opening of the Nhulunbuy Special Care Centre, a $3m project to cater for alcohol and other drug issues within the region. For many years, Nhulunbuy has been the only region in the Territory without dedicated services to help people suffering from drug and alcohol abuse. As the Territory government is committed to breaking the cycle of abuse and crime in communities, it has assisted with a budget of $926 000 for the next three years for the centre being managed by Mission Australia. Services to be provided are a community patrol, a sobering-up shelter, and rehabilitation services. My thanks to the Harmony Mawaya Mala Group for their commitment from day one to see the project through. Particular thanks to Mike Hindle, John Cook, Eden Gray-Spence, and Maggie Burke for their leadership roles in keeping the project on track and seeing it through to fruition.
Ms MARTIN (Fannie Bay): Mr Deputy Speaker, tonight marks the 60th Anniversary of the Centralian Advocate. The Centralian Advocate is the Territory’s oldest newspaper and a big part of many people’s lives in this part of the world.
It was first published in 1947 by founder and editor, Charles ‘Pop’ Chapman. I quote him from the first edition:
This first souvenir edition was sold at a cost of 4d and, due to regulations, was not allowed to exceed 12 pages. It was published weekly with a print run of 2000, which included 12 copies destined for England. Today, circulation is over 7500 twice a week.
That first edition came out on Saturday, 24 May 1947, with the headline ‘Storm over suggested alteration of air route’. The reporter was lamenting the decision of the federal government to cut Adelaide out of the Trans-Australian Airline route. His commentary was heartfelt, and I quote him:
Other items in that first edition included an opinion piece on the testing of atom bombs, a story on remote area taxation, a list of notable visitors to town, and an update on the peace situation in Russia. Reading that first edition is a reminder of just how much things have changed and, in some ways, not changed in 60 years. For example, though, in some of the things that have changed, back then a presentable girl - and I do emphasise the word ‘presentable’ - would get an administration job at the Centralian Advocate for 4 a week, or 3 plus a fully furnished room. You could buy a radiola at the D B Neck next in Todd Street and a tin of Rosella baked beans for 10d.
The Centralian Advocate has covered all the big national and international stories over the years, as well as providing first-class commentary on the state of the Territory. Thanks to the Centralian Advocate index at the library - launched by Alice Springs Town Council in 2001 - that commentary will live on and be available to students, researchers, historians and anyone with an interest in delving in our past.
The Centralian Advocate provides a local focus on important news stories for the 30 000 residents of Alice Springs. It is also delivered to Yulara, Tennant Creek and Darwin. Along with our major centres, the Centralian Advocate makes its way to every major Central Australian Aboriginal community - and that is an area the same size as Victoria. Not bad coverage for a local newspaper.
The Centralian Advocate is getting even more popular and its readership is expanding. Under current editor, Greg Thomson, circulation has increased 16% in the last four years. To Greg and his team at the Centralian Advocate, congratulations to you all, you do a great job! To all of the former editors, journalists and staff of the newspaper: congratulations on contributing to such a great icon of Central Australia. Happy 60th birthday.
Central Australia’s construction industry is enjoying a period of sustained and significant growth. During the December quarter, around $91m worth of major capital works were being undertaken in Alice Springs. That figure does not include the hundreds of renovation jobs being carried out by small business and in private homes across Alice Springs. Nor does it take account of a whole range of smaller investments by business people to upgrade their business premises or their infrastructure. The rate of investment in the community says much about the level of business confidence in that community. This evening, I would like to focus on just a few of those investments being made by small to medium companies in Alice Springs.
Ross Engineering is a very successful local company that celebrates its 60th year in Alice Springs this year. When it was founded in 1947 by Bill East, the business was known as East Engineering and was situated in a building where the Peter Kittle Motor company now stands. In the 1950s, Ron Ross started working with East Engineering and, in 1968, he bought the business from Bill East. By the mid-1970s, Ross Engineering relocated to its present site on Elder Street and has gradually grown in size and influence. In 1983, Ron Ross retired and the business was taken over by his son, Neil, and son-in-law, John Joseland. With the assistance of Neil’s wife, Julie, and John’s wife, Meredith, the business has diversified and gone from strength to strength. Today, they have around 36 employees and have trained an impressive 26 apprentices since 1983. They currently have eight apprentices on their books and they work closely with DEET to maximise the benefits of school-based apprenticeships.
Ross Engineering’s confidence in the future of Central Australia is demonstrated by their $1m investment in upgrading their premises. This investment includes new store capacity, and a new abrasive blasting booth, which will enable grit blasting of 15 m lengths of structural steel. This means that local construction and mining companies will now be able to have abrasive blasting carried out right here in Alice Springs instead of Adelaide or Darwin. The blasting can be done in the sealed booth, retaining and recycling grit by-product, reducing noise and waste. This is good for the environment, their business and their customers. The company has also refreshed their corporate logo, marketing strategy, and have drawn up a new capability statement. Local company, Bellette Media has been instrumental in helping them achieve this. It is another example of how investment by one company can have flow-on effects for others.
I convey my thanks to Ross Engineering for believing in Alice Springs and continuing to contribute to its economic development. Congratulations to Neil, Julie, John and Meredith, Ron and Barbara - happy 60th.
Ross Engineering is not the only local company celebrating a landmark anniversary this year. Colemans Printing will be celebrating 20 years in Alice Springs in May. This is a third generation business, and my congratulations go to the Coleman family and all the hard-working staff and managers of the Alice Springs operation. In those 20 years in Alice Springs, Colemans Printing has been under the stewardship of three different managers. The business was established under the guidance of Dave Mortimer and has subsequently been managed by Mark Teakle and present manager, Jeremy Bigg. In that time, the business has progressively grown and now employs 10 people.
Indeed, Colemans Printing has done so well that is has outgrown its original premises on Elder Street and has relocated into a purpose-built factory just down the road. With an investment in the order of $1.25m, the state-of-the-art print factory is fitted with the best quality printing machines available in the world. Their fully computerised and automated printing systems provide Alice Springs businesses and residents with a high-class printing option right here in Alice Springs. That avoids business being lost to interstate competitors.
Like many companies which now recognise that environmentally friendly operations can be good for business, the new printing machines will use fewer chemicals and the savings are passed on to their customers. In addition, vegetable-based inks will provide high-quality print in a more environmentally sensitive way. I am sure everyone will join me in congratulating Colemans for investing in Alice Springs, and for continuing to see the potential of local business. I am excited to hear that Colemans is seeking to further expand their workforce. I wish the Coleman family, Jeremy Bigg, and all the Colemans employees here in Alice Springs a great 20th anniversary.
In yet another demonstration of strong business confidence in Alice Springs, the former Cavanagh Lim Princess Building in Todd Street has been purchased by local businessmen and renamed the GHD Building. An investment of around $2.5m has seen this building transformed into a modern office complex. I am told that two of the business people involved who have significant holdings in the tourism industry in Alice Springs have divested themselves of a tourism venture in Cairns to reinvest here in Alice Springs. That is a great message for everyone living in Alice Springs.
As you approach the intersection of Larapinta Drive and Stuart Highway, it is difficult to miss the large commercial building going up in George Crescent. This is soon to be the new home of Desert Edge Motorcycles. This $2m investment will enable Desert Edge to relocate their existing premises on North Stuart Highway to the far more expansive and higher profile location right on Alice Springs’ major traffic intersection. This commitment by Michael Vroom, Stephen Gunner and Stephen Greenfield is yet another example of small- to medium-size enterprises investing in the future of Alice Springs.
We will continue our strong financial discipline and do all we can to maintain a growing economy - one that provides the best possible environment for private investment. A strong economy is good for business. It creates more jobs and that means a prosperous future for the people and the families of Alice Springs.
Last month, Jim Mitchell retired as President of Greening Australia NT after four years at the helm. Jim leaves a substantial legacy, and his commitment to the Territory and its unique environment will not be forgotten. Jim was a Director of Greening Australia NT from 1999, and his election as president in 2003 put him on Greening Australia’s National Board representing the Territory. Last year, Jim served on the national executive as treasurer, which gives you an idea of the high regard he was held in by his colleagues.
The list of Jim’s achievements are too numerous to mention but, of particular significance, was his role in establishing Greening Australia in the Territory and laying a solid foundation for the future of the organisation here. Jim was instrumental in employing current CEO, Mike Clark, and has overseen the development of strong regional offices in Alice Springs and Katherine. Under his stewardship, Greening Australia services and projects are happening right across the Territory. On behalf of all Territorians, thank you, Jim.
Jim’s replacement as president will be long-term Alice Springs resident, Geoff Miers. He is a committed environmentalist and has been involved with Greening Australia for around 20 years. Geoff is well known around town; he served as an alderman for eight years and Deputy Mayor for three. He also lectures in horticulture at Centralian College and runs his own company, Garden Solutions. I wish him all the best in his new role. Greening Australia is a great organisation, one that makes a very real difference to communities around the nation. To Jim and Geoff, and to the countless volunteers who work on projects throughout the Territory, thank you.
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Mr Deputy Speaker, I join the Chief Minister in congratulating Geoff Miers on his new role with Greening Australia. I have known Geoff for a long time, since the days when he was the president of the ERA; that is, the Eastside Residents Association. Well done, Geoff, and I wish you many good years with Greening Australia.
Tonight, I want to talk about the training of our trainee nurses at the Charles Darwin University here in Alice Springs. Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting with five of these final year, undergraduate nurses. They told me about their concerns regarding their training at the Charles Darwin University. In fact, three of these nurses are in the gallery tonight and are particularly interested in having their issues raised for the government to look at, consider and rectify. I will start with reading a letter written to me by one of the nurses who is prepared to have her name mentioned. She is Christine Koeff. I start by quoting the second paragraph:
Nurse training, obviously, includes the ministry for education because it involves the Charles Darwin University and also includes the Minister for Health because it requires the services of the Alice Springs Hospital. I hope ministers and their minders are listening to this. As I said, there have been problems over the years concerning the way this course is conducted and run and the standard of service that they provide. I read out a list of problems.
lack of response to e-mails, phone calls and messages left on message banks by the majority of lecturers and the higher echelon;
lack of retention of staff in Darwin, creating ongoing problems for students.
I repeat that because this is important to understand:
That is 6 pm for those who do not know:
I will not read the name of the person:
When I met with the five undergraduate nurses last week, several of them told me that their placements are still not finalised one week from the time they are supposed to start their placements. Why can’t the Alice Springs Hospital and the Charles Darwin University work collaboratively to ensure that our local trainee nurses get placements? The Flinders University in Adelaide is able to organise their students to be placed in Alice Springs six weeks before they are due to arrive, yet our local institution cannot get that organised.
It puts our local women at a great disadvantage. These are women who have families and their homes in Alice Springs, and you can bet $100 to $1 that, once they graduate, they would like to remain in Alice Springs or, at least, the Northern Territory, to work and help resolve the issue of the lack of nurses from which we suffer.
One student told me that she had to put her studies off for the next six months because she has been unable to fit the schedule that has been imposed upon her by the Charles Darwin University, and the time that is required for her to manage her family. There are 15 undergraduate nurses in their final year and they are all struggling. Placements are very difficult to organise. It appears that the officers responsible at both Charles Darwin University and Alice Springs Hospital are either not prepared or not able to assist.
There are 15 new first-year undergraduates who have just started, and they are all worried that this course will not go the full distance. If it does not and they have to transfer to another university, I have been advised that many universities interstate are not prepared to accept a full transfer of all the subjects across because those universities consider that Charles Darwin University does not provide core subjects at an adequate level for the first couple of years. If you have to transfer to an interstate university after two years of study in Alice Springs, you are going to find yourself demoted back to a year-and-a-half, or even first year. That would be a great tragedy.
At the moment, nurse education is through Austudy or, if they can, supported by part-time work. You have to self-support or have the support of parents. If a course has to be extended by a year or more, it makes it so much harder for these women to try to maintain their work and studies. It is not good enough.
For the life of me, I cannot understand why Charles Darwin University could not negotiate with the hospital well before the trainee nurses start their course, and make sure they lock in those placements well before any other university interstate tries to locate its students into our hospitals. That should be a priority.
It appears to me, in talking to the undergraduate nurses the other day, that the Charles Darwin University is understaffed in the nurse training area, and not focused on the students at all. There seems to be a lot of bureaucratic processes going on in Darwin more than Alice Springs and, hence, they are not able to focus their minds on the issue of placement of student nurses at the hospital. We all know that in undergraduate training of nurses, apart from the theory component or the academic component that you have to do at the university, you have to have hands-on experience; that is, experience dealing with patients, with colleagues, doing all the jobs that a nurse is expected to do. If you do not have that clinical placement, you will not come out as a well-rounded nurse once you have finished your three years of studies, and that poses a major problem for many hospitals. Some nurses are found to be wanting because they do not have enough clinical exposure.
Clinical placements are absolutely essential. Charles Darwin University and the hospitals, under this government, have an obligation to provide those placements. If you cannot provide those placements, then you should not be taking the number of students that you want to take.
It is a catch-22, and I believe that there is a way. I propose to be coming up with a policy in the very near future. The CLP will come up with a policy where we will ensure that every trainee nurse that is recruited by our university will have a firm place at our hospitals for training, and to ensure that, once they have finished their academic component, that they will be adequately trained in the clinical component as well.
I hope that the Charles Darwin University and the hospital will take my comments to heart and sort it out. I hope the Charles Darwin University will start negotiating with the hospital urgently to ensure that there are enough placements available for the next eight months of this year, and to ensure that there are continuing places available for the future, as there are now more nurses starting their first year and they need to be assured that they can complete their course over the next three years. If they cannot, then all we are doing is defeating ourselves. We are struggling now to recruit nurses. We know that to recruit one nurse into the Northern Territory from interstate or overseas could cost anything up to $20 000 each and, if they do not stay, that is a very expensive exercise. We have our local women who are prepared to do it. We should be doing all we can to ensure that they have those places guaranteed in our local hospitals.
If it applies to Alice Springs, I am sure it is also occurring up and down the track. I hope Darwin is a bit better, because the university is mostly based in Darwin. The Alice Springs campus of the CDU has been a poor cousin for a long time, and I blame the Darwin centric management of CDU for not focusing well enough in Alice Springs. These undergraduate nurses have arrived at a desperate position. They are frustrated with the lack of response and the Charles Darwin University has treated them with real contempt. It is important that Charles Darwin University starts to realise that if these nurses pull out then the Charles Darwin University will actually lose funding as well from the Commonwealth government. It will be to nobody’s detriment but to the Charles Darwin University itself. I urge the government to take heed.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of the Mayor of Tennant Creek, Mr Rod Swanson. On behalf of honourable members, I extend a warm welcome to the Assembly.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Mr Deputy Speaker, I place on record tonight a tribute to my friend, Mary Blaiklock, nee Gagliardi, who retired officially from Education after 45 years, 40 of them in the Territory. I know the minister paid tribute to many teachers the other night for their long-term service to the Territory.
Mary has an interesting story and I want to read it to the Assembly so that they will understand what it was like to be brought up in the Territory so many years ago.
Mary’s family originated in Italy and they migrated to Argentina in search of a new life and settled in Buenos Aires. Her grandfather, Pasquale Ciccone, was an adventurer, and many of us in Alice Springs remember him. He spent most of his youth and early adult life in the United States. It was stories of the gold discovery that lured him to Australia in the early 1920s. At first, he settled in Victoria and, when he saved some money, he travelled to Adelaide, then to Maree by train, and on to Alice Springs by camel and donkey. That is the way they had to travel then. Her grandmother followed when he could afford to pay for her passage and, by the time she arrived in Australia the railway line had been completed, so she travelled to Alice Springs on the train. Being an only child, it was not long before Mary’s grandfather convinced her parents to join them in Australia.
In order to migrate, immigrants need to be sponsored, among other requirements. The sponsor gave the government a guarantee that he would provide the prospective immigrants employment and housing. When Mary’s parents arrived in Alice Springs in 1938, they brought with them what they could carry in their suitcases, and a guitar. At that time, they were in their mid-20s and had one child with another on the way. Adelaide House, now a heritage building in Alice Springs, was the hospital at that time, and Mary’s sister was born there in 1939. Her parents spoke Italian and Spanish, and her sister spoke Spanish better than she spoke Italian, much to her grandfather’s dismay.
The family’s first home in Australia was at Winnecke which is roughly 200 km east of Alice Springs. Her grandfather had pegged a number of areas where the reefs looked as though they might lead to a gold find. Mary’s father worked for her grandfather until he had repaid the cost of fares for the family from Buenos Aires to Alice Springs. He was a pretty tough old grandfather.
During World War II, wolfram was needed for the war effort, and goldminers were encouraged to move to Wauchope to mine wolfram. It was during this time that Mary was born in Tennant Creek, which was the nearest town. After this, the family returned to Winnecke and they went on to The Pinnacles looking for gold and copper before moving out to Harts Range and Plenty River to mine mica. It was mica mining that turned the family’s fortune around and gave them a good start financially.
Mary’s first memory of living in the bush was at a place called Undippa. This is nine miles from Mt Riddock Station. Undippa was a place where her father found his first lot of mica, and he was able to buy an old Model T Ford ute and materials to build a more substantial structure for the family to live in because, prior to that, they lived in tents or bough shelters. Her father’s best mica mine find was at the Queen Elizabeth mine at Plenty River. As both her parents were ardent royalists, they thought it was fitting that they should give the very rich mica mine a name after Princess Elizabeth.
Whilst growing up in the scrub, Mary said she never had time to be bored because there were plenty of ways to amuse themselves. One of their favourite pastimes was to climb onto the water tank and shout into the round hole at the top to listen to the echoes. They were not supposed to be on top of the tank because they could have fallen in and drowned. One day there were four of them on top of the water tank having a great time and, on two occasions, they had been told to get off the tank. The third time when they saw their mother coming, they all jumped off thinking that they were in for it. Three of them landed safely, but Mary landed with her right arm across the edge of a galvanized iron wash tub and broke it. She said she did not recall feeling any pain, but she remembered her mother getting into a flap and saying some interesting things - but God was not getting involved. In retrospect, her mother must have received some sort of inspiration because she got busy, cut some splints from one side of a tea chest, placed these on top and under her arm, and bandaged it and put her arm into a sling. She then dressed Mary in her best town dress and shoes, gave her two aspros and put her to bed under mosquito netting.
Because the father was in town picking up supplies, they did not have a vehicle at the camp, so Mary’s mother left the Aboriginal women in charge of the children, took the water bag and the dog, and set off to walk to Mt Riddock station to get help. This was a distance of nine miles. After a time, her feet became so hot that she removed her undergarments, soaked them in water from the water bag and wrapped these around her feet and continued to walk. This incident happened in December, so the weather was pretty hot. Once she reached the homestead, Kil Webb took her mother back to the camp, and took Mary into town into the hospital. Mary said she remembers her mother’s feet were so badly blistered that she was bedridden until her feet healed.
The prospect of going to school for Mary was exciting because it meant going into town, but the excitement soon wore off when two elder sisters came back with stories about the nuns and the convent, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. However, they also came back speaking English so now they could have secrets that the parents could not work out.
They soon learned to be careful when grandfather was around because he always spilled the beans. As well, they kept themselves entertained for hours and, sometimes, the older children frightened the younger ones with stories about school and the boarding house. The good part was that they brought back new games to play, new ideas to play with, and new songs and stories.
From the age of six years, Mary joined her older sisters as a boarder at the convent and her first teachers were nuns. She went back to Undippa three times a year during the school holidays and remained a boarder and student at the convent for the first fours years of her young school life. At the end of Year 4, her parents advised the nuns they would not be returning to the convent; instead, they would board at Griffiths House, which was run by the Methodist Inland Mission, and they would attend Hartley Street Public School.
In just seven weeks, Mary said, she went from being a Roman Catholic to a Methodist, and she went from hating the thought of leaving home to go to school to hating leaving her friends at Griffiths House and Hartley Street School to go back bush for the holidays. She completed Year 7 at Hartley Street School and moved on to what was then known as the Alice Springs High Primary School which was nearing completion at the time. The school is now known as ANZAC Hill High School. Each year, the number of students in her class dwindled so that, by the time she got into her fourth year in secondary school, there were only four left, and she was the only girl. Her name is on the Honour Roll at ANZAC Hill High School now. After that, she travelled to Adelaide to continue studies and attend teacher’s college. This was the first time in her life that she came out of the Territory. In fact, the extent of her travel, at that time, was to and from the bush camp to Alice Springs, with a population of about 1500 people.
She flew to Adelaide in a TAA DC3 - and I am sure many of us remember those. They had two stops, one at Leigh Creek, and the other at Oodnadatta; these were the mail and passenger stops. If the mail truck was late getting in they just waited and then continued. As they entered the plane, the hostess always stood in the doorway and flapped a tea towel to make sure the flies did not join them. We all think of that, as we still get flies when we board the plane at Alice Springs.
The trip to Adelaide took about six hours; a long time for a young girl. She said:
She was met at the airport by the matron of the boarding house and two of the boarders and, because she was from the Territory, she was a bit of a curiosity for some time at the boarding house. This had some advantages she said, ‘because I was not always pleased with some of the attention I received’.
Her first teaching appointment when she completed her teaching certificate was at Ross Park Primary in 1960, which was then attached to the ANZAC Hill school. She said:
That is when I first met Mary Blaiklock in 1963, at Ross Park where I was teaching also.
In the meantime, her partner, Dennis, was accepted at Wattle Park Teacher’s College as a mature-aged student, so she returned to South Australia until he completed his training. In 1967, both Mary and Dennis were appointed to the Adelaide River Primary School. Although she had then completed seven years of teaching, Dennis, who was a beginning teacher and a male, was appointed as the head teacher and she was his assistant. In 1970, they transferred to Mataranka Primary and there, again, because he was a male, although he had less experience, he was appointed the head teacher.
At the end of 1977, they transferred back to Alice Springs and went back to teach at Ross Park until 1988. In 1989, she took up the position of Assistant Principal at Gillen Primary and, over the next seven years, she had a few stints as Acting Principal before taking up the position of Principal at Sadadeen Primary. In April 1999, she won the position of Principal at Braitling Primary and held the position until April 2005 when she went on long service leave prior to her retirement in January this year.
In all, she was associated with education for over 45 years, almost 40 of these in the Territory. She was a classroom teacher for 28 years and thoroughly enjoyed her work with the children, and developing relationships with the parents. I remember telling her that she would not be so keen to remain in the classroom in later years, and I guess that spurred her on to take on promotional positions.
She enrolled in further study and completed her Bachelor of Education, her Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management, and Master of Education, and then took advantage of promotions as they arose. She said:
Of course, when she went to Braitling, it was not just the best school in town; it was the best in the world.
Her wish for primary schools is that they be allowed to get back to explicit teaching, specifically in the areas of literacy and numeracy. She said currently, school teachers are required to deal with social and welfare issues on a daily basis and to meet the ongoing demands of society and government that are continuously being thrust on schools and teachers.
Mary Blaiklock is one of those people who has contributed much to education in the Territory. It is hard to imagine that this lady, who had Italian parents and grandparents who came in 1926, has given so much to the Territory over a long period of time. I value her friendship, and I wish her well in her retirement.
Dr BURNS (Johnston): Mr Deputy Speaker, sadly, tonight I speak of the passing of Professor Alan Walker AM, the epitome of a true all-round Territorian, a humble, though at times almost larger than life, icon of the Northern Territory.
The eulogy from which I will read tonight has been supplied by Alan’s former colleagues and friends at Royal Darwin Hospital. I am proud to read it into the record because I agree with all the sentiments in it. It enlarges on my own feelings about the man, and it expresses the deep feelings of those who worked with him for many years.
While one might mourn such a loss, I feel that Alan’s many enduring achievements beg celebration, as well as respect. I realise that Professor Alan Walker was well known and respected by all in this House, and many Territorians from all walks of life. He touched many lives in countless ways, and distinguished himself nationally as well as locally.
Dr Alan Walker was a man who did the Territory well. Professor Walker was a doctor’s doctor, a noble, gentle man who reflected all of the many virtues extolled by Hippocrates more than 2500 years ago. His life was dedicated to all aspects of medicine and, in particular, service to others. An always dignified and ethical man, Alan was both selfless and energetic in his commitment, whether it was in the area of clinical care, education or mentoring his colleagues.
A sagely and fatherly figure, Alan was the epitome of the noble physician, a person who, over a number of years, engendered the dignified respect of all, a credit to his chosen calling and, for Alan, a calling that was never simply a job or a career, but rather a lifestyle.
His values and sense of justice, although mindful of others, were indeed unswerving. He lived medicine and the profession and the community was the better for it. To paraphrase the great master Hippocrates, Alan:
He used that art for the benefit of his many patients of his many patients, recognising always a sense of dignity to human values. He was passionate and sincere, humble and compassionate and, for this reason, loved and respected by many from every walk of life.
He was not driven by title or remuneration, but rather a care for others, particularly the vulnerable and the less fortunate amongst us. On the one hand, a simple family man committed to family values and to his local community while, on the other, a highly skilled and dignified specialised clinician who dedicated his life to others and left a legacy to be celebrated by all.
A keen and enthusiastic sportsman, he distinguished himself in many areas, not least swimming and Rugby Union, looking always to supporting and encouraging the next generation while actively participating himself.
He was very proud to don the purple silk shorts and play Rugby Union as a master - a master well considered and revered by peers and opponents alike. He was a valued member of the Lords Taverner, the Beefsteak and Burgundy Group, and a supporter of the Royal Darwin Hospital Auxiliary and the Red Cross. He was, most definitely, a multi-dimensional and learned man of the true Renaissance tradition. Steeped in the learning of history and the love of things associated, Alan was very much the well-rounded man. He could speak authoritatively on a variety of historic events and, at the same time, the virtues of a variety of classic whiskeys.
As an outstanding specialist paediatrician, Alan Walker fought fearlessly as an advocate for the cause of Aboriginal health, not simply talking about it but pioneering outreach services, particularly in the Top End, before such causes were fashionable or newsworthy. He worked tirelessly with a minimum of spartan resources available to clinicians some several decades ago, and proved that an individual can make a significant difference. There are many who lived and still live because of Alan’s clinical acumen, his compassion and his understanding of the many and varied elements that must be considered for an effective and sustained outcome to be achieved.
Both as a member and a leader, Alan worked tirelessly with the Australian Medical Association, the Medical Board of the Northern Territory, the Australian Medical Council, and the Northern Territory Postgraduate Medical Council. He was an inaugural Dean of the Northern Territory Clinical School and, until late last year, still took an active interest in clinical activities within the Paediatric Department of the Royal Darwin Hospital and health matters across the Territory.
Alan was also a keen advocate, not only of our indigenous population, but all in society. He recognised early the importance of a sound private sector in paediatrics, and the importance of education and research if services were to be further enhanced and developed. Firmly fixed upon the virtue of ‘first do no harm’, Alan changed the lives of many - colleagues, peers, patients and community members alike – and his passing creates a sad gap that will not be quickly filled. Gentle, professional, respectful and sagely are just a few descriptors of the demeanour of this wonderful man.
In this House, I know our thoughts are with Alan’s wife, Anne, children and grandchildren, all of whom he was immensely proud. We have lost a heroic Territorian but gained a legacy of sustained and practical achievement, and the example of a life which we can all hope in some small way to imitate.
By way of additional background, Mr Deputy Speaker, I add the CV of this exceptional man. Alan Walker graduated in medicine from the University of Sydney in 1955. He served as a resident medical officer at Sydney Hospital and, subsequently, at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Perth, Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in Sydney and at various hospitals in London. He was a Senior Registrar at King’s College, London until 1967 when he returned to Australia to establish the Royal Darwin Hospital Department of Paediatrics. He was admitted to Membership of the College in 1974 and a Fellowship in 1978.
He established a national and international reputation as an authority in health problems of Aboriginal children, and delivered several significant orations and published many important articles in this field.
Alan was a founding member of the Northern Territory Branch of the Australian Medical Association in 1983, serving three terms as President. He was a member of the Council of the Australian College of Paediatrics between 1979 and 1989; the Northern Territory Medical Board from 1986 to 1997; the Australian Medical Council, 1990 to 1997; and the Council of Australian Postgraduate Federation in Medicine since 1983. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators. Having been the Warden of Clinical Studies at Royal Darwin Hospital for many years, Alan was appointed Clinical Dean of the newly-established Flinders University Royal Darwin Hospital Clinical School in 1996. Alan was elected to the council of the college and served until 1997. He chaired the college’s Casemix Committee and was the Northern Territory representative on the Australian Casemix Clinical Committee. He played a leading role in the unification of the RACP within the ACP and, in 1997, convened the Cottrell Conference on the ‘Delivery of Specialist Services to Remote Aboriginal Communities’.
Alan had been actively involved in the community, serving on such bodies as the Northern Territory Council of the Australian Red Cross, the Blood Transfusion Service, the Northern Territory Spastic Association, the Northern Territory Board of the Heart Foundation, and Darwin swimming clubs. His major contributions, however, had been to his patients at an individual level.
In 1991, Alan was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to medicine, particularly in the field of paediatrics. He was honoured by a paediatric conference held in Darwin in his honour in 1992 entitled ‘Excellence in Isolation’. Alan Walker served the medical profession and the college with selfless dedication. This would not have been possible without the strong support and loyalty of his wife, Anne. It was my pleasure to see Anne when I met with Anne and Alan Walker some weeks ago at the Retired Medical Specialists Association meeting that was held. It was a very convivial function and, as always, even though he had a walking frame, Alan was full of vitality and ideas, good conversation and was good company.
Vale, Alan Walker. In the words of Hippocrates ‘… with purity and with holiness’. Alan passed, ‘… his life and practice [of his] art’.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, on Friday, I will be attending the opening by the Prime Minister of the new OPAL (open pool Australian light water) nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights. I am fairly confident that I will be the only representative of this parliament attending, and will be very proud to do so. This light water reactor will allow Australia to continue to be a world leader in molecular science research. This reactor will allow Australia to continue the good work of the Institute of Materials and Engineering Science, The Institute for Nuclear Geophysiology, the Bragg Institute, and the Radio Pharmaceutical Research Institute - institutes it seems the Northern Territory government does not support.
These research institutes will look at innovative ways of using isotopes, addressing important environmental issues such as climate change by improving climate change models and analysing past climate change. Also, they are already looking at sustainable management of water, land and air quality, enabling scientists to track groundwater usage and air particle and pollution tracking, as Australia has been doing in China. The research institutes have developed materials like CeramiSphere and Synroc, which are Australian inventions enabling radioactive waste to be stored safely. They service industry in such important areas as the integrity of structures; for example, what is the useful life of a boiler, assessment of welds, and checking the stresses on metals which is important if you are flying in a plane.
ANSTO is one of the world’s leading providers of irradiated silicon ingots of electronic grade for advanced electronic devices, integrated circuits and many other industrial applications. The new reactor will enable ANSTO to significantly increase its silicon irradiation capacity, obviously something the Northern Territory government does not want to support.
The Radiopharmaceutical Research Institute focuses on cancer and neurodegenerative diseases in collaboration with medical researchers, hospitals and industry. ANSTO produces radioisotopes that spontaneously produce specific amounts of radiation which can be used to diagnose and treat a wide range of human diseases and injuries. For example, hospitals use technetium-99m to diagnose various heart, kidney, lung, liver and thyroid conditions and some bone cancers. Phosphorous-32 is used to treat blood disorders. One of its current projects is aimed at improving dosimetry for treatment.
Of course, the Northern Territory government does not support this. Dr Toyne did not support this because he believed, along with the anti-nuclear brigade, who all believe our isotopes all come from cyclotrons or we can import our requirements from Canada and South Africa - all wrong but, then, what do we expect from people who are just anti anything to do with molecular science? Why do I say the government does not support these programs? Because this government, together with other Labor governments, does not support wastes from the Lucas Heights facility being stored on their little patch of Australia. Here we have a facility which works for the benefit of Australia being held to ransom by a bunch of ideological bound Premiers and Chief Ministers who cannot see past the good of the nation for their own political gain and popularity. It is for this reason that the Commonwealth government has decided to store radioactive waste - mainly low level but also including some intermediate level - in the Northern Territory.
Yes, we may not like it because the laws of the Territory have been circumvented, but what options did the Commonwealth have in the end? There was an agreement by the Commonwealth and the states to store the product in South Australia but this fell apart when the South Australian government objected to the Commonwealth proposal to site the repository in the Woomera region. The South Australian government may have had some design concerns over the facility but the main reason was the ‘not in my back yard’ syndrome which, of course, applied to all states and territories.
The need for a single radioactive waste repository was recognised by a Labor federal government, later by the Coalition government and by the states but, when it came to the crunch, none of the states wanted anything to do with it. We in the Territory have missed a great opportunity to show Australia that we are mature enough to find a site in the Territory to store the radioactive material and show that we support the benefits of the Lucas Heights facility. Why should we? Because we are Australian. Yes, I am a Territorian but I am also Australian and I benefit from the work carried out at this research station - and so does all of Australia. There are times when we need to put away our parochial blinkers, our one-eyed arguments, and look at things in an Australian context. This, unfortunately, has not happened and we have the Chief Minister and some of her colleagues joining the bandwagon of scaremongering and fear by telling Territorians about the dangers of storing this radioactive material.
The facts are that this material can be stored and transported safely. That, of course, is not what the minister for the Environment will tell you, even though the scientific facts show you it can be transported safely. Otherwise, a container of medical isotopes would not be on a weekly Qantas flight to the Darwin hospital. Of course, this will be continuing in a greater amount because of the requirements of our new oncology unit. By the way, where do the isotopes come from? It will not affect the beauty or the cleanliness of the Territory - whatever that means - as the member for Macdonnell said in a recent debate. If you do not believe me, visit the radioactive waste repository in Esk. This repository, built by a Queensland Labor government, sits about 11 km from the town of Esk which is about 100 km north-west of Brisbane. Has this repository destroyed the cleanliness or beauty of Esk, a town in a cattle-growing district with an influx of retirees? The answer is simply no.
The arguments the government put forward is a mirror image of the fundamentalist greens’ and luddites’ arguments - who have an underlying total opposition to all things to do with nuclear science. Our government is also happy to use this same non-science ideology-driven popularity-based reasoning on the indigenous people they say they represent. In other words, they use their position as representatives of the Labor Party to give a one-sided and scaremongering view of this whole debate.
I say ‘thank heavens’ for those members of the Northern Land Council who refreshingly moved outside of this restrictive thinking club and went to Lucas Heights and saw for themselves what this debate and Lucas Heights was all about. Funnily enough, their views did not line up with the Labor policy, which is based on keeping people in the dark. That is why there is so much vehement opposition from Labor, especially in relation to the Muckaty Station site.
I do not think I am alone in this view. In a recent letter to the Chief Minister, the Chairman of the Northern Land Council said in relation to the Barkly electorate office, that:
That is the length some in the Labor Party will go to promote their anti-nuclear agenda.
Whether the waste facility goes to Muckaty Station only time will tell, but what is so refreshing in this whole debate is that at least some Aboriginal people have been willing to look at the other side of the story and not just the one the member for Lingiari puts out in his newsletter, or Senator Crossin repeats ad infinitum, or the Labor government tries to shove down peoples’ throats.
Unfortunately, the government has tried to play this issue for all it is worth, trying to use a smokescreen that this all about the Commonwealth overriding the Territory. I am not a great fan of the Commonwealth overriding the Territory either, nor am I a great fan of the sites selected by the Commonwealth, as they were simply selected because they are Department of Defence sites. However, if our government had been more visionary, less parochial, shown more leadership and put Australia first, then it could have selected a site or sites which could have had benefit for both the Territory and Australia. The Chief Minister says there were no sites selected in the Territory. There may not have been the final sites but there were sites selected in the Tanami and the Mt Everard region. I am sure there are other sites. Why did the government not support those sites, or any other sites? After all, with a land mass of one-fifth of Australia and a population of 200 000, of which 150 000 people live in the major towns, surely we can find a place in the Territory to store safely the radioactive waste.
Why does the government not support the Muckaty Station site? It is not because of the Commonwealth overriding our laws, as the Chief Minister said; it is because Labor does not support the Lucas Heights reactor. It does not support the advances in medical, environmental and engineering science that comes from the reactor. It does not support Australia as a world-class centre for the study of molecular science …
A member interjecting.
Mr WOOD: No, they do not support anything to do with nuclear, except funnily enough, the mining and export of uranium. They want the green vote; they want the vote from people who, unfortunately, have not been told the whole story about nuclear science. They talk about bombs, Chernobyl, plutonium, and anything they can dig up to show that nuclear is bad, poisonous, scary and monstrous. Unfortunately, this is what we have to put up with as part of a rational debate.
As usual, Labor critics will say: ‘Why not store it at Howard Springs and see what your constituents think?’ I know it could be stored safely. Just look at the Esk facility built by the Labor Party in Queensland, 11 km from the town. Esk is still there, and so are the cattle, the tourists and the residents ...
Members interjecting.
Mr WOOD: No, they do not light up at night. The cattle industry has not been affected, the tourists still come, and the population of Esk is growing.
The reality is that people have been told by Labor and its fundamentalist mates for years and years about the terrors of nuclear waste, so it would be very difficult to convince people to have it close to where they live. Why do you need to put it close to a community? Why even have that debate when there is plenty of room in Australia to put a waste repository; when there is a vast amount of land where people do not live and, in many cases, like some parts of the Tanami, rarely or never frequent? Of course, indigenous people own much of the land, but the Northern Land Council has shown that these issues can be worked through.
Sadly, this whole mess could have been sorted out if the states and Commonwealth could have agreed to a site and stuck to that agreement but, alas, this has not happened. I will quote from the dissenting report by Labor members on the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry and Resources in November last year, which looked at Australia’s uranium. What they said:
They went on to say:
How true, from both sides. The Commonwealth said the waste would go offshore and not in the Territory. This did not happen. It obviously did not happen because it was not feasible. On the other hand, the Northern Territory government promoted the evil of radioactive waste with publicly-funded scare campaigns and petitions promoted through our so called non-political public service.
The Northern Territory government could have shown itself to be a leader on this issue and shown it was willing to do something for the country, not for its narrow-minded view of the world and an outdated party ideology based on astrology rather than science. The CLP needs to review its policy on this issue also, as many of their supporters that I meet agree with me. They have jumped too quickly into bed with the government on this issue, and I believe they should think again.
The new OPAL reactor will be one of the most modern in the world. Its future depends on a safe and secure radioactive waste repository. If nobody can agree on where it should be sited, let us take the lead and show the rest of Australia that we are part of the nation and we are willing to lead the way. The opening of the OPAL reactor will be an historical occasion. It will signify Australia’s mature attitude to the advancement of molecular science for medicine, environmental, and industry purposes. Hopefully, one day we will have an equally mature attitude to the storage of radioactive waste, but I will not be holding my breath.
Regardless, I will be proud to represent the Northern Territory on Friday at the opening of the OPAL nuclear reactor. I know I will at least be representing those many independent, knowledgeable, visionary, and thinking Territorians - who, obviously are not on that side of parliament - who understand the issues and the benefits this nuclear reactor will bring to our country.
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): That was very inspirational, member for Nelson. It certainly kept us all awake at this hour of the evening. I wish you well on your trip to Lucas Heights.
Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, this afternoon I responded to the Chief Minister’s statement on the wonderful things happening in Central Australia and I ran out of time, so I want to talk this evening about roads.
The roads in the Centre that need a considerable of money spent on them include upgrading the Tanami Road. I was just about to call it a track because, at times, that is what it has been lowered to. The lack of maintenance on this road has caused huge amounts of damage to transport vehicles and has also resulted in the loss of a freight company to Western Australia. This is a significant economic loss to Alice Springs and should not have happened.
The Australian Trucking Association of the Northern Territory also reported in a recent newsletter that transport operators running on the Tanami Road had experienced nearly a month of transport delays already this year due to the road failing. I quote from the newsletter:
That says it all. It is essential that this government ensures there is adequate funding for the Tanami Road and other remote beef transport thoroughfares. As we have said in the past and we in opposition will say again, we support the Northern Territory government in a bipartisan approach to the federal government for funding to upgrade our roads. We are on the record saying that over the last three years that I have been involved in politics.
It was pretty hard to understand, when the minister for Transport issued a press release stating that the federal government had failed to provide funding for the outback highway, and that they had backed away from their promise. The truth of the matter is that the federal government provided the funding, which the Territory government would not match. Under the long-term agreement and arrangement that the federal government has, you match the amount allocated by the Territory which, in effect, was nearly a reduction of $1.5m to the Northern Territory. That $1.5m that was not provided by the Northern Territory government was reallocated to Western Australia, which was prepared to meet their commitment. Therefore, it is a bit rich for the minister for spin - the minister for Transport, who I am actually going to recrown as the queen of spin - to say that the federal government took money away from Territory roads. In fact, that is nothing short of being a blatant untruth. This government could not and would not meet their side of the funding arrangement, and that is the truth.
Another area that is of great concern is that the idea of permits for the vehicle manufacturers to test their vehicles in the Northern Territory has been rejected by this government. This decision is very disappointing and has come as a shock to Centralians and the people who prepared a very detailed proposal for government to consider. A lot of detail was provided to government, which should have reassured them that to issue permits to vehicle manufacturers to test their vehicles in the Northern Territory was going to continue to be very advantageous economically. Manufacturers have been coming to the Northern Territory for almost 40 years and there has never been a breach of safety. This morning, the Leader of Government Business said to bring on the stats that support the claim that the loss to the economy was over $5m as stated. First of all, minister, I am more than surprised that government did not research that very important issue before making a decision to reject permits.
However, just in case you need some assistance, Leader of Government Business, in making your calculations, there are over 15 manufacturers – and there are more than that - who bring teams of drivers, technicians and support staff to the Northern Territory for an average of three weeks at a time. This involves airline seats, freight of goods into the Northern Territory, accommodation, restaurants, food, fuel, IT facilities and tourism activities amongst others. What this government has effectively done is close the door to vehicle testing, and these manufacturers will look at Africa or Kuwait, where they will be welcomed with open arms. It is a significant loss to the Northern Territory economy.
It would appear that Tennant Creek is already feeling the loss, as I noted the government has had to sponsor the Tennant Creek Show this year to ensure that it continues. From recent media reports, it would appear that the Ford Motor Company used to lease the Tennant Creek showgrounds and pay substantial fees, all of which is now lost. That is just one early example of the consequence of this decision.
Just today, in support of what the opposition has been saying about the government’s lack of interest in issuing these permits, the Chamber of Commerce of the Northern Territory issued a media release. I would like to read it into the Parliamentary Record. It is headed: ‘Government attitude astounding’.
This morning we heard comments made by government that we had a position in opposition that was, obviously, not the same as theirs. You are dead right! We do have different opinions in this matter, the reason being that we understand about the money that would be introduced to the economy of Central Australia through having the car manufacturing industry continue their testing within the Territory. I believe that this government has been very negligent in not checking out the facts before they made this decision. I do not honestly believe for a moment that they realised how big the industry was and how much it meant to Central Australia. That continues along the same vein as the Leader of the Opposition has been saying; that the government does not know what is happening in Central Australia.
I would say after the last couple of days they are getting a pretty fair idea. I suggest they will probably be back a little more often. I am extremely disappointed; I would like them to re-look at this because there is still an opportunity to maybe salvage this particular industry for the Northern Territory. I certainly hope that they wipe the pride away and look at what is best for Central Australia.
Mr KIELY (Sanderson): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I have the pleasure tonight of advising the House of a number of significant sporting championships which will be occurring in the electorate of Sanderson quite soon. They will all be held at the Darwin Golf Club.
I am talking particularly about the golfing championships for the Arafura Games which will be happening between 14 and 24 May 2007; the NT Women’s Open Championships which will be held between the 3 and 7 May 2007; and the National Veteran Golfers’ Association Championships from 3 to 8 June 2007.
The Arafura Games will be attracting a field of both national and international golfers. It is a wonderful event and it is great that the Darwin Golf Club - and also the Palmerston Golf Club, but I will just focus on the Darwin Golf Club - has been able to make itself available to host this event which it has done in the past. It is a very credible event as well.
The NT Women’s Championships will be held from Thursday, 3 May through to 7 May 2007. This year is to be the first year that Darwin Golf Club is responsible for the running of the competition. I single out the women’s committee, the people who are running this. The ladies captain is Lorraine Horton, with Tricia Clarke, Val Ingram, Vicki Purser, Sue Reaburn, Liz Madden and Jenny Chaplin, and they are doing a wonderful job to pull this together. It is their first event, so I guess they are winging it a little. I know that, while they are going to be handling the championship itself, they are looking for extra volunteers to help run the off-course events. It has been a very proactive committee and they have hunted out some major sponsors: Justin Stone from Spotlight, and Gulf Transport through Jenny Cooper, and L’Oreal of Paris through Greg Brown. It is a very active committee running this ladies competition.
I believe there are going to be around 100 women golfers from Alice Springs, Gove, Broome, Queensland and New South Wales who have registered to participate in the NT Women’s Golf Championship. I look forward to hearing the results of that. As my office backs onto the golf course, I hope to get over there and meet some of the golfers and see how the day is going.
Following on from the May championships, we will have the National Veteran Golfers Championships. This has taken a fair bit of work by the committee of Harry Coehn, the tournament director and secretary/treasurer; Mal Powell, President of the NT Veteran Golfers’ Association; John Tedford, President of the Palmerston Golfers Association; and committee members, Joe Smith and Allan Grove.
Last year, Harry Coehn, Mal Powell and John Tedford travelled to Perth to promote the Northern Territory Golfers Association. They took their proposal to Tourism NT, which helped out in marketing this event. It was quite successful. Mr Coehn came to my office and asked for a Northern Territory flag he could take with him so that he could help raise it up the flag pole and then use that as a marker and really promote this. Full points to Messrs Coehn, Powell and Tedford for the job they have done. Their work has resulted in something like 600 people attending this event. Out of that, 350 men and 127 women will be playing, and there will be 123 non-playing people attending this event.
I urge all members, if you get a chance, to get down to the golf course. It is going to a fantastic event. Think about what 600 people coming in June means to the economy. These are 600 veteran golfers who have time on their hands, I dare say, to come here. While they are playing golf, the 123 non-playing people will be out touring, having a look around the place. The golfers will also have time after the competition to visit all our magnificent venues. This is why Tourism NT got behind it.
I seek leave to table the Stop at Darwin in 2007 flyer which Tourism NT helped get together. It says:
You can see in that wrap-up, they have managed to pick up on the Darwin Golf Course, the Palmerston Golf Course …
Mr ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please pause, member for Sanderson. Is leave granted to table that document?
Leave granted.
Mr KIELY: They have managed to wrap up all the golf courses so that appeals to all the golfers and they have encapsulated what it is. It goes on to say:
You can see the clever marketing that has gone on in getting this veterans championship up here and what it will mean to the economy. A big pat on the back to those three intrepid marketing golfing champions who went to Perth and Canberra.
That brings me to the other point, which is that when Mr Coehn came to tell me about the championship, he was looking to see what support we, as a government, might be able to give to him. I was reminded of our commitment prior to last election to provide $150 000 per annum for four years to conduct a golf tournament as a visitor drawcard during the shoulder period of the Top End tourism season.
Members may recall that we made a commitment, through me talking to the golfers, which was going to be through Major Events, aimed at the shoulder period in April so that we could get people to start filling up beds in our hotels a little quicker. It was seen as a really good niche market that we would be able to fill, to get these beds filled by having a golfing tournament in that particular period. There have been some difficulties in the golfing fraternity being able to organise this. As a matter of fact, two funding opportunities have gone by and the offer still had not been picked up.
Talking to Mr Coehn, I thought maybe we could use the Australian Veteran Golfers Championship as a lighthouse project so that NT Golf and the clubs who might be organising this could see the benefits of having such a tournament, how it could work, and what was required. With that in mind, I wrote to the Chief Minister, in her capacity as the Minister for Tourism controlling Major Events, and asked her whether she would consider looking at the funding that we had set aside for a unique championship and seeing if we could use this as seed funding for the Veterans Golfers Championship, on the understanding that we use this as a learning opportunity and see what you can do to promote and get a championship going in the April season. I am pleased to say that government was able to come to the party to the tune of $50 000, which will go to the Darwin Golf Club, and $50 000 to the Palmerston Golf Club to help them.
I outlined that, with the Arafura Games, the NT Women’s Open Championship, the National Veterans Golfers Championships, all these courses would be taking quite a pounding just after the Wet Season, and this money would come in handy in helping build up the course. It is not to be seen as money going into the clubs to build up the course as repairs and maintenance. This money will be helping get the courses into tip-top condition so that these other golfers - and word of mouth means a lot in golfing circles - will go away and talk about the fine facilities that Darwin and Palmerston have to offer. Then, hopefully, when the Northern Territory Golf goes to market its new championship in April, then they will be able to call back on that. It is absolutely fantastic! I believe that was a great opportunity and I am glad that it was picked up by the government. They have been advised that the money is available for them. I understand that the clubs are now looking to access that money and get to work and get these courses in tip-top shape for all these tournaments.
It brings me on to another point about the role that the Darwin Golf Club plays in our community in Sanderson. Darwin Golf Club, of course, is an integral part of the Northlakes Estate. It sits in the middle of it. It also is a great little club which is easily accessible from all the northern suburbs. It has been there for approximately 20 years. It was relocated from in town. The building is showing its age. While some people might think that golfers play an exclusive sport, and they have a lot of membership and pay high club fees by other club standards, really, when you look at the grounds that have to be maintained, that money gets gobbled up pretty quick. It is really hard to find money to maintain for these clubs and the premises.
I advise that, if the club is looking at certain ways of perhaps progressing new facilities, if they have some options that they might want to come to government with, I will support it. I believe it is a fantastic club and a fantastic amenity, and one that is good for the whole of the estate. If they can get to become a more popular spot, getting more interaction, not only from the golfing community but the non-playing golfing community, from the residents of Northlakes, then I reckon, go for it! Around the club, I have spoken to members and also to committee members on an informal basis and, over a number of committees, club managers, and bar managers, they have all been keen to upgrade the facilities of the club, because they see the tourism value and the sports dollar.
We are getting a convention centre. We need a premier golf club. People who come up here to play and go to the conventions really do a lot of work on the golf course. If they are at a convention, they can get out and do that. We have the military ships in. We are getting a clientele up on The Ghan who are really in the market where they want good premier services. There is an opportunity exists for Darwin Golf Club, and for Palmerston - for our Palmerston members. I see the Darwin Golf Club, however, as being the one that is more central to the convention groups. Also, the facilities that they have to offer make it the premier golf club and golf visiting site in the Northern Territory.
I would be more than happy to represent the committee to the Chief Minister, the minister for Sport, the minister for Business, and the Infrastructure minister, and do all that I can. There is an opportunity knocking; government should be listening. If government is not listening, then it is my job, as a local member, to get in there and open the doors, get the audiences, and get progression on it. Let us look to the future and get this club as a premier golfing venue in Darwin and the Top End. Go committee, go members; let us really make this a great venue. The benefits, particularly for the people of the estate of Northlakes, will be felt right into the future. With that, I say goodnight.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, first I wish to acknowledge those who are in the gallery at this moment. I admire you and am humbled that you would stay this duration. I also acknowledge the speech made by the Independent member for Nelson. I regard that as the best speech that has been delivered in this parliament this year. I wish him well. I am proud of the stance that he has taken. He has my support in that which he outlined. The honour has been bestowed upon him to represent the members - who, by interjection withdrew any reference to them being represented. I am proud for the member for Nelson to represent me at the opening.
This week, we have seen, clearly, a community concerned. In the Top End, perhaps also in the Centre and maybe in Tennant Creek, we have seen brochures that have been delivered to letterboxes. There has been one graph that has disturbed me for some time. I understand the nature of the debate that has occurred in the Chamber, and I recognise the concern that many Territorians feel about the rising levels of lawlessness. However, when you see a graph that shows that the policing levels in the Northern Territory is so extraordinarily high compared to other jurisdictions, we can only wonder if we would be outbidding each other as election cycles progress, to see whether we can further increase the number of police, and have that seen as our major objective and achievement.
That troubles me. I would like to see more sincere effort made to work on another front to ensure that we change the nature of the society in which we live. There are effective programs that are at work in our community that can do that.
Last night, I presented a paper in response to the concerns that I, as a citizen, and many other citizens have also recognised. Members may know that I was brought back to this issue quite abruptly one evening a few weeks ago when my home was broken into, and I apprehended a juvenile - a young lad of 17 - in my home. It was in assessing this young lad and considering his options that I felt it necessary to progress a topic that has been discussed at length in public forums a couple of years ago, and to get back to work. I was pleased that we had a good attendance at that forum last night. I will read into the Parliamentary Record elements of the program that I described at the forum last night.
It is entitled Beyond Wildman River. The purpose is to strengthen Territory youth. It is based on the principles of building mutual respect, self-restraint and generosity of spirit. When the young lad broke into our home, and I heard more of his story, I learned that he had been on diversionary programs. Due to his age and his history, the next option was to be, most likely, Don Dale. Clearly, diversionary programs had not affected him to the degree that he had modified his behaviour. Looking at him now, typical of a young lad I have taught and others that I have seen at the local footy club, to go to Don Dale further confirms what he already has assessed of his own life of hopelessness - he would be confirmed in particular path if he is incarcerated.
What concerned me was that there was an absence of value of the sort of programs that we had put between diversionary and incarceration. Between those two extremes we need to now focus on building stronger and more effective programs. We need programs that are built on a tough love approach. Anyone who has raised good kids knows there is a clear difference between what kids want and what kids need. We need programs that are courageous enough to strike that line; to care enough to say no in the best interests of the one we want to build capacity for in the future.
The paper, which is currently in draft form, speaks of wilderness-type programs – outback programs - with a core element of an outback experience. It is beyond boot camp. It is based upon principles that we see in programs across the Territory – Mt Theo to name one. Other programs operate in other states and some international programs are of a similar nature. It is more than boot camp.
I have, as an educator for 17 years, made use on occasions of taking troubled or troublesome younger students, particularly senior primary students, on extended periods in the bush to help establish better directions, and better capacity to engage. I have found this the most effective and the most robust way of changing and giving direction and strength to lives. It is a fight because there is a fight of values here; some people do not like this approach. They would like to, under the veil of endless compassion, hope that, ultimately, the kids will come to their senses. However, the evidence is clear we are not winning the war, and we need to stand up and to show some principle in our fight.
There are alternative programs already in operation in the Territory and there are some good people who operate them. However, I do not believe that they have been recognised or appreciated. It is time to gain greater support for these kinds of programs.
The program I describe is most effective for young people between the ages of 12 and 18 years. That is an age when change is most likely to be embraced. The core of the program centres on these elements: the removal of the person in this case from a dysfunctional or familiar environment - take them away from the toxic environment; challenge their existing beliefs and behavioural patterns; rebuild through exposure to different environmental demands; and the provision of a supportive group setting and models of appropriate behaviour.
What is really important in these sorts of approaches, once you have arrived at that stage, is to ensure that you provide a rite of passage and a celebration of the achievement after you have gone through that process. Some of us have been through that process, others perhaps have not. Our young people need to know that they have gone somewhere, that they have passed from one phase to another. Sadly, the way that things work is that many of our young people see graduation is, perhaps, going to gaol. They want to become young men. I have seen troubled and uncertain young lads go on long bushwalks, survival camps, and come out the other end a foot taller and feeling like a young man, with greater sense of confidence and the capacity to make decisions. I want to see that quality stirred in our young people, and I want to see the programs that can do it.
The core of the program should be delivered in an outback location remote from familiar surroundings. There are three different groups that could be directed to these sorts of programs. There is leadership training. I would like to see in fact every Territorian, every young kid to go on programs like this. You can have leadership training and you can have programs that are for young people at risk. If you go to any of our schools in any town and you will find that there are many kids who are easily identified as at risk of failing in education and less likely to make good decisions upon leaving school. Then there is the other group, which is those who are juvenile offenders. You can adapt this program to meet any one of those client groups. We should start to build in these sorts of programs and give greater value to them.
The program that I have described has three different elements. First, of course, is the bush survival component because the bush is a great teacher; it offers its own natural therapy. There is also another aspect to it; that being, exercise and healthy living have a very positive impact on mental health. Do not underestimate the effect of caffeine, sugar and other substances on the mental capacity of our young people who are caught up in a toxic environment. Many substances are just so harmful to their capacity to even think clearly and make proper decisions. A typical program would consist of a number of staged hikes and bush survival.
Another component of it would be personal challenges - real challenges. Anyone who has ever done abseiling has made that decision to go backwards over a cliff after having heard how it is to be done; trusted your equipment, then backed over; trusted the people giving you advice; and trusted yourself – it is a personal challenge. There are many challenges like that - riding a horse, for example. To match a horse with some of those young characters that I see in Palmerston and have done whatever I can to reach, can be very challenging. Once achieved, it can make them feel so strong and able to take on other challenges; to learn some traditional skills and take greater pride in the knowledge that existed in our community in times past, and to gain a greater respect for those who have gone before us.
The third element is community engagement, and there are two parts to this. One is they are to be involved in a project of value to the community in which they live. That could be heritage work, environmental projects, working for Riding for the Disabled, lending a hand at the seniors’ village, helping at a community event, or perhaps rebuilding some paths or barbecues in some of the parks.
The other part of the community engagement section is to work with people in the community and understand what goes on in their community - who does what job - and to learn that some of the people around them, whether they are the local policeman, the plumber, the taxi driver, or school teacher, were all teenagers at one stage and they all have stories to tell. Let them hear the story of a teenager who has grown up to be a successful businessman, who has a family, who overcame challenges. Let them make that connection and understand how their community works so that there is a point of connection.
There is also an important component; that is, reaching the parents. Another important point: is this program to be indigenous or non-indigenous? Would there be two sections? Absolutely not! There would only be one program and it would be for indigenous and non-indigenous working together. I would expect to see some of the facilitators and trainers on these programs to be indigenous men or women, depending on the client group. I would expect to see young indigenous men and girls, at different times, mixing together because the principles that guide this are universal; they are not guided by race. They are principles that, if we were able to strive towards, such as mutual respect, self-restraint and generosity of spirit, they transcend culture. If we were able to work towards them, it would bring us together. I do not want to see any sort of program that would create further division.
Ultimately, we need to look at the governance and support structures that would develop around a program like this. This is a draft paper and I am happy to circulate it once I have done all the academic referencing.
One particular program in Victoria which has assisted me in deciding on the sort of model that I believe would be most effective is Operation New Start. I intend to go to one stage of their program later on this year to participate in the graduation ceremony and one phase of the outdoor activities, to learn about the governance and structural support that goes on to maintain programs such as this.
I acknowledge and appreciate the level of support that has already been offered for these sorts of programs that have been discussed at the public forum, and the practical corporate support and community support that has been offered. From what I have learnt in Alice Springs, this is something that could start in Alice Springs. I hope to see it replicated right across the Territory. One day, I hope to see hundreds of Territory kids go through programs like this and to build a stronger Territory by rebuilding and strengthening our young people.
Ms ANDERSON (Macdonnell): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, as I noted in my recent statement to parliament on behalf of the substance abuse committee, the Northern Territory is on record as having the highest consumption of alcohol of any jurisdiction in Australia, and the worst profile for chronic and acute harms.
This, according to the Northern Territory alcohol indicators, includes high levels of alcohol-related accidents and hospitalisations. Alcohol harm in remote communities of the Territory can be beyond even these high levels, averaged as they are across the whole of the Territory. For these reason, alcohol management plans have become a particular matter of interest for the committee as one of the most important parts of government response to the challenges of alcohol abuse.
As I reported over the course of this current inquiry into substance abuse in remote communities, the committee has heard, at some length, testimony from witnesses in the existing alcohol management plan at Groote Eylandt. It has also heard testimony about the proposed plan in process at Nhulunbuy, kept a watching brief on the development plan of Katherine, maintained an interest across all plans proposed and in development, and on the work of the Office of Alcohol Policy Coordination, OAPC, which has been instrumental in initiating and supporting alcohol management plans.
At Groote Eylandt, the committee heard an intensive description of the alcohol management plan showing how it come about; the processes involved in engaging the community to support the plan; mechanisms now active in the current implementation of the plan; and the wide range of benefits which have come to the community as a result. Witnesses from local employers, licensed premises, Alyangula Community Council, the Northern Territory government and the Northern Territory Police, all attest to the benefits of the plan, which appears to have struck a successful balance between reduction in freedom in access to alcohol, and the benefits that come from retaining tighter control over its use.
Key to the success of the plan is that an extensive process of consultation between the community and other stakeholders resulted in high levels of community assent and engagement. The result is that the plan is more an expression of community will than something imposed and enforced from outside. This has its serious benefits, not only for alcohol abuse as such, but for a number of important factors in community life, including better outcomes on employment, and reductions in property and violent crime. It has, by default, freed the community to think more constructively about other challenges.
As a result, the committee has been most favourably impressed, and has maintained an interest not only in this particular plan, but in seeing it used as a model for other communities. The committee also viewed proceedings at Nhulunbuy with great interest, giving us, as it did, an opportunity to see a similar process under way at an earlier stage of development.
From what the committee has seen, it seems that alcohol management plans are shaping up to be a distinctive Territory response to a challenge that has, at times, appeared insurmountable. The key features of this successful approach appear to be extensive consultation with communities, a recognition by all interested parties of the damage caused by alcohol, the consequent need for action, and leadership taken by people from local council, police and government. In this process, OAPC personnel have been instrumental in getting plans under way and helping communities work through the often difficult decisions that need to be made about alcohol freedom and constraint. This approach has important results. First, the community owns the plan and the decisions made around it.
The Groote Eylandt plan is successful because key players, government and non-government, have been astute in leaving decision-making with the community while helping to keep the process on track. For this reason, the community is fully engaged in making the plan work and common reactions to an increase in control, such as raising contraband trade, are reduced. While they are not eliminated, it is plain that the fact that the alcohol plan has not been imposed on the community has led to a higher level of cooperation on these challenges as well.
It can be said truthfully that, in relation to alcohol management plans, government has been able to do three things that governments often find difficult to do: (1) it has listened; (2) it has been able to work in a coordinated way through its arms and agencies; and (3) it has been able to take a role without alienating local people from the decision-making process and from the sense of engagement and responsibility that goes along with that. This might be considered as a template for better outcomes in all kinds of interaction between government and local people across the Territory, and its importance cannot be overstated.
It is worthwhile considering how all this came to be. It will be remembered that the Office of Alcohol Policy Coordination was created as a result of the government accepting the Alcohol Framework of 2005, in which the establishment of OAPC was a key recommendation. The office was created in late 2005 under Treasury in Racing, Gaming and Licensing and, since that time, with a staff of four including its director, it has been involved in scoping, resourcing, and facilitating alcohol plan processes at a number of sites including Alice Springs, Batchelor, Borroloola, Daly River, Darwin, Gove Peninsula, Groote Eylandt, Jabiru, Katherine, Palmerston, Tennant Creek, and Timber Creek - all in various stages of scoping, discussion or implementation.
If I say a little about what is involved in supporting such a process, it will give members and this Assembly a better appreciation of how much the OAPC has been able to do. In supporting alcohol management plans, the OAPC has served a number of functions including acting as a conduit for funding, facilitating negotiations between stakeholders, and engaging expert consultants to research and prepare draft plans. These draft plans are then discussed and reviewed by communities as an integral part of their decision-making on rules for access to alcohol - a process which creates the settings for the eventual alcohol management plan.
Throughout this process, OAPC personnel have been engaged in the challenging business of fostering negotiations between different elements of communities. Since relations between these groups may, at times, have a vexed history, and may have interests that are, on the surface of it, apparently at odds, this often requires not only considerable skill but also will and commitment. In short, OAPC personnel have acted as advocates and enablers in relation to alcohol management plans, and their positive input has been key in allowing plans to maintain momentum. Communities need help to work through these challenging but, ultimately, constructive processes leading to better outcomes on alcohol.
However, the committee now finds reasons to be concerned. At the same time that the benefits of the OAPC’s activities are coming to light, there are structured changes occurring that seem likely to give it a lower status and profile within government due to it being absorbed into a new business unit in the Department of Justice. There appears to be some likelihood that the alcohol-specific functions of the OAPC will, under this new structure, be subordinated into initiatives on crime prevention and public disorder. While these may appear to be related matters, if such a move were to occur, it would blunt the force of good work I describe here today: to keep alcohol in focus and to follow through with constructive efforts to tackle this key Territory problem.
The very fact that we know the dimensions of the alcohol problem leads us back again to the central importance of the OAPC, since it is itself the publisher of the Northern Territory alcohol indicators, the best available information on alcohol consumption in the Territory today. The alcohol indicators are a remarkable example of a government so concerned about a key public health issue that it is willing to make a mark upon the wall and challenge itself to do better. The alcohol indicators must be supported and maintained.
The things this government has done about alcohol have been important, and it has shown great courage in so doing. We have come to pass, however, where some of this focus - this justified sense of the priority and importance of alcohol - is at risk of being lost. Consequently, the committee recommends to government that it restores the OAPC at a higher level of government under the protection of the Chief Minister, as originally proposed under the Alcohol Framework. Recent changes showed just how necessary this is. Alcohol abuse is not a problem that will go away by itself. To make progress, government must follow through on the great beginnings it has made. If the OAPC is able to continue its work in fostering alcohol management plans and, more widely, in coordinating the changes in the culture of alcohol consumption in the Territory as intended under the Alcohol Framework, the Territory stands to reap great rewards. Without that broader vision and that capacity to deliver a coordinated approach, the cost of alcohol abuse in the Territory will continue to be unacceptably high.
This is a great opportunity. In 10 years, we can either look back with a sense of opportunities lost, or add a new state of affairs in which a purposeful, concerted approach has turned alcohol in the Territory around to benefit all. That is something well worth the attention and concern of all my colleagues here today.
Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I also want to mention a few sports weekends that I have attended in my electorate. The Easter weekend was a good weekend for communities coming in and enjoying the hospitality of Alice Springs. However, with all the demonstrations and the things that we have discussed in this House over the last couple of days, antisocial behaviour is right at the top of the issues that we see in our town. As a member and as a long-term resident of Alice Springs, I am concerned about the antisocial behaviour. As I said at the lunchtime demonstration in the mall today, we have to isolate the two problems that we talk about in Alice; being the town camps issues and also the antisocial behaviour that has been caused by people who come in from remote Aboriginal communities.
At the same time in saying that, I want to stress, as I have stressed at these meetings today, that we really need to look at why this is happening. For every renal patient who is taken from a remote Aboriginal community in my electorate, there are 12 to 15 people coming in as a support mechanism for that person. With the changes to Centrelink, which is Commonwealth government legislation, there are not many people who get cheques delivered to remote Aboriginal communities anymore; it is direct into their key card accounts. There are not many remote Aboriginal communities which have EFTPOS or ATM machines. Therefore, people have to come to Alice Springs to access ATM machines and spend their money.
That is not making excuses for the antisocial behaviour that we face in Alice Springs. I, for one, do walk the streets of Alice Springs on weekends and I will sit in the streets until 2 am to see the antisocial behaviour. As I said earlier, we have to separate the two. It is really sad to see Alice Springs going down in this direction.
At no stage have we had people talking about why this is happening. I walked down the street into the mall this morning and was shocked to see the number of people who were in the mall. As a local member, I take this issue seriously. I talk to people not just in my electorate but also in the town camps and in the streets of Alice Springs, and encourage people to go home. I also encourage minibus drivers like Mr Chewings sitting in the audience here - and help pay for him - to take people to funerals and also to drop people off in communities where possible. I can fit six people in my car, and I am always taking six people home to help alleviate the problems that we face as residents who live in Alice Springs.
I really feel as a government, as Centralians, we need to have the courage to make the hard decisions; to make sure that these people go home, that they are not abusing the hospitality that Alice Springs gives them, and making sure that their children and their wives and their families are always safe and in good care.
Regarding the murder that happened a couple of weeks ago here in Alice Springs, there is a long history of people in my electorate fighting, and it is just overflowing into Alice Springs. It has happened not just from the electorate of Macdonnell but also from the electorate of Stuart. As politicians, as leaders, we need to go back to our communities and encourage these people to make sure that they keep their fights and their disagreements out of our reach so that our town is safe for our children to be at the cinema and enjoy the movies and walk out without being harassed outside the cinemas. We need to encourage people to go back and build their communities, to make sure they look after their families and take their children to school every day.
In closing, I would like to talk about the Aboriginal police officers at Santa Teresa a couple of weeks ago. I would like to really talk about Phil Alice and the great things he did for the safety of Santa Teresa over the three day sports weekend, with all Aboriginal police officers. There were seven communities from right around and it went without incident. Everybody was safe, everybody camped on the community, we went to the concerts, they played the footy, and it is great to see that Papunya won the Santa Teresa Grand Final but lost to Wulaign over the Easter break in Alice Springs. However, they will still be runners-up. This is the kind of message we need to send to our people, to make sure that they enjoy the hospitality of Alice Springs.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, in the last two days, we have seen three rallies or demonstrations here at the Convention Centre, which is housing the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. The first one on Tuesday saw between 400 and 500 people - mums and dads, business owners and staff - protest and voice their concerns about the future of our town. Those voices deserve to be heard.
Today at about midday, another group protested against the minister’s decision to ignore their wishes - or what was an overwhelming wish by the community - not to locate the demountables, commonly known as the dongas, at two particular sites. Those people deserve to be heard.
At about 6 pm tonight another group, Advance Alice, expressed the same concerns as so many Alice Springs residents have expressed about the future of our town, and their voices also should and deserve to be heard. I wish the members of Advance Alice well for the future because I know that, like me, they are determined to do everything in their power to improve the future of Alice Springs and, if that means protesting against government, then that is what they will do.
If we step back from those three demonstrations, it can be fairly said that many people in Alice Springs are sick of being ignored. If there is one hope I have for these sittings, as I said in my opening address when parliament opened on Tuesday, I want the government ministers, when they go back to Darwin at the end of the week, to help us in our commitment and our willingness to address our problems and provide us with the opportunities and the resources to do so.
As local member and as a person who is proud to live in Alice Springs, I naturally raise my concerns as a citizen but, more importantly, the concerns of the people I represent. I do that in parliament when we sit in Darwin, in the media, and when I speak to all sorts of people. I am used to being abused and berated by government but, as I said, in the censure motion yesterday - one of two thoroughly deserved censure motions against the government: get stuck into me as much as you like, but do not attack the people I represent. Do not attack those whose views I am seeking to put. Do not shoot the messenger. I, like everyone else, like every other member of this Assembly, am the constituent’s representative. We are their humble servants. We are public servants. We serve the public. We serve those who elected us to parliament. In fact, we would all be derelict in our duty if we did not voice and represent the concerns of our constituents.
When the government accuses me, in the course of my duties, of being a whinger - in addition to all of the other terms of abuse they throw at me – what, in fact, they are doing is abusing the people I represent, the people of Araluen and, in a broader sense, the people of Alice Springs - my town, the town in which I live. It is the town in which I have lived pretty much since I left university; the town where I have served my working life, or certainly most of it; the town where I want to and will continue to live for many years to come. When the government ministers abuse me, they are abusing Trevor Filmer, the organiser of the big rally we saw on Tuesday, and everyone else who turned up. When they are abusing me, they are abusing Mr Jerry Fitzsimmons, the man who organised the protest today about the demountables, and everyone who turned up to that demonstration. When they abuse me, they also abuse Mr Steve Brown, Alice born and bred, from a pioneering family. They also abuse Murray Stewart, an Alderman and elected representative on our Alice Springs Town Council. They also abuse everyone else who turned up and is a member of Advance Alice.
That is disgraceful beyond description, and words fail me really as to how to best describe the degree of offensiveness directed at those people. It cannot be overstated. Those people courageously turned up to exercise their democratic right to protest against government. I share with them their concerns and I commend them all for giving up their time to come to parliament and call it as they see it. That is what people do in democratic societies. Those people who turned up and the organisations, both formal and informal, are the collective voices of Alice Springs, and I am one of them, and proud to be one.
It is appropriate then that, in that context, I mention the Berrimah Line. The Berrimah Line, increasingly, is being referred to as the Berrimah wall. It has also changed its name, certainly in Alice Springs, to the Parap line. I am sure my colleague, the member for Blain, and certainly my colleague, the member for Katherine, will agree with that. I can tell you that most of the people I represent and, more broadly, the people of Alice Springs, take that view as well. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that a person in Alice Springs wrote a song about the Berrimah Line. I do not know who put this song to music and I have only heard it a couple of times on local radio - but someone has put it to music, it sounds really good and it is played, apparently, quite regularly.
My colleague, the member for Blain, is a good singer and a good guitarist, and he has publicly sung all sorts of songs. I remember in the previous Assembly, Jack Ah Kit sang a song. I think it was an ode to Slim Dusty, and he even put a hat on while he sang the song. It meant a lot to Jack and we all smiled, and we probably gave him a clap at the end.
I do not have the singing skills of Jack Ah Kit or Terry Mills, so it is certainly not the case that I will be singing this song. However, I invite members to think of the well known Johnny Cash song, I Walk The Line. I do not know who has seen the film, but I happened to see it - and it was not a film I expected to see - called Walk the Line. It was about the life of John Cash and June Carter from the Carter family. I have known about the Carter family but I did not know too much about John Cash. I learnt a lot. He was a pretty good singer and a very good songwriter.
With those complimentary remarks to people who are far more skilled than myself when it comes to song writing, with your permission, I will simply read the Berrimah Line song - or at least I think that is what it is called. I ask members, while they are listening, to think of the well-known Johnny Cash song so they have it in their mind and they can tap their toe if they are so inclined.
It has five verses and for the benefit of Hansard I seek leave to table this with everybody’s consent so the verses are accurately transcribed.
Leave granted.
Ms CARNEY: It is as follows:
Thank you, Mr Acting Deputy Speaker.
Mr ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you to everyone in the Assembly, and the gallery who have stayed on. That was a great day and good on you, Alice Springs.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
PETITIONS
Closed Circuit TV in Todd Mall
Closed Circuit TV in Todd Mall
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, these petitions were collected before the Chief Minister’s backflip on CCTV so I present them today.
I present a petition from 14 petitioners praying that closed circuit TV be implemented in Todd Mall and adjacent areas. The petition bears the Clerk’s certificate that it conforms with the requirements of standing orders.
This petition is similar to a petition read to the Assembly during the November 2006 sittings, so it need not be read.
Repeal 130 km/h Speed Limit on Territory Roads
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I present a further petition from three petitioners praying that the 130 km/h speed limit on Territory roads be repealed. The petition bears the Clerk’s certificate that it conforms with the requirements of standing orders. I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read:
- We the undersigned, respectfully showeth our great concern about speed limits on our open roads.
We, the undersigned, note that recommendation 6 in the road safety taskforce report is not based on any evidence. Other than making general assertions to effect that higher speeds increase the risk of accidents and quoting studies from other parts of Australia and the rest of the world, the report does not contain one single piece of evidence that travelling in excess of 130 km/h was the cause of any of the accidents on NT open roads. Instead the report admits that there is no such evidence available from NT police crash investigations (page 8).
- We, the undersigned, remind the Legislative Assembly that we, the citizens of the Northern Territory, are intelligent and civic minded and we are not prepared to have our rights removed by laws that have no conventional basis.
- We, the undersigned, call for the immediate removal of open road speed limits, and being in duty bound so do pray.
Move Power Generation to Brewer Estate
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I present a petition from 105 petitioners praying that the capacity of the power grid from the Brewer Estate to Alice Springs be upgraded. The petition bears the Clerk’s certificate that it conforms with the requirements of standing orders. I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read:
- Your petitioners respectfully showeth our objection to locate Alice Springs’ power generation at Ilparpa or the Alice Springs Airport land, both sites being part of the town’s future growth areas.
- Your petitioners humbly observe that the Brewer Estate, developed outside the town limits to accommodate noxious industries such as power generation, is the obvious site.
- Your petitioners also note that the Ron Goodin Power Station noise pollution continues to impact upon the neighbourhood and will do so until such time as the generating units are removed, thus making it imperative that the generating units are moved in the shortest time possible.
Your petitioners do humbly pray that the Northern Territory government and Power and Water immediately commence works to upgrade the capacity of the power grid from Brewer Estate to the township as a sign of political will to shift power generation from Ron Goodin Power Station.
And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.
VISITORS
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of students from Year 6 at Sadadeen Primary School, accompanied by teachers Vicki Skoss, Heather Tubberhauer and Taneka Keeler. I add, honourable members, that this group is the group that has the won the people’s choice award in the art competition which you ran here in Central Australia. If those young people would like to put their hands up.
Members: Hear, hear!
MINISTERIAL REPORTS
Annual Treasurers’ Conference of the Ministerial Council of Australian Treasurers
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, on 30 March, I attended the annual Treasurers’ Conference of the Ministerial Council of Australian Treasurers. Before that, I met with my state and territory counterparts to discuss general issues in the meeting the following day.
This year, state and territory Treasurers also finalised agreement to harmonise payroll tax arrangements between the states and territories. It is an historic first, and will see the arrangements between the states and territories, and internally as well, simplified and less cumbersome. States have agreed to adopt common provisions and definitions for timing of lodgement, motor vehicle allowances, accommodation allowances, a range of fringe benefits, work performed outside a jurisdiction, employee share acquisition schemes, superannuation contributions for non-working directors, and grouping of business.
States and territories will retain control over individual rates and thresholds. The new arrangements will apply by no later than 1 July 2008 in all states and territories. For Territory business, once the full process is in place, there will be a $3m saving overall.
The main purpose in attending the Treasurers’ conferences is to achieve two outcomes. The first is to ensure the Territory gets its fair share of the national funding from the Commonwealth, and the second is to protect that concept of horizontal fiscal equalisation from the attacks of the largest states. This was achieved on both accounts on this occasion.
As members would be aware, the Commonwealth pools all the receipts from the GST and distributes those receipts to the Australian Tax Office to cover the costs of administering the GST, and to the states as financial assistance grants. The Taxation Office receives $630m to administer the GST; the rest of the money is divided according to formula established and administered by the Commonwealth Grants Commission. That determines the share to be provided to each state and territory as a number against every dollar raised. The Territory share this year was determined at 4.36824 to every dollar raised. It is determined on fundamental principles, the most important of which is that there ought to be no disadvantage in services to be had across different parts of Australia. The federal Treasurer determines whether to accept the recommendations.
This year, the Territory receives $2.123bn, about $20m more than predicted. The increase is due to an increase in population, our isolation, and indigenous factors within our population.
The second task is to protect the process from the larger states. This year, the process was once again protected. But I sound a warning that in 2010 a review will be completed - a review that is likely to simplify the process - and that is dangerous ground for the Territory. The larger states will use the opportunity to undermine the principles of equalisation and, if they succeed, it will be a sad day indeed for our federation and the smaller states but, particularly, for the Northern Territory.
We are doing what we can to overcome this threat. In defending the Territory’s revenue share from the attacks we have been well served by Treasury in the past and will be again. I am pleased with the outcome of the meeting it was a good result for the Territory.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, the opposition commends the Treasurer for maintaining the fight for the fair share for the Territory in the assault that other more populous states mount with strong requests for what they call fairness. It is fair that the Territory receives the amount that it does receive, and for that you have the support and commendation of the Territory opposition.
On the matter of the unexpected increase, we have had reports of the unexpected increases year by year and it does beg the question as to the parameters upon which the government builds its case for using that largesse. It is one thing to receive an unexpected bonus but it is how that bonus is used. Is it seen as an achievement to spend money and to put out a glossy brochure and to say: ‘We have recognised this problem and our solution is to spend money’? That is not a solution. The outcome, the result of the expenditure, the quality of the program is the result that Territorians demand, not the heralding of great achievements being the expenditure of money. If you continue down that path and do not build the strategies to change the direction the Territory is going and use that money to produce better outcomes you are further entrenching welfare dependency and we become further dependant on the Commonwealth.
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Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: While the member for Nelson is coming to the lectern, I would like members to be aware that in the gallery there are students from Year 4 Living Waters Lutheran School with their teacher, Maranda Carr. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to your very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I support the statement from the minister. We have to keep up the fight to get our fair share of income from the Commonwealth. The one area which I do not think we do get the fair share - and it will be an uphill battle continuously - is the area of local government which is not given out from the Commonwealth on the same horizontal equalisation scheme. It is given out on the population basis.
As we know, local government is being amalgamated. One of the key matters that local government has to face is the amount of money that has to go into that amalgamation process to make it successful. I ask the minister to keep the fight up to see whether the system of funding local government can be changed. I know it is an uphill battle when you consider the power of the states that oppose it. If we are getting extra GST and we cannot get extra funding through the normal processes, I say to the government set aside some of the GST funding that we receive from the Commonwealth as a standard input into local government funding in the Northern Territory.
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I thank the members for Blain and Nelson for their supportive comments. I remind members, and I have said it before, that before I went away to my first Ministerial Council back in 2001, I took a phone call late one evening from former Chief Minister, Marshall Perron. He said: ‘Do not be conned. Do not be conned by these sharks interstate when you go down there because they will be after you. They will be after your tail because they will say the Northern Territory gets too big a share, and they want some of their money back’. He said: ‘Remember this: the principles of equalisation by which they draw and allocate the funding around Australia is the glue that holds the federation of Australia together’. That stuck with me ever after. Marshall never claimed it as his own quote; it is someone else’s quote, the origins of which escape me. It is a very powerful statement and something that every minister who represents the Northern Territory for ever should remember.
In relation to the extra $20m, it is not a bonus, it is not a windfall. Every time you and other people go out and say it is a bonus or windfall, you are suggesting that it is not the rightful share for the Northern Territory. It is our rightful share. That is what we go to fight for, and that is what we won.
Central Australia - Tourism
Mr HENDERSON (Tourism): Madam Speaker, I congratulate the Treasurer for getting our rightful share from the Commonwealth.
I would like to update the House on tourism achievements and activities for Central Australia. The latest national and international visitor surveys indicate that the total number of holiday visitors to Central Australia has remained steady during 2006 compared with 2005. However, we have seen a substantial increase in the number of nights travellers spend in the Centre: up 16% or an extra 329 000 nights, and an increase in the average length of stay from four to five nights compared with 2005. That is very significant. As I said in the House yesterday and at breakfast this morning, an extra 329 000 nights in Central Australia is a lot of extra money into our economy in Central Australia.
I am pleased to report that the international component of total holiday visitors for 2006 to Central Australia has grown to 289 000. That is an additional 17 000 international travellers compared with 2005, again a significant result. This is great news given that future tourism growth is likely to come from the international market. My recent overseas trip reinforced the importance of the international market to the Territory. The European market is the largest source of visitors for us but, more importantly, visiting the Territory remains the No 1 priority for many international travellers.
Whilst there are many activities and programs under way in the Centre, I will focus on a couple of new ones, the Dreaming Trails concept. My agency, Tourism NT, is working closely with indigenous art centres like Keringke Arts, Titjikala Arts, and Ntaria Arts, city art galleries and niche tourism operators in Central Australia to create Aboriginal art trails in the region. This will connect travellers interested in Aboriginal art with these centres, enabling the centres to make direct art sales to the consumers. This art trail will form one of many art trails under an exciting new niche marketing concept titled Dreaming Trails, a concept that will allow travellers in Aboriginal culture through art. Importantly, when I was in Europe, there was an absolute desire of many of our tourists to meet Aboriginal people who create the wonderful art.
I also want to talk about the development of four-wheel drive tracks in the region, which is high on the agenda and we have committed to increase 4X4 routes in light of the sealing of the Red Centre Way. Talks are taking place on four-wheel drive marketing initiatives, including the development of camp grounds on major four-wheel drive routes in the Harts Range, Docker River, Eastern Macdonnell, and Hermannsburg areas. Work is also being done with emerging operators on the Hugh River Stock Route to access this market due to their strategic location south of Alice Springs and on an accessible four-wheel drive track. This includes four-wheel drive courses, cultural awareness workshops and visits to contemporary Aboriginal communities.
Another exciting project being jointly developed by Tourism NT and the Central Land Council is a training initiative for Aboriginal four-wheel drive instructors who can lead tag-along tours through the Aboriginal land under the existing permit system. As you can see, these developments and initiatives have the potential to provide business opportunities and jobs at a local level, boosting employment, training and economic activity in the region.
Other positive news for Central Australia is the strength of the business tourism sector. I am pleased to announce that a combined bid by the Alice Springs Convention Centre tour hosts and Tourism NT to host the International Symposium on Pneumococcal Diseases saw Alice Springs win the Meeting of the Year Award at the 2006-07 Meeting and Events Industry Awards held in Hobart on 3 April. This is the first ever MEIA award for the Northern Territory, one where Alice was recognised as a unique business event location. These wins help raise the profile of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory as a fantastic business tourism destination.
It was only last month that our Chief Minister launched the $2.1m Destination Alice Springs campaign, the third for Alice and the surrounding region. This campaign enhances Alice’s image as the most famous outback town in Australia, but also enhances its appeal and ability to serve as a great base for the modern day adventurer. It has been through this government’s increased funding to tourism that has enabled specific marketing campaigns to be undertaken for our six priority regions.
As I reported to the House yesterday, both CATIA and Barkly Tourism are reporting strong bookings for the year ahead. This is fantastic news from all accounts, and I look forward to receiving the next round of holiday visitor statistics which will hopefully support what our dedicated industry members are telling us.
There is much more happening in Central Australia and what I have highlighted here today is just the tip of the iceberg. What I can say is that the Territory government is committed to Central Australian tourism, and committed to moving the tourism industry ahead. I congratulate all those operators in the industry who provide such a wonderful product for our tourists who come to the Territory and come to Central Australia.
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): Madam Speaker, I thank the minister for his report on tourism in Central Australia. There is no doubt that it has been the aim of tourism operators and the tourism industry for many years to get the tourists to stay one extra night. It has been a campaign that has been going on for some time. It is really nice to see that it is starting to work here.
Indigenous art is still at the forefront, and it still has a lot of development to do. I have to say that it is pleasing to see that there are tag-along tours now taking tourists, if they wish to go, to the artists.
One business venture that I believe you have given a big slap in the face to is the vehicle manufacturers, by not granting permits to them to bring their business to Central Australia. That is a huge loss to Central Australia. It is a minimum of $5m - that is very conservative; it is closer to $10m. Not only do those people come here, they bring quite a lot of support vehicles and staff with them, and they contribute to the economy through accommodation, food, and fuel. They also use a lot of IT when they are here. Those people are now not going to come because we do not offer that one-stop shop for them any more. They have to split up all of their training and go to two different states. They would have to do their on-road training and their high speed testing in Victoria and then come here to do their climatic changes. They will not do that; they will go just to one place. That is a very unfortunate situation that you have placed Central Australia in and it has also said goodbye to what used to be regarded as a very significant industry for Central Australia.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Madam Speaker, I thank the minister for his report. Speaking about CATIA and some of the tourism operators in town, yes, they are buoyed, the numbers are great and it looks as though it is going to be a really good tourist season for us. The marketing has been successful and it certainly is a big plus.
I commend the Alice Springs Desert Park, which you did not mention in the report. They do fantastic things and offer alternatives to people in the town. They involve the community and are becoming a really strong destination for tourists.
As well as that, The Ghan passenger train gives people who come to Alice Springs options of going on different tours. I have to admit, The Ghan passenger train has been a huge bonus for this town. I would like government to consider also returning the pensioner concession to the elderly on that train. They do not get it once they get to the Territory, but they do get it in the South Australian component. Perhaps you could seriously look at that, because there are large numbers who arrive on The Ghan each time it comes to Alice Springs.
You talked about the art industry. The idea of selling direct from the artists is good; it may help bypass the carpetbaggers who do so much damage to the artists and cheat and exploit them. That is to be commended. Let us face it; we need to protect our Aboriginal art industry because it is a huge industry and it is growing day by day.
The sealing of the Mereenie Loop road is great and it has started; I know that. However, have you completed the negotiations with the CLC so that access to the gravel can occur around Ipolera so that the next stage can go ahead? It is too easy to sit back and say: ‘We have started sealing’. We want that sealing to be completed. That, again, will have great spin-offs for our tourism industry. It is vital to the town, it does spin-off to all other businesses, and we really should keep promoting it …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON (Tourism): Madam Speaker, I thank members who contributed to the report. We are all keenly aware of how important tourism is to our economy. All of us, as local members, have people who are engaged in tourism in our electorates.
I pick up on a couple of issues. For the member for Katherine, safety is the priority on our roads. It was a tough decision to take, and we have taken the decision. Obviously, the opposition would have another view. There are many numbers going around regarding the value of that particular industry to the market. We have never seen any detailed evidence of the claims of the value so, if you have details of that, I would be pleased to see it. We have asked for it and have never seen it.
In regard to the Desert Park, I agree with the member for Braitling - a fantastic park here in Alice Springs. There has been an announcement by our government that we are going to be constructing a brand new Western MacDonnell’s visitor centre at the park to the value of $3m. Madam Speaker, we will continue to invest in the park.
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Visitors
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Before I call another ministerial report, honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Her Worship, the Mayor of Alice Springs, Ms Fran Kilgariff. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: Also, honourable members, in the gallery we have students from Charles Darwin University’s Migrant English class, with their teachers, Suzette Lau and David Callard. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame - Opening of New Premises
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Women’s Policy): Madam Speaker, on International Women’s Day on 8 March this year, I had the pleasure of formally opening the new premises of the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame in Alice Springs.
The Northern Territory government provided funding through the Regional Museums Grants program to the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame to restore and relocate to the Old Alice Springs Gaol. The Old Alice Springs Gaol is a registered heritage place and represents a genuine example of community protecting its cultural assets. Locating the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame in the old gaol will allow it to continue to build on its collection of stories, photographs, artefacts and memorabilia relating to pioneer women. The location is ideal in the centre of town and close to both tourist accommodation and other venues, making it more accessible to view the exceptional collection. I understand the Hall of Fame, together with many other great Alice Springs attractions, is now included in a pre-arranged tour for Ghan visitors.
It is so important to preserve the outstanding contribution women have made to the Northern Territory. The Hall of Fame enables the Territory’s history to be viewed by thousands of visitors, and recognises the hardships women have overcome to get to where they are today.
I acknowledge the founder, Mrs Molly Clark of Andado Station. Molly had a vision many years ago to preserve the place of women in history and their special contribution to Australia’s heritage. In 1993, a public meeting was called to gauge interest in opening a Hall of Fame for pioneering women of Australia. This proved to be a success. The association was formed, a temporary building was required, and fundraising commenced.
This is how the famous Molly’s Bash started - a bush concert and an outback experience at Molly Clark’s homestead at the old station on the edge of the Simpson Desert. It was a major fundraiser for the new building, held annually from 1993 to 2003 - a huge success as hundreds of people attended to enjoy the outback experience. I understand that plans are afoot to resurrect this unique event.
I also thank the staff and volunteers who worked extremely hard to ensure the opening was a huge success, and for their ongoing contribution. It was fantastic to see a great attendance and it demonstrates the strong community spirit. The people of Alice Springs should be extremely proud to showcase the Hall of Fame; an excellent example to others. I encourage residents and visitors to tour the Women’s Hall of Fame.
As part of the International Women’s Day celebration, I had the privilege of presenting awards at the opening to Alice Springs recipients of this year’s Tribute to Northern Territory Women. The Northern Territory government initiated the Tribute on International Women’s Day in 2002.
International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the progress made, to call for further change, and to celebrate acts by ordinary women who have contributed to the lives of their families, their communities and to each other. The tribute is a celebration and commemoration of the achievements of Territory women, both past and present. It is designed to honour and acknowledge the substantial contribution women have made, and continue to make, to the economic development and social wellbeing of the Territory.
Four remarkable women were recognised for their significant ongoing contribution to the growth and development of the Territory. The 2007 tributes were to: Penny Tastula from Darwin for her long-standing commitment to developing the tourism industry in the Territory; Molly Wardaguga, a Burarra Aboriginal elder and a retired senior Aboriginal Health Worker with over 40 years experience; Rosie Kunoth-Monks for her ongoing work advocating and supporting Aboriginal people; and Molly Clark who, in the early 1990s, had a vision to celebrate women’s achievements and their place in history – and that vision is now embodied within the walls of the Old Alice Springs Gaol in the form of the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame.
The Territory government is proud to continue to recognise the outstanding achievements being made by ordinary women.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I thank the Minister for Women’s Policy for her statement. It is a crying shame that the school kids are not here, because I am going to thank you and acknowledge your efforts, minister, in your portfolio. You are a significantly better minister for Women’s Policy than your predecessor. You have a genuine commitment to the area. It was a pleasure to see you and others at the opening of the Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame.
In Alice Springs, so many of us have been involved in a number of different ways. Many of us from different backgrounds, even prior to politics, have been slugging away in our own ways to get this to the position it has been for many years. It has transcended political and gender lines to some extent, and the cooperation between the Territory government and the federal government is a great example of people pitching in and getting the right result in the end. Congratulations.
While I have you in Alice Springs as Minister for Women’s Policy, I would be grateful if you would - and I appreciate it if you cannot do it now - come back to me at some point on the following issues: (1) Family planning – I understand it has been closed since about June/July. I understand there are funding issues. Family planning needs to be operational in Alice Springs; (2) Breast Screening NT is still not operating like it used to. The windows for opportunities for breast screening are narrow, I am sure you would know that; and (3) where is the women’s information centre? I know there was a review some time ago, but it seems to have disappeared. Can you tell us where it is and what it is doing? We note the abolition under Labor of the Women’s Advisory Council and the Business Women’s Consultative Council. We urge you to reinstate that, but certainly family planning, Breast Screening NT and Women’s Information Centre. Also, can someone please get the after hours sexual assault service a new phone because they need one.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Madam Speaker, I guess the minister was a bit worried at the start of that, to hear the opposition praising her for what has happened. I join with the Leader of the Opposition in what she said. It is a great achievement. It has been a long, hard road for that committee to get where they are today. That group of volunteers is so keen and eager to assist. Volunteers do a huge amount in this town. You are right: The Ghan passengers now have the option of going to the Women’s Hall of Fame and the Royal Flying Doctor Base all in that precinct. It is great to see. The way they have set it out is good and it brings back memories for all of us.
The Leader of the Opposition stole my thunder because I was also going to say to you: ‘Hey, a family planning service’. That is an issue that has arisen with us many times. The Women’s Information Centre - the Leader of the Opposition, like me, receives many calls from women seeking advice and getting us to point them in the right direction. I am not sure why it has not been resurrected. It should be there. We need that centre.
Also the Women’s Advisory Council. Who are you listening to? What voices are you hearing? Are you really consulting with the community rather than just the bureaucrats? You will be able to respond to that I am sure.
I also want to talk about the Tribute to Women. You should broaden that. The women’s achievements awards are good, but it has become a little narrow. There are many other women in our community who need to be recognised. Rosie Kunoth-Monks is someone who should be recognised for her great work in this town. There are many memories and stories that these women have, and we need to capture them before it is too late.
Minister, this is a great achievement for Alice Springs. We are very proud of it. Thank you and the federal government for what you have done to make it all happen.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Women’s Policy): Madam Speaker, I thank both members for their comments. With my colleague, the Minister for Family and Community Services, I will look at some of these issues that have been raised.
In response to both members: what do we do in picking up the voices of women? This government initiated a fantastic process called Community Cabinet. Every time the Chief Minister, the Minister for Family and Community Services and I go to those communities, we hold forums with women, gauge the views and thoughts of women, and put that into real action rather than rhetoric going into government, and seek real outcomes for women. It is not just in our main urban areas, but in our rural and remote communities where those voices were often not heard.
That process has proved to be quite useful. It has resulted in many programs, particularly targeting women and youth. We have seen some very productive outcomes from that. That is probably one of the best forums in gauging the thoughts of women out there.
Third International Festival of Desert People and Cultures
Mr McADAM (Central Australia): Madam Speaker, today I report to the House on the third International Festival of Desert People and Cultures held in Algiers, Algeria, in December 2006.
The festival was a cross-cultural exchange program between international desert communities to celebrate the diversity of indigenous arts and cultural practices. The festival is dedicated to the protection of the environment and the struggle against desert degradation and aims to promote desert cultures and their heritage.
I am delighted, as Minister for Central Australia, to inform the House that for the first time an Australian delegation attended the festival. The delegation was made up of a combined Central Australian indigenous traditional dance group consisting of the Warlpiri dancers from the Janganpa group based in Alice Springs, and the Warumungu dancers from the Nyinkka Nyunyu Arts and Cultural Centre in Tennant Creek. The Janganpa group was represented by Mr John Brown, Mr Charlie Brown, Mr Jimmy Collins and Mr Albert Morris, whilst the Warumungu dancers were represented by Mr Jimmy Franks Jnr, Mr Mark Johnny and Mr Banjo Johnny. The tour was managed by the very capable Patrick McCloskey from the Artback NT Arts Touring Unit.
The dancers performed on seven occasions at five separate venues as well as two street parade performances. Audiences ranged from 500 to 1500 at the various events and venues. In addition, the group conducted four separate television interviews and additional interviews for Algerian radio and newspapers, including a personal meeting with the Algerian President, Mr Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
The tour to Algeria illustrated the available international market for traditional indigenous performing arts. The Australian delegation was enthusiastically welcomed wherever they travelled by people from all over the world. For the dancers, positive outcomes included a better understanding of delivering a professional performance to an international audience, and increased knowledge of the relationship between cultural maintenance and performance opportunities.
For the Territory as a whole, positive outcomes included the invaluable exposure of indigenous cultural practices to the world market and the developing links between international desert communities, environment programs, arts and cultural programs with similar groups in Central Australia. The Algerian Ministry of the Environment and the World Desert Foundations are extremely interested in forming partnerships with Central Australian arts, cultural and environmental organisations and programs.
Since the completion of the festival, the Minister for the Environment’s office in Algeria has expressed further interest in beginning discussions with the Northern Territory government about the possibility of potentially hosting a festival in Central Australia in the near future.
I commend the Janganpa and the Warumungu dancers and Artback for their foresight in attending this festival. I look forward to many more opportunities for them and many others to show the world the uniqueness of the Australian indigenous culture. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the presence of Mr Peter Ross in the House. Mr Ross is a long-standing Territorian. He has contributed much to this community and we pay our respects and thank Peter for his outstanding effort to the community of Alice Springs.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: The overall time for ministerial reports has expired.
Reports noted pursuant to standing orders.
EVIDENCE OF CHILDREN AMENDMENT BILL
(Serial 91)
(Serial 91)
Bill presented and read a first time.
Mr STIRLING (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
In 2004, this government introduced a number of reforms to the procedural law for the prosecution of sexual offences. The purpose of the reforms was to reduce the trauma experienced by children and other vulnerable witnesses in criminal proceedings for sexual offences, and improve the quality of evidence from those witnesses. To a large extent, the reforms were based on the 1999 report by the Northern Territory Law Reform Committee on laws related to the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault. The report recommended, as the then Attorney-General outlined in his speech to this Assembly, the creation of alternative mechanisms by which children could give evidence in sexual assault proceedings. As a result, the Evidence Reform (Children and Sexual Offences) Act commenced in December 2004 and the reforms are generally functioning very well.
However, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has recently identified a number of problems of a minor or technical nature. These have occasionally resulted in children being required to give, on multiple occasions, evidence as to the nature of the sexual offences perpetrated upon them; and recorded or written statements of children to police officers or Family and Community Services’ workers being ruled inadmissible by the courts because they did not comply with technical requirements. These situations are not acceptable. They are situations the previous amendments were clearly intended to prevent.
Madam Speaker, if components of the previous reforms are not working properly, or are not being interpreted the way the government intended, they must be amended as soon as possible. Accordingly, the purpose of the reforms introduced today is to:
clarify the operation of provisions relating to children’s recorded statements by specifically exempting these statements from the requirements of the Oaths Act;
In addition, a number of areas have been identified in which the policy objectives of the initial reforms can be extended. These amendments will apply the protections for children and other vulnerable witnesses regarding sexual offences, to proceedings where the defendant is charged with sexual and other offences, or where one of the charges is a serious violence offence. The proposed amendments relating to serious violence offences recognise the clear connection between the physical and sexual abuse of children, and the trauma also experienced by child witnesses in cases of violence.
I refer at this point to the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Report Seen and heard: priority for children in the legal process. Amongst other things, the report looked at children’s evidence, how it is presented, how it is treated by the justice system, and attitudes to this evidence. At one point the commission noted:
- Evidence to the inquiry indicated that, whatever the jurisdiction, the structures, procedures and attitudes to child witnesses within all these legal processes frequently discount, inhibit, and silence children as witnesses. In cases where the child is very young or has or has had a close relationship with one of the parties or where the subject of the proceeding is particularly sensitive, children often become so intimidated or distressed by the process that they are unable to give evidence satisfactory or at all.
These reforms are not about stripping an accused of their rights, of removing an accused person’s opportunity to contest charges against them using every legal means at their disposal. That right is fundamental and these reforms do not remove or erode that right. These reforms are, instead, about allowing children and other vulnerable witnesses to give evidence in a manner that promotes their self-respect and protects their dignity. These are important goals. Just as importantly, they are also about making sure as much relevant information as possible is available to the decision-maker.
I turn to the specific provisions of the bill. Firstly, the bill amends Part 5 of the Justices Act in relation to proceedings at committal. It inserts a new definition of a ‘serious violence offence’ in section 4 of the act, and extends the operation of Part 5 to these offences. As a result of the amendments, the evidence of the child at committal must be given by written or recorded statement in proceedings for: a sexual offence; a sexual offence and other offences; a serious violence offence; or a serious violence offence and other offences.
The definition of ‘serious violence offence’ is based on that contained in the Bail Act which was developed following extensive consultation with the Northern Territory Police. A ‘serious violence offence’ is an offence against specified parts and sections of the Criminal Code punishable by imprisonment for greater than five years. Part 3 of the bill, dealing with amendments to the Evidence Act, also extends the admission of the hearsay evidence of children under section 26E of the Evidence Act to ‘serious violence offences’. The definition of ‘serious violence offences’ is the same as that inserted in the Justices Act.
Amendments are also made to the Justices Act for the purpose of exempting the written or recorded statement of a child from the requirements of the Oaths Act. Section 25A of the Oaths Act allows a court to omit evidence of a child who cannot comply with the requirements of that act. However, this provision only applies where the witness is called to give oral evidence in court. Current sections 105B(2) and 105B(2A) provide that evidence is not admissible unless it complies with the Oaths Act. This has the effect of excluding the written or recorded evidence of children who cannot make a declaration in the form required by the Oaths Act. The amended section 105B sets out that, for the purpose of the committal hearing, the statement of a child need not comply with the requirements of the Oaths Act. It is sufficient that it be made by a child and, in the case of a written statement, contain a further statement of this fact and of the age of the child.
Finally, in relation to the Justices Act, section 105A is amended to remove the requirement that the defendant or his or her legal representative be provided with a copy of the recorded statement of a child. The actual provision of the visual recording opens up the opportunity for possible dissemination of the recording and further exploitation of the child.
Under the amended section 105A, the prosecution will be required to provide the defendant with a transcript of the recorded statement, and an invitation to view the recorded statement at a reasonable time and place nominated by the prosecutor.
I turn now in greater detail to the amendments to the Evidence Act. The wording of the previous reforms to the Evidence Act, particularly section 21B was recently criticised in the Court of Criminal Appeal decision Queen v Manager [2006]. In that matter, the court was presented with the question of whether the prosecution could use a recorded statement made by a child to police officers, supplemented by a video of the child answering a number of additional questions at a special hearing, as the child’s evidence in chief at trial. This approach was obviously intended to limit the number of times the child was required to recount the details of the alleged assaults, and to minimise the child’s exposure to the daunting processes of our criminal justice system. Unfortunately, it was held that the current wording of section 21B does not allow a child’s statement to police to be used in this way. The court held that the whole of the evidence of the child witness at a special hearing must be given orally.
Madam Speaker, these amendments will now ensure the government’s intention is clear. First, new definitions of ‘authorised person’, ‘examination’ and ‘recorded statement’ are inserted in section 21A of the act, in addition to the definition of ‘serious violence offence’ as discussed earlier.
Under the new section 21B, the court may allow the use of a recorded statement as the whole or part of a witness’s evidence in chief, or allow that witness to give evidence at a special sitting of the court. Evidence given at a special sitting may be recorded and replayed to the jury as the whole or part of the witness’s evidence.
A new section 21C will also be inserted:
allowing the court to give directions in relation to evidence given outside the court room and transmitted to the court room, for example, by way of closed circuit television;
A further amendment has also been developed to limit the number of times a child or vulnerable witness is required to give evidence.
New section 21E allows the recording of evidence of a child or vulnerable witness in criminal proceedings. The recorded evidence can then be used in any subsequent civil or criminal proceedings such as an appeal or in the case of a mistrial.
New section 21F consolidates previous provisions relating to the closure of the court. It provides that the court may be closed in cases involving sexual and serious violence offences, either where a vulnerable witness is to give evidence or where the recorded evidence of the witness is to be replayed before the court.
Finally, a minor amendment is made to the Sexual Offences (Evidence and Procedure) Act to clarify that the definition of sexual offence in that act, and adopted in the Evidence Act, includes both current and repealed offences. It achieves this through reference to elements of the relevant Criminal Code offences.
Madam Speaker, I commend the bill to honourable members. I table a copy of the explanatory statement.
Debate adjourned.
VISITORS
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Year 4 Living Waters Lutheran School students with their teacher, Andrew Whalland. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
MENTAL HEALTH AND RELATED SERVICES AMENDMENT BILL
(Serial 90)
(Serial 90)
Continued from 22 February 2007
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, before I proceed I commend the officers for an extensive review of the legislation and the substantial amendments that they made to the act. It was a fair amount of work and I applaud them for their professionalism in dealing with this legislation. At the briefing I attended, I expressed congratulations to the officers who wrote the second reading speech, one of the most extensive I have come across for a long time. I was, unfortunately, unable to stay at the briefing for very long and I apologised to the officer for having to leave the meeting before the briefing was over. Having said that, I spent a fair bit of time rereading the minister’s second reading speech, and I have a few issues to raise with the minister.
First, I recall a speech by the minister nearly two years ago when she spoke about the Mental Health and Related Services Act and I quote:
Tonight, I reaffirm this government’s commitment to … accelerate the legislative reform that is essential to our goal of an improved mental health service for all Territorians.
- A further priority under the implementation plan is the need to reform Territory legislation, including amendments to the Mental Health … Act …
which implied that the mental health act had many flaws needing correction. Obviously, the writing of the Mental Health Act in the 1990s took a long time, had extensive consultation, and much input from many sectors of the industry, including many consumer groups. What appeared in 1998 and was enacted in 2000 was good legislation: the Mental Health and Related Services Act.
I am glad to see that the minister recognised that in her second reading speech, saying it was good legislation and what she was doing was in fact only tinkering at the edges.
She did not bring about fundamental change that she was so keen to do two years earlier, and I suppose that is where I am coming from. The politics of it is what I found difficult to tolerate. While I applaud the government for going through this extensive act bit by bit and doing it well, you could have left the politics out of it all together.
Coming to the minister’s second reading speech, initially when I read the first draft, there were some typos. I have since found the corrected copy of the Hansard and it reassures me that the corrected Hansard is now in order. My concern was with the use of the words ‘psychiatrist’ and ‘psychiatric’ as interchangeable words, which they are not. In case the minister is wondering what I am talking about, this was mid-way through her speech when she talked about addressing contextual reality through many points about the specific amendments proposed to include the discretionary provision for the CEO to appoint medical practitioners in certain roles. She went on to talk about the ‘psychiatrist case manager’ when it should have been ‘psychiatric case manager’. That has since been corrected, so that is fine.
At the briefing, the issue of withholding information from carers was raised. Often in psychiatric situations, personal or psychiatric information that may be relevant to the care of the person with the illness poses two problems. It can be very complex and very personal in nature, and one might consider that the carer ought not to be informed about that. However, if you are the carer of a psychiatric patient, you need to be reasonably well informed of the patient’s psychiatric problems. I assume that the professionals involved, whether it be the medical practitioner or the psychiatrist, would ensure that, if there is any risk at all to either the sufferer or the carer, that information would be shared, otherwise it would pose a risk to the people concerned.
The issue of it taking between seven to 14 days to review a case by a tribunal is vexing. Take, for instance, a person has been involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric facility. In the acute phase of the illness, obviously the psychiatric patient, or his or her advocate, may not have sufficient time to deal with presenting evidence to the review by the tribunal if they have not had enough time to get better to be able to deal with the intellectual process to put the case to the tribunal.
However, if it were a case where a person really did not need to be involuntarily admitted - and a recent case comes to mind and I will quote that shortly - then seven days may be a long time. I was told of a case recently where a person was voluntarily admitted to a hospital for what, I suppose, you would classify as a psychiatric problem. The person was advised to go the Royal Darwin Hospital for further care. That person initially declined but, on further advice and discussion with her medical practitioners and hospital staff, she acceded to the suggestion that she should be admitted at the Royal Darwin Hospital in the psychiatric unit.
Unfortunately, by the time she got to the Royal Darwin Hospital, it was near a long weekend. When she arrived, she was put into seclusion and, for the duration of the long weekend, she was not assessed by a psychiatrist. I assume that she would have seen, at least, the senior nurse in the ward, but she was not seen by a psychiatrist. When the long weekend was over and the patient - I will call her a patient now – was assessed by the psychiatrist, she was told: ‘There is nothing wrong with you. You can go home’.
So you have a person who has been in seclusion, scared out of her mind, told by a psychiatrist after three or four days of seclusion that there was nothing wrong with her, and then sent home. There is a problem.
I believe a process has to be put in place where a patient, once admitted, must be assessed by a psychiatrist or, at least, a psychiatric registrar, regardless of whether it is a long weekend. That would be the minimum requirement. Otherwise, patients could be left in a situation where they will suffer more mental trauma than before they were admitted to hospital. I hope that somewhere in the legislation that kind of process can be accommodated.
Whilst I have read the whole of the amendment bill, I am not a lawyer. I know a lot of work has gone into it, and much of what I have read I support. I do not propose to go into too great detail of the amendments, apart from four sections that I will talk about.
Regarding the case I quoted earlier, it appears that the seclusion was not total; the patient was in a part of the hospital where other patients could access her room. That caused her untold worry.
While the legislation might not deal with what happens in reality in the wider community, I have received many complaints from parents and carers of people who have psychiatric illnesses, that many of them are left to fend for themselves. The community support for mental health has not been as freely available as is required by the many people who have dual diagnoses living in a community. I know that in my own electorate there are many individuals who live on their own and frequently cannot access support, particularly after hours. Parents have come to me and said their resources are absolutely stretched; that they have to care for their son or daughter and, when they ask for help, it is very long in coming and, until help arrives, which could be several days to several weeks, they have to fend for themselves.
I recall a case admitted to the Royal Darwin Hospital, where this young person was prone to self-harm. The parents were beside themselves trying to deal with this young fellow and it needed political intervention to try to get services for this man.
I hope the minister will allow me to take this into committee to ask a few questions about specific areas of the legislation. I hope the minister will consider the level of services that are being provided in the community that are not sufficient. We know that there are insufficient mental health beds in our public hospitals. Time and time again, you hear people complaining about not being able to be admitted there.
One of the causes of the lack of mental health beds is that there are patients who are living long term - years and years - in our hospitals in the psychiatric wards. I know for a fact that is the case - every day I drive to the Alice Springs Hospital there is a gentleman who sits outside near the driveway, a person who has lived in the psychiatric ward for many years. That must be consuming the resources that are already under stress. Surely, there must be a better way to have this person managed within the community, rather than keeping him in a hospital bed. Obviously, he is free to wander around, because he is outside the hospital. If he is free to wander around the hospital under no supervision, could he not be better managed living in the community with the support of mental health? That is important.
I recall a recent Commonwealth publication that says that Alice Springs’ suicide rates are high, yet our psychiatric bed provision is inadequate. The report came from the Report on Government Services, where it points out that the Territory has only half the mental health beds of any other jurisdiction. The Australian average is about 40 beds per 100 000 where the Territory has only about 20 per 100 000, and that is even slightly less than when this government came into power. You wonder why all these services are shrinking under this government. When the population is increasing, the demand will increase with the population growth, yet provision for services continues to shrink. If the minister does not believe those figures, I refer her to figure 11.20 in the Report on Government Services 2007. The report also reveals that we are the lowest in Australia with dedicated mental health professionals. I refer the minister to another graph, figure 11.22, in the same report.
When I was alluding to suicide rates, if we compare suicide rates to mental health professional employment rates, you will quickly see that we have much greater need than that which is being met by this lesser capacity. All you have to do, minister, is to look at figure 11.30 of the same report and you will understand how serious that is.
I do not have any problems supporting this bill, Madam Speaker. These amendments are necessary to finesse the act. The act is a very good one. It has taken a long time to draft. It has been in force for some seven years now, and these last two years of reviewing it has been the right thing to do. I presume that this process will continue. After perhaps five years of it being in force, it ought to be reviewed again to continue to finesse the act so that we will have the best act we can possibly have in this country.
However, an act only allows you to provide services in the best way possible. Without resources it will not go anywhere. It is no good the minister coming up to me and saying: ‘When you guys were in power you had X number of million dollars, now we have so many million dollars’. The population has grown. Your budget has to get bigger. You have the money to do it, so do it, but make sure those services are there. Spending a lot of money without the outcomes commensurate to the money spent is wasting money. Somehow you need to work out where your money is going to and whether you are getting good services out to Territorians in the places where they need them.
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Visitors
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Years 2 to 6 from the Alice Springs Steiner School, with teachers Carol Muir, Christopher Brocklebank and Eugene Baba. On behalf of all honourable members I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker. I thank the minister for the introduction of this Mental Health and Related Services Amendment Bill. I thank her for the very thorough briefing I recently received from the staff. From the length of time this has taken to come before parliament in relation to when it was first released for public comment it is obvious there has been a lot of work done. I have much confidence that many of these changes are supported by people who deal with mental health and related issues in the community.
I am pleased that the bill covers a number of issues I raised on behalf of some constituents in 2004. There was concern about doctors being given approved psychiatric status when visiting outlying areas. There was concern that this could become more the norm and that we should be putting more emphasis on training more qualified psychiatrists to do the work. The AMA has supported the changes in the bill and, if the AMA supports those changes, they must believe that the changes are okay.
I also raised the issue of children over 14 and under 18 seeking voluntary admission and said at the time, unless the child has been neglected or abused, the parents have a right to know where there child is. Of course, that is never clear cut. It is obvious that has been taken into account. The clause now says that parents and guardians of young persons are to be notified of the voluntary admission unless the practitioner believes it is not in their interests. The only question I ask in that case is, if the parents come to the hospital and say: ‘Excuse me, is my child here?’, does the hospital have the right to say no? Is there anything in the bill which allows them to say no? It is one thing to say we do not have to notify the parent, but if the parent finds out by other means that there is a possibility their child is in hospital, I imagine they would turn up at the front door and ask that question. I would like the minister to follow that up, please.
The other issue I raised was about involuntary consent rules. There was concern that parents, carers or guardians looking after someone who was sent to hospital were not given full details of what treatment that patient might have, especially as that patient may come home. Had they not been informed, there was concern about a duty of care to the carer if there were any problems. There are changes in the bill to cover that as well, so I thank the minister for that.
I should note, and I raised this at the briefing, that I used the word ‘patient’ and I notice the word ‘consumer’ pops up. That is a dreadful word for someone in hospital. I know we change a lot of words today; you are not a passenger in an airline anymore, you are customer. A customer is who you are when you visit the hardware store. A passenger is someone who sits in a plane or a bus or a train, and a patient is someone who is receiving treatment for an illness of any sort. When I go to the doctor, I regard myself as a patient. I do not want to be regarded as a consumer. It sounds like something that can be used up. There is a lot of modern terminology around today, but I hope that is not the way we go when we are categorising people.
There was another issue, minister, which may not be fully in your area. When reading through parts of the bill, there is discussion about seclusion and when the person can be restrained. It brought back to me what I think was a terrible failing of the government, which I saw when I visited the women’s prison. There is one room there that is still a disgrace. It is for people who could harm themselves or other prisoners. It is simply a concrete box with an arc mesh wall. It is partly enclosed and it is partly out in the open. In this day and age, we need to move on from those primitive approaches.
Obviously, there is a need to restrain a prisoner if there is a problem. I realise they are not in hospital and, therefore, they come under the Prisons (Correctional Services) Act. It is something I have mentioned in parliament before. Looking at the bill before us, it is something the government should look at, not in the next few months or years, but now. It was brought to my attention by a prison officer, and the women with whom I met at the prison were very concerned about that room. Things may have changed since then. I have not been back, but it is an area we need to look at.
Finally, as this is a series of amendments that do bring in changes - some minor, some bringing it up-to-date with more contemporary approaches to mental health - I believe it would it wise to have a review of how these amendments have gone. Mental health is a changing area for government. We have gone from the times when you would have read in books many years ago of people being locked up in an asylum, to the opposite where, to some extent, in Victoria in years gone by they decided it was a good idea to let people out more or less as if there was no problem. That also created difficulties in society. It is a changing area, it is an area that concerns the community.
I must admit that I did not know much about this area until I became a parliamentarian. It was not relevant to me. It has become more relevant to me as I have a wonderful group of people called GROW in my electorate. I think they are in Alice Springs. I have been asked to attend a meeting as an invited guest. The amazing thing I found about these people was that they were no different to you or me. They had jobs in the public service or worked in private industry or whatever; they just sometimes had a problem dealing with issues that we all deal with. I know there are probably people with worse issues then they have. I found that they are a great self-help group. They laughed at their problems; they supported one another in their problems. I take this opportunity to say to those people, thank you for the good work you do amongst yourselves.
If members are invited to a GROW meeting, I suggest you attend. It is certainly an eye opener. It is a way for people to try to overcome the difficulties they have with some mental issues that may occur in their life by support, by humour and by simply encouraging one another. If you can go to a GROW meeting it would be good.
I basically support everything that is in here. The only way we will find out if there are some issues will be through a review. I welcome and will support these amendments.
Mr STIRLING (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I did not intend to speak in this debate but I want to pick up on an issue raised by the member for Nelson and advise him that I share that same concern. The dynamic when mental health collides with our corrective services, our legal system and our justice system, and the outcome is imprisonment, it is not a good one. We have a responsibility above what is being offered at the moment in relation to mentally ill prisoners. We did, in fact, consider going to Hobart to look at the new mentally ill prison they have built at Risdon outside Hobart. It was supposedly state-of-the-art and the best that was. Since opening late last year, or earlier this year, it has been beset with a range of problems which suggests that you have to get the design and the structure of these types of facilities very right indeed, or you run the risk of continuing the sorts of problems that we have at the moment.
We have not done any real work around it but we have put a significant sum aside for design work for a facility for the mentally ill. There are questions about whether it would be a new, stand-alone facility; who it would be run by; would it be connected, for example, to Darwin or Alice Springs prison; half on the prison site, half off? These are questions of policy that are still being worked through.
I simply wanted to make the point that I have my eye on it as minister responsible for Correctional Services in the Northern Territory. It is not an easy snap your fingers, you have a fix tomorrow, but an issue that is not going to go away. In fact, it is probably going to be exacerbated over the years ahead. That very important policy consideration, design work and costing is going on at the moment. I am hopeful that in budgets ahead we will see a figure to fix this.
Dr BURNS (Health): Madam Speaker, a welcome to the schoolchildren in the audience. This is a very important bill. I wish to speak to it to some degree as Health Minister and also Police minister. As previous speakers have said, issues relating to mental health are not just confined to mental health and mental health treatment. They cross over into all sorts of facets of life. I know there is a strong, unfortunate interaction between those who have a mental illness and police and, as the previous speaker said, in Corrections and also in health and the effects on the health system.
I welcome the Mental Health And Related Services Amendment Bill 2007 which amends the Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998. This is a culmination of an extensive consultation and review process which commenced in 2003. I also recognise that the Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998 is sound legislation, and that the primary purpose of these amendments is to address unanticipated problems with the day-to-day application of that legislation.
I welcome the member for Karama’s statement in her second reading speech about the increase in funding for mental health services from $18.8m in 2002-03 to $32m in 2006-07. That is a very substantial increase and it is very welcome. This is consistent with this government’s overall record in health, where we have increased the health budget by 64% to $788m this financial year. I also recognise the many areas of reform in this amendment bill.
I want to concentrate on two key areas; that is, firstly improving mental health services to remote and regional areas, and also aspects of this act as they relate to police and the operations of police.
The delivery of any specialist services in remote and regional Australia is a challenge. In the NT, it is partly due to having a large area and small and scattered population centres, and partly due to attracting and retaining specialist mental health staff in these remote areas.
The amendments allow for provision of the appointment of other health professionals, including medical practitioners and other health staff, to play a role in mental health services for the purposes of the act. However, they must meet the criteria and agree to be appointed. This change will potentially facilitate greater involvement by the primary health care sector which now plays a greater role in mental health care with the introduction of new Medicare items. These amendments also provide for a more practical approach for the Northern Territory in improving the application of the act beyond our major centres.
I want to mention, in particular, the importance of strengthening mental health services to Aboriginal communities. There is recent evidence, in an overall sense, of increased life expectancy for Aboriginal women, which has increased substantially, and a substantial decrease in infant mortality of some 36%. However, Aboriginal mental health has its own particular challenges. I congratulate and recognise the importance of Aboriginal mental health workers and also Aboriginal Health Workers themselves and senior community members who play an important, though often unrecognised role, within mental health. I wish to remind everyone of the most widely accepted definition of health in the Aboriginal context and a wider context as well. This one came from the National Aboriginal Health Strategy in 1989:
- Health does not just mean the physical wellbeing of the individual but refers to the social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of a whole community.
There you have it, Madam Speaker; it is not just about one person, it is the context and the community context in which those people live. This definition puts mental health at the heart of an Aboriginal definition of health and, I also argue, for most people. I welcome the amendments that are designed to better address this important aspect of health.
Substance abuse is a major issue on Aboriginal communities, and beyond. It is certainly, I believe, a contributing factor to decreasing mental health within those communities. The misuse of alcohol and other drugs is often linked to deep levels of emotional and physical harm. The proportion of death related to alcohol misuse amongst indigenous people is three to five times higher than among other Australians. The major cause of dementia amongst Aboriginal people is alcohol-related brain damage. That statistic comes from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.
I have outlined the importance and the impact of mental health upon the health system in general. I now want to move to the clarification of police powers under these amendments ...
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Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, would you mind if I just interrupt you to introduce these children? Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Years 3 to 7 students from Ntaria School accompanied by teachers, Mark Wilson, and Mona Kantawarra. On behalf of all honourable members I extend to you a very warm welcome.
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Dr BURNS: Yes, and a very warm welcome to those students.
Madam Speaker, just to repeat, I do state my support for the minister’s statement in the second reading speech regarding the limited but important role the police have under the provisions of the act. That role is secondary to the role of the mental health services. However, when assistance is required it is vital that police powers are clear and give appropriate guidance and legislative authority to act in these circumstances, supporting the clarifying amendments proposed to provide appropriate authority for police to carry out their role pursuant to the act. I certainly support those clarifying amendments also.
I also understand that inconsistent references in the existing legislation related to police powers have led to circumstances in which the police have not, at times, had sufficient powers to act, particularly regarding the power of entry, provisions and terms around the use of reasonable force, and reasonable measures. It is an unfortunate aspect that police do have to act. I am very confident that police are very well trained in these aspects. They will act within the act, and use whatever force is necessary and reasonable, and reasonable measures to ensure the safety of the patient and their family, and the general public as well. I commend the minister for these amendments.
Just to reiterate, police powers are not the first line of action in dealing with mental health problems but, regrettably, they are sometimes necessary to protect individuals and those around them as I outlined before.
In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I commend the member for Karama, the minister, for the amendments she is putting forward. Many of them are complex and of a technical nature, but important nonetheless to ensure that we have contemporary legislation to back up the increased resources that as a government we are putting into mental health services. I commend the bill to the House.
Ms LAWRIE (Family and Community Services): Madam Speaker, I thank the members for their bipartisan support of the Mental Health and Related Services Act Amendment Bill.
As a quick background for people in the public gallery, the amendment bill before us has its genesis in 2004. It goes to reviewing and having a look at comprehensive, new legislation that came into place in terms of the Mental Health and Related Services Act of 1998 which commenced operation on 1 February 2000. That substantive act that we are here today to amend was developed over an eight-year period involving extensive public and stakeholder consultation.
Since 2000 when that act came into place, there have been changes to the way in which mental health services in the Territory are administered and delivered. There has also been substantial improvement of the technology that is available, both of which require some consideration in the context of changes to our prevailing legislation.
Each stage of the development of the Mental Health and Related Service Act Amendment Bill 2007, which we have before us today, has been marked by periods of stakeholder and public comment and discussion. Substantial consultation since the release of an issues paper in 2004 resulted in some 100 amendments, many of which are cosmetic in nature and aimed at clarifying existing provisions and bringing the act in line with current drafting conventions.
In August of last year, Cabinet considered the draft legislation and sought that it go out for further consultation with stakeholders. This consultation period resulted in further amendments, which are reflected in the legislation we have before us today. The extent and the quality of the feedback throughout the development of this bill reflect the degree of community interest in both the care and the treatment of individuals with a mental illness. These are valuable contributions made by the carer and consumer organisations - patients, as described by the member for Nelson. Members of the community have been involved. Members of the legal and health professionals have also been critical to the development of this bill.
The Mental Health and Related Services Amendment Bill 2007 introduces a number of amendments that are purely designed to ensure that the Territory continues to have contemporary legislation responsive to consumer, carer, regional and remote residents, and the range of professionals charged with responsibility within this act for carrying out the various functions of the act.
That is the background to why we are here today to introduce this important contemporary legislative reform.
I want to go now specifically to the concerns raised by the shadow minister, the member for Greatorex. I thank him for his support in broad terms for the amendments we have before us today. I am happy to go into committee to discuss specific concerns that he may have in regards to specific clauses.
I understand that he has concerns regarding how practitioners determine to withhold information from carers. I am happy to go into any specific details around any specific concerns he can raise. Certainly, the amendments we have before us today strengthen access to information for carers, and put in place a quality assurance system in terms of how practitioners have to determine good reason for withholding information from carers. They would be on professional grounds rather than any spurious grounds. Really, it is designed in its intent to strengthen the participation role of carers in knowledge of the treatment and recovery care programs for people with a mental illness; a critical element, of course, to the recovery of someone with a mental illness.
I appreciate the shadow minister’s concerns about the extension of the review to the tribunal time from seven to 14 days. I note that we are still well below other jurisdictions in the actual time frame it takes to go to a tribunal for involuntary admissions. This was a practical change made to the legislation as a result of Territory practitioners saying to us that in a practical sense, when someone comes in under an involuntary admission, by the seven-day requirement to go to the tribunal, they are spending their first couple of days, something like six hours on the Monday, again a similar amount of time on the Tuesday, preparing their notes for the tribunal. It is often the case, I am advised, that involuntary patients are not in a condition to be responding to the nature of the questioning that would be required for a comprehensive report to the tribunal. So it is a nature of the care issue that prompted the practitioners in the field to say the seven-day period is too tight in terms of how they can prepare information for the tribunal because, often, it put the emphasis on preparation for the tribunal before the care of the patient that the practitioners wanted to pursue. It was a practical issue.
The tribunal, I note, could not agree on the exact time frame, so it really left in abeyance the preferred time frame. We, of course, will monitor this situation. We will monitor the 14 days. I note, though, that at any time, people can seek the tribunal to look at their case. It can be called on earlier, if you like, than the 14 days which is the minimum requirement with the changes to the legislation.
I invite the shadow minister to take any specific concerns of the individual case he cited as a scenario of an admission to Royal Darwin Hospital to my agency. Obviously, for privacy reasons, I would not be seeking to debate that in detail in the Chamber. I will say that it does not ring true and that is why we would be happy to investigate it. It has always been the case that an involuntary admission must be seen by an authorised psychiatric practitioner on admission, and then again within 24 hours by another authorised psychiatric practitioner. To say that, in the case scenario presented in the Chamber this morning, that someone was admitted involuntarily to …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: Well, that is what I heard, and that is what my staff heard as well. Anyway, to say that there is an involuntary admission and they were not seen by a psychiatrist because it was a long weekend, I have to say that that is contrary to what occurs within our treatment facilities. Without having the specifics of the case here, we could probably debate ad infinitum whether it did happen. I do not believe it is appropriate to be on the Parliamentary Record about an individual’s case. If there are obvious concerns you hold, I am very happy for you to pass those concerns on to the agency for an appropriate investigation into that matter and a report back to you, shadow minister ...
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Visitors
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, do you mind if I interrupt you to recognise these students in the gallery? Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of members of the Alice Springs High School Football Academy, accompanied by Rupert Betheras and Bradley Puls. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Ms LAWRIE: Regarding the shadow minister’s concerns - at times contradictory - about whether we put our emphasis on treatment beds or whether we put our emphasis into community care, may I say that the Martin Labor government has absolutely had an emphasis on community care. We emphasise care in peoples’ own homes rather than in an institutional environment. We have tripled the funding to the non-government sector to increase support to people in the community. We have the capacity to increase the number of beds in our acute inpatient unit when that is required, but we absolutely put our emphasis on care within the community.
I acknowledge the fine work done by the Top End Mental Health Services unit, also TEAMHealth in the Top End and the Mental Health Association in Central Australia. They have had a tripling of their funding since the Martin Labor government has been in place. I am proud to say that there has been a significant shift in the improved delivery of mental health services to people with a mental illness in the Territory. That shift is underpinned by the legislative reforms we have here today. The amendments will provide for contemporary practice and that is significantly important.
Whilst we have tripled the funding in our community care sector, in real terms, the mental health budget in the Territory in 2001 was $13m and, in real terms, the mental health budget today is $32m; that is an increase of 136%. The shadow minister says that the increase just reflects population growth. Well, shadow minister, 136% increase in population has not occurred since 2001. We have poured enormous new resources into tackling mental health in our community. It is something the government is working very closely with the sector on, and we have more to do - much more to do, particularly, we know, in the provision of mental health services within our regional and remote context. Importantly, the amendments contained within the legislation we have before us today ensure that we will be better able to provide management plans and care for people with a mental illness in our remote communities and strengthen the role within our regional hubs.
I thank the member for Nelson for his support for the legislation and that he is pleased with the emphasis on the training of practitioners contained within the changes. Yes, I am glad that the AMA is among many who support these proposed changes. I agree with him that it is important that the rights of carers, particularly parents and guardians, are recognised. I welcome the acknowledgement of the work done by the agency to enshrine that recognition in there.
Regarding your specific query about whether someone under the age of 18 is in hospital, and the parents arrive and ask whether their child is there, the advice I have received is that clinicians cannot lie. What they could say in that situation is that they could not give them that information, or they could tell them that they are in hospital but not provide any further details or, again, in the situation where there are serious issues, perhaps in regards to abuse, they would go to the extent of preventing them from actually seeing their child. Therefore, the situation requires a response, given the individual circumstances but, fundamentally, the clinicians cannot lie. They can say: ‘I am unable to provide you with that information’ if, in the extreme case, it really is detrimental to the patient to provide that information.
Finally, I note your concerns of the wording of ‘patient’ versus ‘consumer’. The consumers within mental health are a very well organised group of people, and that term is reflective of their wishes. ‘Consumer’ is currently the ‘in vogue’ term. Whether we personally think it is fabulous or not, it is there to reflect what the mental health community want in terminology. In response to both of your concerns in that regard, of course, legislation should be kept contemporary if possible. As minister, I am happy to commit to a process where we monitor these changes. I believe it is necessary to review significant legislation every five years, therefore, I could not see why we would not be looking at a five-year look at these reforms brought in today.
Obviously, I cannot say who will be minister in five years time, but it is my intention to see a review in five years time. I look forward to going into committee stage, Madam Speaker.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
In committee:
Clauses 1 to 21, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 22:
Dr LIM: Mr Chairman, this clause and the next one that I will be discussing is in the same context as section 43, but I will come to that shortly. It is again about informing the carer. I listened carefully to what the minister had to say in the second reading response.
Having practiced psychiatry I understand how vexed it could be when you assess a young person and you suspect that there might be some issues with the carer of that person. I believe irrespective of that you need to advise a carer that the young person is, indeed, a patient and perhaps that is as far as he would go. For all the rights and wrongs of the relationship between the carer and the patient, if that is what the practitioner believes, the carer, I believe, still has the right to know whether that person is under care. That is what I am trying to address: that it must be essentially compulsory that the carer has to be informed that the patient is in care and, once having done that, any other extra clinical information would then have to come under the assessment and decision of the practitioner.
Ms LAWRIE: I note the shadow minister’s concerns which are similar to the concerns raised by the member for Nelson. This provision has not changed in what you are saying regarding compulsory notification of parents or carer or guardian. This provision has not changed under the amendments we are bringing before you. As is currently the case, and as will continue to be the case, with the passage of these amendments today, it is the practitioner’s decision as to whether to inform the carer/parent/guardian as to whether the patient is in care. That is made on a series of professional judgments in the interests of the person in care being paramount. It is currently not compulsory under the existing substantive act that came into force in 2000. It is currently not compulsory to advise that the patient is in care. When these amendments pass today that will not have changed; it will still not be compulsory. It will be the professional judgment call made by the clinician. I do not think that we should make that compulsory.
Mr WOOD: Minister, I appreciate the answer you gave me earlier. I understand what you were saying. I am a little worried about whether there is a legal ramification here. The practitioner has decided that he or she will not notify the parent or guardian of the person. The parents turn up at the hospital, and I can understand that the best thing for the person to say is ‘we cannot give you any information’. Is there any law broken then if the parents say ‘we know they are here …’, because they might have received word from somewhere else, ‘… and we are going to see them’. Are there any legal ramifications there? Can those parents forcibly go into a hospital to see their child, or are they breaking a law considering the practitioner has decided not to notify them?
Ms LAWRIE: Yes, it would then have the Welfare Act kick into place. If there are serious concerns of abuse, which would be primarily the underlining reason why - because this is obviously not a decision taken lightly by a clinician to prevent a parent from seeing their child, and that is the scenario we are talking about here specifically - notifications under the Welfare Act could then be put in place to prevent access to the child.
Clinicians are highly trained in being able to deal with the emotional issues that are confronted within hospitals in scenarios such as the one we are talking about. So when you ask if there are legal ramifications, ultimately clinicians are protected by processes and legislation we have in place. However, what they really do well, and where this is most important, is dealing with the agitation and concern of the carers, the parents, the guardians, while they are able to put first and foremost the treatment requirements of the consumer or the patient.
Mr WOOD: I am not trying to be over technical, but I can see a case happening where the parents arrive, regardless of whether there has been abuse, and they might even say there has not been abuse, but they want to see their child and the person at the front counter says: ‘I can not give you any information’, and they say: ‘We are going into the hospital to see for ourselves’. Is there some means of stopping those people from going in? Does one call the police? Are the parents breaking the law by saying they want to see their child? There is still that parent-child relationship, which is legal. Can parents be physically stopped from going to contact that child?
Ms LAWRIE: In an extreme situation, yes, they could be physically stopped from seeing the child. What I am saying is that, in practice, the clinicians and the staff of these units are very good at dealing with people who are agitated.
Dr LIM: If I may assist here from a clinician’s point of view, obviously, the patient is the clinician’s primary responsibility. Therefore, the clinician would prevent the escalation of any issues that may exist between the patient and the carer, whether the carer is an external carer or a parent.
I raised this issue, just as you have, because of our concern that a carer, or maybe the parent, may not know where the child is, and that would cause serious anxiety and further complication of the psychodynamic relationship between the patient and the carer. There is a place for a requirement that the carer be informed that the child is in psychiatric care or other care. Then, based on what the practitioner understands of the situation, additional information may be provided to the carer or otherwise.
For the carer to know that the child is in care is important because at least the anxiety of the carer is then allayed that, yes, this person is in a safe place; they are not sleeping in the street somewhere or exposed to danger. You can walk away from the hospital knowing that your child is not sleeping in the streets. That is important. Any other information above that would have to be left to the clinician to decide whether that it ought to be shared with the carer.
As to the question of whether the carer or the parents can force their way in to access the child, the answer is no, you cannot. No way in the world can you do that and the mental health system would be using its full force to prevent that from happening.
Ms LAWRIE: We could continue to debate this, but I reiterate as I said before: what is the case now is not affected by these amendments. It will continue to be the case. That is, the default position in practice is that in most circumstances parents, carers, or guardians are informed of a child in care. In extreme circumstances where it is against the interests of that patient, they are not informed. That is the case now. That will continue to be the case. What I have said on the record today is that I will not amend the legislation to make it a compulsory requirement for the clinicians to contact the parent/carer/guardian. They will use their professional judgment that, in those extreme circumstances, if it is against the treatment of that patient, they will not do it.
What is the case today? The default position of these highly professional clinicians is that they do contact the parents, the carers or the guardians. We have put into legislation, through these amendments, a strengthening of the rights of the carers to be involved in the participation of the care and the treatment. Obviously, the contemporary practice and methods is to strengthen the role of carers. Obviously, that includes parents and guardians of juveniles. Your concerns are shared and are legitimate and noted. We will not compulsorily require clinicians to go against what would be their clinical judgment in extreme circumstances.
Clause 22 agreed to.
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Visitors
Mr CHAIRMAN: Before we move on, I acknowledge the presence in the gallery Class 6D from Living Waters Lutheran School, accompanied by the teacher, Ms Alicia Ernst. Also there are students from Year 5 at Ross Park Primary, accompanied by teacher, Joy Hurling. I warmly welcome you to the proceedings today.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Clauses 23 to 33, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 34:
Dr LIM: Mr Chairman, the debate on this clause is very much like the previous debate we had with regard to youths under 18 years of age. I draw the minister’s attention to page 23 of the bill, under the new numbering 43(2):
- The practitioner may decide not to notify the person’s primary carer if the practitioner is of the opinion that giving the notification is not in the person’s best interest.
As I said, the debate will probably be the same. I believe there is a relationship between the person’s primary carer and the person, and it is important to at least advise the primary carer of the whereabouts of the person. If the person is in care within Mental Health, then the primary carer should at least be aware of that. Any other information above that would have to be at the discretion of the practitioner.
The minister can say, well nothing has changed; essentially it is strengthening the ethos, the same as before. Well, it may be. What I am saying in this instance is that primary carers do have a role and a dynamic relationship with the patient. They have the right to know where the patient is. No, they do not have the right to access the patient if the clinicians believe that access should not be provided. I ask the minister whether this section is appropriate or whether, at the next review, they consider that seriously. There are many amendments today, but it is something that should be seriously considered.
Ms LAWRIE: I note the concern of the shadow minister in regards to the previous debate. This is probably the most vexing aspect of the decisions that clinicians have to make as to whether to notify the carers. The intent of these amendments is to strengthen the requirement for our clinicians in this area to notify the carer.
Regarding notification on admission of grounds of mental disturbance, this whole section requires clinicians to notify the carers, the person’s adult guardian, a legal practitioner acting or prepared to act for the person, the person’s primary carer and, obviously, the community visitor. The tribunal’s notification is spelt out there.
What section 2 does - as the shadow minister identified in how we debated the previous clause - is give that important discretion to our highly-trained professionals to, in their professional judgment, determine that if it is not in the best interest of the person they are caring for to provide that information, then they can refuse to advise the carer. However - and I refer you to the next subsection which is (3) - if the practitioner does not notify the primary carer because of that subsection (2), the practitioner must give to the tribunal a written report of the decision and the reason for it in the approved form. I believe that is a critically important aspect of these amendments coming in. We are improving, if you like, the quality assurance and compliance processes within this very important area.
As I have said previously in the debate, I believe in practice, and it has been my advice that in practice these circumstances are exceptional; they are not the norm. The norm is the carers will be advised. Only in these extreme, exceptional circumstances, a professional judgment can be allowed to be made not to notify the carer. We have put an extra provision in there to ensure that that practitioner has to be exceptionally sure of their ground in withholding that information; that is, they have to provide a written report to the tribunal and explain their reasons for it.
I sincerely note the concerns of the shadow minister. I have said that we will monitor the application of these amendments. The practitioners themselves, the consumers - everyone - has cast their eyes over these changes many times. This section is supported by the sector, by the practitioners, the consumers and the carers. I am sure I will hear very quickly from any of those three sections of the sector if they feel that the application of this has not been fair or just. I will pay my attention to that as minister if that feedback comes in.
Clause 34 agreed to.
Clauses 35 and 36, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 37 agreed to.
Dr LIM: I do not have any more difficulties until we get to page 35, which is clause 46, amendment of section 62, Seclusion of patients.
Ms LAWRIE: That is clause 46, so we can go through to clause 45.
Clauses 38 to 45, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 46:
Dr LIM: Mr Chairman, sorry about that being a bit complicated, but it is an extensive bill as we all recognise.
Minister, in your response to the second reading you suggested we should not be talking about private clinical cases. I do not want to dwell on that either. I do not think private clinical situations should be discussed in parliament. The point I am trying to raise is about assessment of patients during public holidays, or long weekends, and the like. Sometimes patients get missed and then they languish in the ward for longer than necessary.
To recap - and I am not going to identify who this person is - a person presented to a hospital, was assessed at the hospital, was offered admission at Cowdy Ward - or suggested that she should go to Cowdy Ward. Through discussions with family and the mental health professionals, she agreed. She was taken to Darwin, went to Royal Darwin Hospital, she was assessed at the Emergency Department. She had signed all these forms so she is a voluntary patient; she went to ED and was assessed. I am not sure whether the doctor or whoever assessed the patient was an approved psychiatric practitioner, but following that assessment she was escorted to Cowdy Ward. In Cowdy Ward she was put into seclusion.
As you know, patients are entitled to at least a phone call a day, even in seclusion. When she was allowed out of seclusion to access the telephone she was confronted by other patients who made inappropriate approaches towards her. I am not certain but it appears to me that when she was in Cowdy Ward she might have been assessed by the senior nurse at the ward but she was not seen by an approved psychiatric practitioner or a psychiatrist until after the long weekend at which time she was told there is nothing wrong with her and she could go home.
What I am proposing is that it is not good enough that we keep patients in for that long without appropriate psychiatric assessment. Clause 46(5) reads:
- (5) Section 62(6)
omit, substitute
(6) The period the person is to be kept in seclusion must be:
- (a) determined and noted in the person's [records] …
- (b) if the seclusion has been approved by the senior registered nurse on duty:
I am not certain how one defines ‘as soon as practicable after it has been approved’. Is it within hours, days, whatever? I believe it should be within hours because we are putting someone into seclusion. The assessment by a psychiatric practitioner or psychiatrist has to be prompt otherwise the person is left languishing in a psychiatric unit which, until this very day, still has a stigma. Whether we like it or not, it has. So what I am saying is it must be approved. Of course, if the patient is demonstrating or manifesting florid psychotic signs and symptoms, it is easy enough to make a diagnosis. Almost blind Freddy could make a diagnosis.
However, if it is subtle, you need to have an appropriately trained professional. While I have the highest respect for appropriately trained senior registered psychiatric nurses to make this sort of assessment as well, I think we need to go that one step further to ensure that our patients are not in seclusion unnecessarily, and their mental situation complicated by what they might see as incarceration while they are in seclusion. I believe the definition of ‘as soon as practicable after it has been approved’ needs to be better defined.
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Visitors
Visitors
Mr CHAIRMAN: Before you respond, minister, I acknowledge the presence in the gallery of students from Year 6 at Living Waters Lutheran School, accompanied by their teacher Stacey Schmidt. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend a warm welcome to you and I hope you enjoy the proceedings.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Ms LAWRIE: Welcome to the schoolchildren.
I fully concur with you, shadow minister. The intention of this amendment is to reduce the time that lapses between reviews by the authorised psychiatric practitioner. In line with the national safety priorities, we are, within our mental health treatment facilities, endeavouring to reduce the use of seclusion and restraint.
The reason for moving the review time lines for seclusion to the approved procedures is so that we can progressively reduce the review time lines from the current minimum of four hours. Currently, there is a requirement that an approved psychiatric practitioner reviews the decision of the senior registered nurse in four hours. We are trying to reduce that even further. Four hours is the minimum. Obviously, we would like the frequency to be tighter than that. It is a matter of hours, not days, as currently exists, that four hour requirement, which we are meeting.
The intent of my agency, of the practitioners in our mental health treatment facilities, is to reduce that time line even further. I note, though, that whilst it might be four hours for an authorised psychiatric practitioner, there is still the requirement that the patient, the consumer, needs to be seen by a nurse every 15 minutes if they are in seclusion.
Dr LIM: Thank you, minister. I call them patients, not customers. To be seen every 15 minutes by a nurse - I would assume they would be the regular observations that a patient would undergo within a ward.
I am glad that you expressed your intentions. It was what I wanted to get on the record. A minimum of four hours is acceptable. I would have like you to have set a maximum, but you did not. However, if the assessment by a psychiatric practitioner or a psychiatrist is within the minimum of four hours and a maximum of hours, I hope it is not going to be in the double digits. By ‘hours’, I hope that a patient would be assessed within 12 hours of admission. I would like you to express your intention that this is an important issue that patients should not be languishing in the wards without psychiatric assessment once they are admitted. The minimum of four hours is fine, but let us put an upper limit, if you would.
Ms LAWRIE: I will go so far as to say what I have said on the record today.
Clause 46 agreed to.
Clauses 47 to 83, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 84:
Dr LIM: Mr Chairman, in respect of clause 84, my concern relates primarily to 84(1)(i), which reads:
- Subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4), a person who is the subject of a review must be given access to his or her medical records and reports that are before the Tribunal.
As I read further through clause 84, it is still not clear to me whether the medical records available to the tribunal are fully accessible to the patient or the patient’s medical agent. I say that in all seriousness, because I believe, particularly in the psychiatric notes, that it may be very inappropriate for lay people to get hold of those notes. Those notes may be misread, misinterpreted, misunderstood by the reader. However, if the medical records were provided by Mental Health to the patient’s medical practitioner, and allowing the medical practitioner to then communicate the content of the medical records to the patient, it would be a better way. It would be a better way because it will prevent misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the content of the record.
Psychiatric records contain a lot of very personal, very intimate details about a person, and it should not be, I would not suggest, freely shared, but nor should it be just handed over to a patient without proper professional screening and explanation. This clause causes me concern. Medical records have always been a vexed question for litigation, for courts. Who owns the medical records? I believe this legislation enshrines that the medical records can be shared freely. I voice my concerns. I would like to hear the minister explain what her intentions are in this section to ensure that she and I are on the same wave length.
Ms LAWRIE: I do not know that I could assure you we would be on the same wave length; that is probably beyond my capacity. However, I can assure you that the tribunal members, the practitioners, the consumers, the carers and the community visitors all consent to this. They all say that this is proper, this is right, this is fair, and that this meets concerns of access to information as well as concerns of privacy. So the experts in the sector - the tribunal members with high level judicial background and knowledge, the practitioners with the clinical professionalism that they have, their knowledge of contemporary practice and requirements, consumers, importantly, and the carers, and that safeguard of the community visitor - all, importantly, agree with this. That satisfies me.
Dr LIM: I am glad that satisfies you, minister. I suspect, if this were to be the case - and I understand the issue of medical records in other spheres of the practice of medicine - that practitioners would then become quite guarded in what they write and often will leave out information that could be vital to the continuing good care of the patient. That would be a sad day, when medical practitioners, whether they be psychiatric practitioners or otherwise, would feel constraint in what they will write in their notes about a patient - notes that need to be shared with other health professionals to provide good care of those patients - for fear that whatever they write could be misinterpreted by a patient who has access to those records - a patient who might have a psychiatric problem in the first instance.
A patient who has a psychiatric condition in the first instance may misread, misinterpret and even misconstrue the intent of the record and suffer detrimental consequences of exposure to that information, which is written in the best interest of the patient, in fact, but misconstrued by the patient to be otherwise.
Ms LAWRIE: I note the shadow minister’s concerns. Obviously, I do not concur with the extent of his concerns. I note that, in relation to someone misconstruing the information that was provided to them, importantly, this provision provides for someone to be present to help that person have their medical records explained to them. Therefore, where at all possible, the way this is constructed, in fairness, is to provide for the assistance that the consumer would require when provided with access to their medical records and reports. The only significant change in this, from what we currently do to what we will be doing under these amendments, is that it provides for access to these medical records and reports to the person’s adult guardian.
Dr LIM: Just one final question to the minister. When you say ‘given access’, do you mean that the medical records will be available as a full photocopy of the records and provided to the person’s adult guardian, or representative, or medical agent? Or is it that medical records will be available for one to read and notes taken from that? I would like to hear the explanation.
Ms LAWRIE: The latter.
Dr LIM: The latter meaning the record be available …
Ms LAWRIE: A full photocopy will not be provided to them. They will come in and see the medical records and reports.
Dr LIM: Okay. If that was the case, how then could the person’s adult guardian, who more than likely would be a non-medical person, or a person’s representative - most likely to be a non-medical person - make sense of the information contained in the chart or records that you have made accessible? There is no way that the person’s adult guardian or representative would be able to make appropriate notes on perusing the records and then seek explanation from external sources such as their own GP or counsellor. How do you expect them to be able to get appropriate and accurate information if all they are going to get is to peruse the records?
Ms LAWRIE: A practitioner is present to explain the records to them.
Dr LIM: The practitioner is not the patient’s agent; the practitioner is from Mental Health and, therefore, would have Mental Health’s perspective on the record. I assume that, when you legislate to allow patients to have access to the records, it is to provide them with equity of access, to understand what has been written about them, or to know what is written about them. I believe that the intent of this clause is contradictory. On one hand you want to give people access to their records; on the other hand you are not giving them an appropriate or adequate opportunity to scrutinise the record in a way that will be meaningful.
Ms LAWRIE: It is the view of the practitioners, the tribunal, the consumers, and the carers that this is a fair and practical approach. That satisfies me.
Clause 84 agreed to.
Remainder of the bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.
Bill reported, report adopted.
Ms LAWRIE (Family and Community Services): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill now be read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
MOTION
Note Statement - Government Initiatives and Achievements in Central Australia
Note Statement - Government Initiatives and Achievements in Central Australia
Continued from 17 April 2007.
Dr BURNS (Health): Madam Speaker, as we have already heard from the Chief Minister, the Martin government recognises the critical importance of strong regions to the Territory and our future. With that in mind, we have launched the Moving Alice Ahead project, which focuses not just on economic development in the region, but on social and community issues also. Moving Alice Ahead will put a substantial focus on the antisocial behaviour which is having a negative impact on the great lifestyle of the town of Alice Springs. We recognise the strength of feeling in Alice Springs about antisocial behaviour, and want to work with the community to find answers to the challenges facing this town.
I do not believe any of us are in doubt about the role alcohol plays in much of the antisocial behaviour and violence in and around Alice Springs. Excessive and harmful use of alcohol is probably the most significant challenge confronting not just Alice Springs, but the Territory as a whole. Sadly, the Territory has a long and inglorious history of alcohol abuse. Over the years, it has destroyed countless lives and families within the Northern Territory.
Confronting and breaking our big drinking culture and its resultant harm is vital to moving not just Alice Springs ahead but the Northern Territory ahead also. As part of the Northern Territory government’s commitment to reducing alcohol related harm in Alice Springs, we have developed an alcohol management plan which has been in operation since October 2006. The plan is based on three key strategies: reducing supply; reducing harm; and reducing demand. It is important the plan remains flexible and responsive to the needs of Alice Springs. It will evolve in time to meet changing circumstances and community concerns. The alcohol management plan must complement other government initiatives like the introduction of alcohol courts and dry areas legislation.
As most of us are now well aware the plan also includes supply restrictions. These restrictions have seen reductions in the availability of takeaway products, hours of operation, and container sizes. While it is still too early to gauge the likely long-term effectiveness of the supply restrictions, there are some seemingly positive early results.
An alcohol reference panel chaired by Racing, Gaming and Licensing assists in the monitoring process. The most recent data shows an 11% reduction in the amount of pure alcohol sold at takeaway outlets in Alice Springs since October. Research shows that the vast majority of alcohol sold in Alice Springs and the Territory comes from takeaway outlets.
In addition to the reduction of sales in terms of pure alcohol, there are encouraging results: 31% reduction in admissions to the sobering-up shelter; 50% fewer people taken into protective custody; 12% drop in selected offences against property; and fewer hospital admissions for alcohol-related conditions. On the flip side there has been an increase in outpatient presentations for assault, and an 18% reduction in disturbances. I just digress here to say that it is somewhat paradoxical that there has been an increase in outpatient presentations for assault, but actually a decrease in admissions. We need to find out more about that and find out what the reasons are for that apparent contradiction in those figures.
It is also obvious that the product shift away from high alcohol volume products like cask wine and fortified wines has resulted in an increase in litter in Alice Springs. There will be challenges along the way as we try to rein in alcohol abuse in Alice Springs. That was inevitable. No one ever said that this would be easy. We have to be ready to confront the challenges as they become obvious. This is why the plan has to be flexible and responsive.
Strategies are being developed to address litter issues. These include a four-week litter education and awareness trial by the Northern Territory Packaging Stewardship Forum in conjunction with the Northern Territory government. The Alice Springs Town Council, Lhere Artepe and Tangentyere Council are also involved in this. This trial will target a problem area around Hoppy’s Camp. Obviously, it will be vitally important for us to be able to fully assess the outcomes of the supply restrictions. An independent evaluator has been engaged, and an interim report is planned following the first six months of the supply restrictions.
Alice Springs Town Council has made application to use the government’s recently enacted dry area laws to declare all public areas in the municipality of Alice Springs dry. I know, Madam Speaker, you are also looking at using dry area laws to address alcohol problems in your own electorate in and around Nightcliff in Darwin. The government wants to work with Alice Springs council to fully explore the best way forward in relation to the possibility of declaring Alice Springs dry. The Licensing Commission sought public submissions and a public meeting was held on the prospect of Alice becoming a dry town. The hearing into the application was held last Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Licensing Commission is currently considering the council’s application.
I know there has been a good deal of interest in the prospect of introduction of a computer-based identification system for the purchase of alcohol in Alice Springs. A discussion paper has been developed into the feasibility of an identification licensing system and that paper was released for public comment on 28 March 2007.
The government is concerned about excessive alcohol consumption in Alice Springs, and wants to continue working with the community to deal with the problem.
The alcohol management plan is an important initiative, but government recognises that much more work needs to be done to effectively deal with the problem. There can be no single solution to this complex problem so it is important that the community and government continue working together to consider other initiatives that may have a role in reducing alcohol abuse in Alice Springs and the Alice Springs region.
Madam Speaker, I will now turn to one of my other portfolio areas, which is Police ...
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Madam SPEAKER: Excuse me, minister. Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the public gallery of Years 7 to 12 students from Mt Allen School with their teacher, Patricia Finlay. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, the Martin government is proud of its effects to rebuild the Northern Territory Police Force since coming to office in 2001. When we came to office, the Northern Territory Police Force was seriously under-resourced. It was suffering the effects of a three-year recruitment freeze inflicted on it by the former CLP government.
We set about rebuilding the force and, in 2002, engaged former Queensland Commissioner of Police, Jim O’Sullivan, to produce a comprehensive report into the way ahead for our police force. Following the 2003 O’Sullivan Report, we put in place the $75m Rebuilding our Police Force plan. The central plank of the Rebuilding our Police Force plan was a commitment to add 200 extra officers in the Northern Territory Police Force by end of this financial year.
Since launching our intensive recruitment campaign, we have attracted more than 400 recruits to the Northern Territory Police Force. We achieved our goal of adding an extra 200 police officers to the Northern Territory Police Force in February with the graduation of Recruit Squad 87. There are still two more recruit squads in training at the police college.
Our efforts to rebuild the Northern Territory Police Force have seen the Territory achieve the highest growth rate of any police force in Australia. The Territory now has the highest number of police per capita of any Australian jurisdiction; we have one police officer for every 246 people compared with the Australian average of one for every 470 people. In Alice Springs, the ratio is closer to one officer to every 220 people.
Yesterday, the Opposition Leader said that the government should not be wearing these police numbers as a badge of honour, these per capita numbers, and I agree, but there are some realities. We have a dispersed population over a large geographic area and in order to have a police presence across that large area and address various issues, we need extra police. There is no doubt in my mind that the problems that we have with excessive alcohol consumption really underscores the need for extra police. In some ways, I wish that we did not have them, but they are a reality and a necessity.
In terms of those police numbers, the federal government’s Report on Government Services shows that the Territory spends per capita more than twice the national average on police services. The federal report shows that in 2005 and 2006, the Territory spent $743 per person on police services compared with the national average of $291. Since achieving our target of adding 200 extra officers to the Northern Territory Police Force, we have seen the graduation of another recruit squad. In addition, a transitional squad of 20 experienced officers have transferred to the Territory from police forces around Australia. Fifteen additional officers made up of seven experienced officers from the transitional squad and a further eight recruit squad graduates are arriving in Alice Springs this month. Seven are already here, having arrived last week. The others arrive this week.
It was my pleasure when I attended the graduation of the most recent squad to meet 15 to 18 Aboriginal Community Police Officers in training from all over the Territory. They are a fine bunch of men and women who are very keen to complete there training and get out and do their jobs. We are really looking forward to them coming on stream and doing the very special work that Aboriginal Community Police Officers do.
The Martin government has reinstated the Traffic Branch, which was scrapped by the CLP government. As part of our commitment to police resources in Alice Springs, we now have a five member Traffic Branch here. The return of the Traffic Branch to Alice Springs not only raises the police profile on local roads, but it also takes the pressure off General Duties’ officers who previously had to bear the entire responsibility for traffic matters.
As apart of our commitment to improving police resources, we have also stationed one of the Territory’s three new mobile police posts in Alice Springs. The mobile police post played a key role in the City Safe initiative run over the Easter long weekend, targeting crime and antisocial behaviour hot spots around town. I am informed that Operation City Safe not only resulted in arrests for serious assaults in Alice Springs, but police also poured out more than 150 litres of alcohol. At the same time, police mounted a separate operation to manage the influx of visitors for the Lighting Football Carnival, as well as playing their part in the Territory-wide Easter road safety campaign. All in all, it was a testing Easter for police and I believe that they performed admirably.
Having said that, I can understand the sense of frustration of some residents about violent and antisocial behaviour in Alice Springs. The issues at work in Alice Springs do not relate entirely to policing or police resources. As far as I am concerned, the Alice Springs police are doing an outstanding job. I commend Commander Mark Coffey, along with Superintendent Sean Parnell and the men and women of the Northern Territory Police Force for the professional way they are going about their work in Alice Springs.
There are broader social issues affecting the Alice Springs region, and these are presenting special challenges to both our police and the people of Alice Springs and, beyond that, to the government of the Northern Territory. While the government will continue to provide the necessary resources for Alice Springs police, we also recognise the unique issues confronting the town and the region. We believe the only way forward is an honest, bipartisan and cooperative approach to deal with these challenges. It will be critical that effects to address these issues are done in partnership with Aboriginal organisations.
I will be attending the special forum convened by Alice Springs Mayor, Fran Kilgariff, on Friday. I am hopeful the forum will be conducted in a positive environment. Indeed, earlier today, the Chief Minister and I met with the Mayor of Alice Springs and the councillors, and it was a very positive and constructive meeting.
When it comes to policing, the government is committed to providing Alice Springs with adequate numbers of well-resourced police officers to do the job that is needed. In addition to extra resources like the mobile police post and new Traffic Branch, Alice Springs has a permanent drug dog unit. Apart from frontline General Duties’ officers, Aboriginal Community Police Officers and the Traffic Branch, Alice Springs also has specialised units such as the Property Crime Reduction Unit, Personal Violence Protection Unit and Regional Investigations Unit. The government has also provided legislative tools, like the recently-enacted gang laws to give our police a greater capacity to do their jobs effectively.
As I have already said, the government acknowledges the challenges facing Alice Springs and realises there is a lot of work that still has to be done in dealing with these issues. We are intent on ensuring our police force has the resources and the tools to serve the people of Alice Springs and the region.
Madam Speaker, I now turn to Health. As a government, we have a commitment to quality health care in Alice Springs. Yesterday, I paid compliment to my predecessor, Peter Toyne, for the work he did as Health Minister, not only right across the Territory but also in Alice Springs. Under this government, there have been significant advances in the resourcing, staffing and services available at Alice Springs Hospital.
A snapshot of the recent improvements at Alice Springs Hospital shows, amongst other things, that we have achieved a 22% increase in hospital staff between 2000-01 and 2005-06. Between December 2001 and June of last year, there has been a 23% increase in doctor numbers and a 28% improvement in nursing numbers. Whilst we have achieved significant improvements in the staffing situation, we also recognise that Alice Springs Hospital is facing increased demand. Strategies to reduce pressure include a major upgrade of the emergency department this year and a concerted effort to improve patient flow. We have added an extra 15 overflow beds, put in place a new transit lounge, and employed a patient flow manager to improve patient flow. These improvements are being made possible through a 59% increase in funding to Alice Springs Hospital since 2000-01. A total of $97m was allocated to Alice Springs Hospital in the 2005-06 financial year. We have also spent $11m to upgrade the Intensive Care Unit.
I am pleased to say that our efforts helped Alice Springs Hospital gain accreditation with the Australian Council of Health Care Standards in 2002. Alice Springs achieved a further four years of accreditation during that process.
Whilst we have made significant gains in the provision of health services and police services, as well as dealing with the challenges of alcohol here in Alice Springs, we are only too aware that we still have more to do.
Madam Speaker, I commend the Chief Minister’s statement on government initiatives in Central Australia, and thank all those people in the agencies of which I have oversight for the tremendous way they support government initiatives and the services they provide to the Alice Springs region.
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Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Year 5/6 in Braitling Primary School, accompanied by their teachers, Jayne McLean and Andrew Hayes. On behalf of all honourable members I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Mrs MILLER (Katherine): Madam Speaker, today I contribute to the Chief Minister’s statement. Being in Central Australia, with the statement on initiatives and achievements in Central Australia, I expected it to be all very positive and very glowing and, of course, it was. That is the role of government: to present all of the positive sides that they can. It is the role of opposition to acknowledge good achievements, but also to point out some areas that we believe need some improvement.
This is the first time I have been to Alice Springs and have felt an air of resentment and expectation that there is some fear. I have been talking to businesses in the CBD area, businesses in the mall, and I have been into art galleries. I have not only talked to those, but I have listened to people talking - people who had no idea who I was; I was just listening to their conversations. It is the very first time, very disappointingly, that I have been to Alice Springs and had this underlying resentment and fear of what is happening to their community, with a breakdown of law and order in their community. That is really sad.
I listened yesterday morning to that large number of people who came to express their view - and not so much express their view, but show their support - for things to change in Alice Springs. I had a good look around at those people. I did know many of them. They are quite conservative; not placard waving people at all. They feel so strongly about what is happening to the environment and to the town, in general, in Alice Springs, to come along to be part of a protest. I hope the Northern Territory government looks at those areas of law and order.
Whenever I go somewhere for the first time, for a long while, I like to walk, as I figure that if you walk around an area you get a better feel for what is happening. I heard a speaker yesterday say - I do not know who it was - they had walked around Alice Springs and it was the first time that they did not notice any glass. It might have been the Chief Minister. I have been here since last Wednesday, and I have been doing exactly the same. Like all towns, when government is coming to town they do have a bit of a cleanup. I know Katherine is guilty of it as well, as probably all of the towns are, because they want to present their town in the best light possible. I can assure you that there has been plenty of glass on footpaths where I have been walking. I have chosen different paths each day, just to look at different scenery. Last Monday morning, unfortunately, there was also quite a quantity of blood on the footpath at the edge of Taffy Crossing - I think it is called. That is alarming. There are issues to deal with here.
Several of the people I spoke and listened to during this last week have been adamant that unless there is a strong stand taken by this government to turn Alice Springs back into a safe place and a safe town that they consider it used to be, they are selling their businesses and houses and are moving interstate.
Alice Springs cannot afford to lose these long-term people. It is so important to the social structure of this town. There is no need for this to happen if the issue of law and order is taken seriously. I know that government members always say they govern for all and I think they sincerely believe that they do govern for all. As a regional person I feel that a lot of the time it is governed above that darned Berrimah Line, and we talk about that so often. It is obvious to we who live in regional areas that we are not seen and treated equally as those above the Berrimah Line.
I hope that when we come back to this place in two year’s time that there would be people out there actually praising government for being able to initiate programs in Alice Springs – and in Katherine as well of course - to make a difference to the law and order in this town. This morning we had an industry breakfast at which the Chief Minister spoke, as did the Minister for Tourism. They spoke of the really good things that are happening in Alice Springs. Tourism is an industry where good things do happen. Everybody is trying to please everybody else, so it is a really good industry. What is happening in tourism in Central Australia sounded so wonderful and positive. When they had finished their talk, then members of the public were invited to address a question to the Chief Minister or the Minister for Tourism. That is when you really understand what is happening in a community.
This morning after listening to how everything was going so well, Ron from Aurora Resort, which faces into the mall, told us at that gathering that he had two busloads of people cancel their accommodation yesterday because of the violence that is in the mall. That is totally unacceptable. The government needs to make sure that that message which is getting out does not continue to be negative. It will be negative in the fact that we have two busloads of people who are now going to tell their friends, ‘Do not book to go to Alice Springs because it is an unsafe place’. Government needs to listen to the people in the business sector who are being severely affected and impacted by this unlawfulness, and he was one.
I know that the Leader of Government Business loves statistics and he had some this morning. Statistics always illustrate positive things, and they do, and it is good to have statistics because you have to base your future plans on a lot of statistics. The most important thing to me is you really need to listen to people to find out what is really happening. This morning it saddened me to hear what Ron had to say about what happened with his cancellations.
The Chief Minister emphasised in her statement that alcohol abuse and antisocial behaviour are major issues for Central Australia and that government is determined, in partnership with the local community, to address these problems. I remind the Chief Minister and members of government that the problems that are causing so much angst here are not exclusive to Central Australia. Katherine, Tennant Creek and Darwin, along with some of the smaller areas, are all experiencing the same problems. The Chief Minister said in her statement that alcohol plays a major role in crime, antisocial behaviour, family dysfunction, personal injury and illness. Well, all of the people who live in the regional towns across the Territory and in Darwin know exactly that. We experience it every day on our own front doorsteps.
Government had the perfect opportunity to get serious about dealing with the abuse of alcohol. No soft shoe steps need to be taken here; really hard lines need to be drawn in the sand. They have had the opportunity by, first of all, introducing legislation to make regional towns dry. Instead, government took the soft option and put the responsibility on to the town council to develop their own. The issue of alcohol abuse is so widespread and really has to be addressed with serious decisions made by government, and not ad hoc trials and programs of one sort or another scattered across the whole of the Northern Territory.
I acknowledge there are many strategies that government has implemented including alcohol plans of management, harmony programs, etcetera, but the current result is that these are not making a significant change to the problems that we are facing in our communities. There are too many differing alcohol management plans. They have become confusing. These plans have taken a huge amount of time to put together by very concerned and committed people, but, unfortunately, most will not be as successful as they need to be.
Some years ago in Katherine, I was very supportive of restricted hours of trading for alcohol outlets in Katherine and, at that time, I had a takeaway alcohol outlet in Katherine as part of my business. I received much public criticism for saying that we needed to take a stand and introduce restricted hours because the situation of antisocial behaviour and alcohol abuse was so rife within Katherine that I did not want to live in that environment. I spoke to my local member at the time and said: ‘Enough is enough; we need to do something’. He asked what I was prepared to do as the licensee of a licensed store, and I said I was prepared to cut the hours, and suggested from 2 pm until 8 pm to have restricted hours of trading.
To cut a long story short, a lot of discussion went on in the community. At the time I first called a public meeting, all of the managers of the clubs and the hotels thought it was a fantastic idea because they were dealing with alcohol problems all the time. Then the owners stepped in and at the next meeting, I had every single person who agreed with me at the first meeting fall into the back corner and the owners said: ‘No, you do not know what you are talking about. Prohibition of alcohol and the restriction of alcohol does not work’. I was pretty forcefully told right from the start that it would not work, but I was pretty determined to do something to make it better.
In the end, with the restrictions that we had in Katherine, we had two lots of trading times. In the first six month period, trading was from 2 o’clock in the afternoon until 8 o’clock at night. It made a huge difference to the social problems within Katherine. I was quite happy with it and so were quite a few others. I know many police were happy with it, and the medical profession was happy. It made a huge difference. Then we had a community meeting, and we ended up having another six-month trial with different hours. They were from 10 am until 12 in the morning when you could drink light alcohol, but then it went back until 9 o’clock in the evening that you could buy alcohol. So we were back to square one as soon as that came in.
Prohibition does not work, which is what I am saying: we try all these different things because we want to do something, but we need to be generalised with them so that people understand what the rules are and that they cannot go into that particular community and break that particular rule.
I have been watching with interest the dry area legislation at Port Augusta placed over their whole city in November 2005. Prior to that they had random designated dry areas from 1986, and in the words in the Mayor of Port Augusta, Joy Baluch, it did not work. In stark contrast, Port Augusta is a different city since November 2005 when the whole town was declared dry. It has not impinged on the lives of the majority of citizens of Port Augusta who can still enjoy a drink of alcohol, but just not in any public places. When I was in Port Augusta in September last year, I was suitably impressed at how the city had improved. I strongly encourage members of government to visit Port Augusta to look at what is being trialled there and what is working so well. Why try to re-invent the wheel when there is such strong evidence of success? The Port Augusta City Council is, I believe, at this moment, strategically assessing the time since the implementation of the dry area legislation. It will be well worth looking at that report when it is completed.
I believe we need to take a strong stand, and it is what is needed to address antisocial behaviour and public drunkenness, such as we are experiencing right throughout the Northern Territory. I am sorry that the Katherine Town Council has chosen to only apply for a limited dry area. I would like them to have made the whole town dry and really send out a strong message. In taking that stand, I am certainly not advocating that dry towns are the answer to antisocial behaviour, but will certainly go some way to ensuring that our communities are a better place to live in and that people can feel safe when going about their daily business.
I know we talk ad nauseam in the Assembly about alcohol but it seems to be the basis of all of our issues. I believe that each town, each regional area, apart from declaring themselves dry, need to have a sobering-up shelter, a detox shelter and a rehabilitation centre, followed by meaningful employment. Otherwise, what we have is the same as presently occurs: a spin dry action with no positive, long-term outcome. In addition to that, all of the other support services to deal with the social issues will still need to be in place. I need to talk about the rehabilitation centre in Katherine, and I will do that at another time, because that could take up a whole hour.
Getting back to Alice Springs, in relation to tourism, there is no doubt that the reduced airline seats into Alice Springs has had an impact on business, and that includes the sale of indigenous art. I was talking to a gallery owner last week, and he said that since Virgin Blue stopped coming into Alice Springs his sales had significantly dropped.
Several speakers yesterday spoke in this House of talking negatively about Alice Springs and that we should only talk about the positive. That would be wonderful if there was only positive to talk about. I do not quite know how to talk in glowing terms about problems that are impediments to our communities when it does not address the underlying problem.
One thing that bothers me, and has done so for many years, is the amount of money that the tourism industry spends on marketing the Territory. It is not that I am worried that they spend the money, I think that is great, and we need to market the Territory; however, when the tourist arrives, what first impression do they get? Unfortunately, it is becoming more commonly a negative one - someone lying around drunk, others calling out loud, obscene language, and fighting in public. In addition to that, the media is reporting serious crime and violence in their papers, and on the radio and television. It can hardly be called talking down a place when it is actually happening out there. It is more like talking the truth. It is no good for anyone to gloss over such serious problems and then try to shoot the messenger by saying they are talking down a town’s problems. Sometimes you just have to tell it the way it is. Quite frankly, that is just what happens when a visitor arrives and is confronted with the situation. They go away and they tell it how it is, and that is really negative marketing for us.
Tourism to the Centre will be greatly enhanced when the Red Centre Way is finally completed. There is no doubt that this will be one of the most scenic drives that Australia has to offer, and I am looking forward to driving it. However, the issues over sacred sites that appears to have reached a stalemate between the Northern Territory government and the Central Land Council need to be resolved, and sooner rather than later. I believe that this resolution needs to be completed in the next four to six months, or else the construction of this important highway will come to a grinding halt because there will be no water or gravel to continue construction. I believe that government can resolve this situation quite simply by amending a portion of legislation. I hope in her reply the Chief Minister can advise the Assembly of the present circumstances of the negotiation process.
Central Australia has so much to offer for a great tourism experience, and I know that much work is being done to encourage more people to visit. It is not until the demand is there for passenger seats that airlines will make a commercial decision to fly to Alice Springs, so it is very important to continue the strong marketing campaigns.
Madam Speaker, I have a lot more to say regarding roads and infrastructure in the Northern Territory, and especially in Central Australia. I will do that at another time, otherwise I will not get that matter completed. I thank the minister for her statement.
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Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of students from Years 5 and 6 at Gillen Primary School together with their teacher, Paul Howard. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Mr VATSKALIS (Business and Economic Development): Madam Speaker, I support my colleague, the Chief Minister, and her statement on priorities and achievements in Central Australia. Central Australia is built on the back of Territorians investing their time, money and future into building their business and providing valuable service to the community. The Martin government makes a significant investment in Central Australia: jobs, capital works, and partnerships with business in the community. Together we are working to move the Centre ahead. We have done a lot but we know there is more to do. We are listening and we are acting.
The latest Sensis Business Index gave the Territory the highest approval rating of all state or territory governments. The business community was given a big vote of confidence in the Martin government’s sound economic management. We have a strong economy and a plan for the future, and business groups have responded to that. Under our government, the Territory has an economy and lifestyle that is the best in Australia. Working with business has led to a series of sound and sensible initiatives, tax cuts, building critical infrastructure, and training new workers. The confidence of business in the Martin government’s policies is an encouragement to work and plan even harder for the future.
As of March 2007, the government investment in current major works was $63m in Alice Springs. Some of the major projects include the Stuart Lodge redevelopment, the West MacDonnell National Park upgrades, the Maryvale Road forming and gravelling, the Red Centre Way/Namatjira Drive upgrade, the Outback Way/Plenty Highway upgrades, and the Lovegrove Zone Substation.
Alice Springs is also experiencing the benefit of private investment. The value of private investment in construction activity as of March 2007 to Alice Springs was sizeable and impressive, at approximately $33.2m. Together with government’s $63m investment in major projects, that brings construction activity on major projects in Alice Springs to a total of $96.2m. In 2004, the private construction investment at the same totalled just $14m - now an increase of almost $19m. Estimated future private sector projects for Alice Springs are valued at $52.6m: the aquatic centre, the Harts Range garnet processing facility, the Desert Solar Holiday Village, and the Ragonesi Road subdivision Stage 1. The figures speak for themselves and the increase in private investment and construction is a good economic indicator that confidence in the Alice Springs region and its economy is growing. Private works for the Alice Springs region in December 2006 included, though was not limited to, the following projects: Old Timer’s Village extension and renovations, North Edge residential allotments, Quest Serviced Apartments, Yeperenye Centre, Giles Street flats and Imparja Television studio.
This government’s support for the Desert Knowledge Precinct is already starting to show dividends. The Northern Territory and Australian governments provided $30.2m for Stage 1 development of the Desert Knowledge Precinct. Construction of Stage 1 is now complete, with Stage 2 headworks under construction. This includes continuation of the ring main services and final seal to all internal roads and car parks, and sewer for buildings in Stage 1 of the Desert Peoples Centre, and is now 50% complete. The construction of the Business Innovation Centre, with a budget of $2.5m, is well under way at 80% complete ...
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Madam SPEAKER: Minister, do you mind if I recognise some students here? Honourable members, I draw your attention to students in the gallery from Years 5 and 6 of Ross Park Primary School with their teacher, Elizabeth Verstappen, and in the other gallery are students from Alice Outcomes with teachers, Margaret McCartain and Josephine Chapman. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, I would like to speak about Power and Water.
Our government is investing $20m to relocate the generators and install new generators to Brewer Estate. It was very cute this morning to hear the member for Greatorex tabling a petition asking to do it very quickly. What he failed to mention to his constituents is the reason it cannot be done quickly is because, when the CLP government established the Brewer Estate, they installed a 22 kVA power line instead of a high grade one, so we have to start from scratch and install a 66 kVA power line and that will take time. Because of the economic activity and the mining activity around the world you have to wait up to 12 or 18 months to actually get hold of a transformer or any of the necessary equipment for a power line. Our government is investing in the future of Alice Springs and in power generation for the future of Alice Springs.
The broader economic indicators for the region demonstrate that Alice Springs is moving ahead. Other developments, projects and positive economic indicators for the region included the interests owned by the mining industry in the resources around the Centre; the increase in tourist numbers to the region; the Australian government’s promised investment into town camps; and the number of people inquiring about starting a new business.
The outlook for local businesses supplying the mining industry is good as a number of projects are developed. Thor Mining is the owner of the Molyhil Molybdenum and Tungsten Project on the Plenty Highway, 360 km by road north-east of Alice Springs. The fly-in/fly-out operation currently has a planned mine life of four to six years and will employ a workforce of 60 persons. Construction and production is planned for late 2007. Human resource supplies will be sought primarily from Alice Springs.
Olympia Resources plans to commence the construction phase of its Harts Range abrasives project in the second half of 2007 and begin producing in early 2008. Situated some 260 km by road north-east of Alice Springs the proposed mine currently has a life of 23 years and will employ 25 to 30 people.
Arafura Resources rare earths and phosphate project situated 135 km north of Alice Springs, near Aileron, currently has a predicted mine life of 20-plus years. The company is planning to transport the ore to Darwin by train and the human resources for 25 for the mine site and 50 for Darwin will be sought at each location as will supplies and services.
Newmont Australia’s gold mining operation in the Tanami currently employs 534 staff, 64% of whom reside in the Territory. Following new discoveries deep in the Callie Mine operating life could be prolonged until 2020. The extended ore body will necessitate the construction of a new haulage shaft, power station, processing plant and accommodation village. It is estimated at this stage that the new construction costs will be around $450m. Should the Newmont board give approval for extensions to proceed, the new work will commence in 2009.
A demonstration of the positive energy in town in response to mining was the recent Mining Expo and Supply Seminar, held in conjunction with AGES, organised by my department to help put local businesses in touch with mining companies. Over 45 booths at this trade event were booked, many by local businesses taking the opportunity to showcase their wares. This booth housed 53 businesses, four mining companies, an oil and gas exploration company, three Northern Territory government agencies, Chamber of Commerce NT, the Manufactures Council, and the Northern Territory Industry Capability Network. The event was attended by 89 explorers from 56 organisations, 130 industry representatives, 10 indigenous delegates from three organisations, 31 researchers and consultants, three Chinese delegates from four organisations, and representatives of the Northern Territory and federal governments. Early feedback suggests that many of the local businesses that attended thought it was a worthwhile event that could lead to the writing of new business in the future. The department will be increasing the activities in this area to work with local businesses and to help them get ready for the opportunities that will arise.
Tourist numbers are encouraging news for businesses around the Central Australian region. There have been more interstate holiday visitors to the region from 111 000 in 2004 to an estimated 130 000 in 2006. The total visitor spend is also up in the same period from $241m to $330m last year. Another indicator of increasing business confidence is the number of new business packs requested through our Alice Springs Territory Business Centre. In the first quarter of 2004 there were 47 requests for new business packs; in 2005 there were 40; 2006, 79; and in 2007 there were 85. While there is no guarantee that requests for new business packs will lead to registration of new businesses, there were 50 new business registrations in January and February this year.
My department continues to undertake a wide range of activities to support and assist economic development. Many of these activities are designed to assist small businesses and we know that from little things, big things grow. Small business is fundamental to both the Territory and Alice Springs economy and we will continue to offer a wide range of services. These services include our Upskills Program which offers three hour training sessions. These workshops provide participants with new ideas to increase business management skills and capabilities.
Our Business Growth Program may also suit businesses that wish to take the next step and expand, diversify, or prepare for new business environments and opportunities that arise.
October Business Month is a regular fixture, which I am pleased to say many Alice Springs businesses have attended over the years. October Business Month continues to add value and provide opportunities for business people to network and learn about business ideas. I hope Alice Springs businesses will continue to attend and take advantage of the events that October Business Month offers each year.
With so much of the Territory’s being indigenous, it is important that indigenous Territorians reap the rewards of the economic activity and are assisted to start small businesses. To support indigenous business enterprises and further grow small business in the region, the department is working with indigenous Territorians to develop a range of business initiatives to promote enterprise and jobs growth. These initiatives include the development of business networks in Central Australia, assistance to indigenous businesses to exhibit their products and services at events, and the provision of direct business support.
DBERD’s Indigenous Business and Industry Services, known as IBIS, is currently in the process of establishing indigenous business networks in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek for the Central and Barkly regions. The aim of these networks is to get indigenous business people who are starting out in business to meet with like-minded individuals to share information, experience and business knowledge, and develop awareness of business programs that can be accessed to increase business growth.
DBERD sponsored five local indigenous businesses to exhibit at the Central Australian Expo on 9 and 10 March this year. These businesses were Central Media Production, JET Employment and Training Services, Black Tank Outstation, Footprints Forward and Jungala Enterprises.
DBERD’s IBIS group was also present at the mining supply expo and seminar held in March this year promoting programs for industry support and indigenous engagement. IBIS continues to develop and encourage indigenous enterprise through the Central and Barkly regions. These business initiatives include a free-range egg farm; Art and Cultural Tourism, Jungala Enterprises; Kata-Anga Tea Rooms in Hermannsburg; Northern Barkly Indigenous Development Pty Ltd providing advice to the company on how to utilise royalty money for enterprise development; the Internet Caf at Ali Curung; and cultural tourism at Black Tank Outstation.
On matters economic, the government is listening and engaging with communities of interest across the Territory through the creation of economic development committees that raise broad strategies and priorities with government through the development of economic development plans. The Alice Springs Economic Development Committee is made up of people from the community, business, the Chamber of Commerce, and from the federal and Northern Territory governments. Recently, I received the first economic development plan produced by an economic development committee. I am delighted to say it was from the Alice Springs committee. I thank these people who have given up their valuable time to deliver such a comprehensive document.
Government is now in a position to consider the recommended economic strategies and priorities developed by the committee. It was my pleasure to meet with committee members on Monday this week and, again, I thank them for investing their time and energy into the important work of the committee for the benefit of the Alice Springs region.
Madam Speaker, I turn to another portfolio: sport. Alice Springs people are excellent, especially when it comes to getting involved and participating in sports. I thank the volunteers for all their hard work and know that people, week in and week out, participate in sports locally.
Our government supports sport. It is part of the great Territorian lifestyle. It was clear the priority for sport after the Martin Labor government was first elected in 2001 was to address areas of chronic neglect left by the previous CLP government. Three areas that were targeted: fixing up previous great facilities; building new facilities; and bringing elite sports to the Territory.
Our government’s $142m investment in sport has delivered AFL Wizard and NAB Challenge matches; an ARL trial match in 2005 between the Newcastle Knights and Penrith Panthers at Anzac Oval; significant improvements at Traeger Park; and investment, major and minor, in other sports and sporting infrastructure.
The Alice Springs Pistol Club received $101 000 over three years from 2003-06 to construct an indoor pistol range. The club is now able to hold national level competitions. The Alice Springs Golf Club received $95 000 over two financial years to upgrade their pump house and construct ablution facilities. The Wallace Rockhole Community received funding over three years from 2003-06 of $100 000 to build a basketball and netball court, and half-court tennis, which has lights and is fully fenced. The Alice Springs Motor Cycle Club received $16 000 in 2005-06 to modify the track to increase safety, improve the facility, and provide a challenging venue. Arunga Park Speedway Association received $22 500 in 2005-06 which allowed them to repair the speedway track safety wall. The pistol range at the Alice Springs Shooting Complex at Ilparpa was closed in early 2004 due to residential encroachment which made the range unsafe to use. We invested over $250 000 to ensure the range at Ilparpa met acceptable safety standards. The range was used during the Alice Springs Master Games in October 2006.
We committed $5m for improvements and upgrade of Traeger Park. The Alice Springs Hockey Centre upgrade was completed in October 2002 at a cost of $800 000. The floodlight upgrade project was completed in February 2004 at a cost of $1.7m. The grandstand was left with $2.4m. A $3m contract was awarded to Probuild Pty Ltd on 20 July 2005 to construct what is a fantastic new grandstand at Traeger Park.
In June 2006, the government invested $20 000, going three ways with the Alice Springs Town Council and Cricket NT for a new pitch for the 2007 Imparja Cup. A $130 000 capital grant was provided to the Alice Springs Golf Club to plant soil ridges and grass on the fairways.
In 2005, the Territory budget included a capital grant of $800 000 for a new drag racing strip adjacent to the Finke Desert Race. Yesterday, I announced a further $250 000 grant to the Central Australia Drag Racing Association to complete their new drag strip. The additional money will ensure the drag strip meets strict environmental conditions. Not only will Alice residents receive a brand new quarter-mile drag strip, we will provide the money for the construction of one-eighth mile. Yesterday, I was advised by the members of CADRA that they had done a redesign of the whole project. They did a lot of work for themselves, and they have now designed and are going to construct a quarter-mile national and international standard drag strip which will provide the opportunity for people in Australia and other places in the world to compete in Alice Springs. Not only that, they said if they needed more money they would attempt to fundraise it themselves, and I congratulate them. It was fantastic news, because it means not only quality racing in Central Australia, but also more tourists will come to watch these races, or accompany those racing on the drag strip. Our government is both economically and environmentally responsible, and that is why we have the best economy and lifestyle in Australia. Central Australians love their sport and their motor racing, and I am pleased to assist in getting this drag race strip complete.
The Alice Springs Town Council received a $500 000 capital grant for upgrading Ross Park for soccer. The $8.1m election promise for the Alice Springs Aquatic Indoor Centre is the largest funding investment for an aquatic centre ever made by a government to a local council in the Northern Territory. The Alice Springs Town Council has the money invested in an account and it is ready to be spent. There is no doubt, $8.1m is a lot of money and will buy the people of Alice Springs a fantastic aquatic centre. The council has advised me they are working to secure additional funds and they are waiting on a decision by the Australian government. The good news now is that the council has committed to a deadline of 25 June 2007. They decided they wanted a few more things, and that is great. But something they should consider is that people have waited a long time to have an aquatic centre, and they can use it. It is an exciting project and Alice Springs people have waited long enough. We are all looking forward to council getting on with the job.
I would like to take a moment to talk about the Northern Territory Institute of Sport and some of the elite sportspeople in Alice Springs and the region that it has produced recently. The Northern Territory Institute of Sport has maintained a southern regional office in Alice Springs for the past 10 years, providing Centralians with the opportunity for special advice on strength and conditioning and high performance management. A physiotherapy service is also provided to Alice Springs-based scholarship holders. Northern Territory Institute of Sport staff ensure others in the region are provided with other services, including sports science, sports psychology, athlete career and education, and nutrition and coaching. Elite athletes like tenpin bowler Andrew McArthur are able to remain in Alice Springs and still be selected for Australian teams because of NTIS services based in the Centre.
The NTIS annually conducts, in conjunction with sponsors, Centrebet and YMCA, an NTIS southern region awards event to recognise the efforts of our athletes and the many volunteers involved, including coaches, sports medicine personnel, and parents.
There have been many successes.
NTIS early development scholarship holder, tenpin bowler Andrew McArthur, is the winner of the New South Wales Open 2006; Brunswick Open 2005; Australian Masters, Melbourne Cup, Cannington Classic in 2004; national squad representative since 2004; and Australian representative in 2004;
NTIS Junior Elite Development scholarship holder in cycling, Daniel Johnston, winner of the national series Under 19s 2006, Oceania championships and dual Australian representative in Under 19s in mountain biking;
David Johnston, cycling squad member and brother of Daniel Johnston, winner of the Under 17s national series in 2006;
John Pyper, Australian cycling Under 19 road coach in 2006 and selected as assistant coach to the Under 21s Australian Road Team in 2007;
cyclist, Matthew Stephens, an Under 17 Australian …
Mr NATT: Madam Speaker, I move that the minister be granted an extension of time to complete his remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, continue for 10 minutes.
Mr VATSKALIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
- … cyclist, Matthew Stephens, an Under 17 Australian Road Team representative;
Rugby League - Mitchell Morgan placed on a Canberra Raiders scholarship; and Aaron Costello played with the Australian Affiliated States merit team at the World Youth Championship in Moscow in 2005 …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Obviously, the member for Greatorex does not want to listen about Centralians doing well and that is why he is murmuring. Of course, we do not take any notice, we are used to it. We continue with the work because we want to see more Centralians take part in world-class events. I congratulate them – all of them – and Matty Campbell, Dashiell Hewett, Jamie White, Miebaka Dede, Cameron Finlay and Leshay Maidement, who are currently playing with the Australian Hockey League for the Territory Stingers and Pearls respectively. Also, Elizabeth Andrew, a police officer located at Hermannsburg, who represented Australia in IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2001. In addition to the work done by the NTIS, we support 14 community sport and recreation officers in the Alice Springs region.
Much has been achieved by our investment of time and money in sports, but there is more to be done. We understand sport’s importance to the Territory’s great lifestyle. After fixing areas of chronic neglect and getting sport back to where it should have been, the job is now to look around and work out where we want to be in 10 years time. A long-term vision is necessary. We are developing a comprehensive sport and recreation policy that will encompass every aspect of sport across the Territory.
Work in this area has already been done by the Sport and Youth parliamentary committee, chaired by the member for Port Darwin, Kerry Sacilotto. Their work will influence where the Martin Labor government’s significant investment in sport will be directed in the future. We will work with the great Territorians who love their sport - dedicated volunteers who devote their time to their chosen sport, professional administrators, past players and administrators - to develop a comprehensive sports policy that will make sure the Territory’s lifestyle remains the best in Australia.
Madam Speaker, our government is investing in Central Australia, has invested and will continue to invest. We believe that the future of Central Australia is bright. Yes, of course, there problems. We are the first to acknowledge that, but as the member for Braitling said: ‘Do not come here all the time with your problems; come here sometimes with some solutions’. Working together, both sides of parliament and the Independents, we might find some solutions we can apply to Central Australia and you can apply in other places, as the member for Katherine said, because these problems are not unique in Central Australia, or even to the Northern Territory. They are unique to the north part of Australia and are problems that we face now and, if we do nothing, we will face for years to come.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage): Madam Speaker, I will talk about being inspired, the challenges and opportunities in Central Australia.
Although I am very much a saltwater woman, my father’s people are from Central Australia, so a part of me will always belong here. It is for this reason that I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the Chief Minister’s statement on initiatives and achievements in this important part of the Northern Territory. It gives me the chance, as well, to say something of what I understand is the character of Central Australia and its people. As a starting point, let me tell the House of two recent experiences.
Firstly, a month ago, I had the pleasure of opening an exhibition of work by two Centralian artists showing in Sydney. It was called Skin and was the work of two non-indigenous artists, Dan Murphy and Deborah Clarke. In my remarks on the night, I made the point that there had been a quiet revolution in the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists in Central Australia, which is barely matched anywhere in Australia. It is why, in my view, Central Australia is developing, much more than other parts of the Territory for that matter, as a creative community in country which has always been alive through the dreamings that stretch back many thousands of years. The nature of that quiet revolution has been that non-indigenous artists have come to Central Australia and have developed knowledge, understanding and, above all, an engagement with the lands and people of the region.
They have brought with them many different tools and techniques, some of which have, in turn, been picked up by Aboriginal artists, but they have not brought with them the minds of the coloniser or the prejudices of the invader. They have engaged with country and sought not to subjugate it. In other words, we are seeing new cultural understandings of what it is to live and work in Central Australia that builds on heritages of both ancient and more recent times, and of the knowledge and experience of both indigenous and non indigenous Territorians.
This was reflected as well a week before that when I was privileged to launch the program for the 2007 Araluen Arts Centre. The slogan for the program is ‘Be Inspired’. It is certainly that. The diversity of events to be staged at Araluen in the coming year is striking enough in itself, but the breadth and depth of active engagement from the peoples of Central Australia in cultural life tells a much wider story and provides us with pointers to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Central Australia. While at what is known as the Araluen Cultural Precinct, I was struck once again at how limiting the idea of a discrete isolated cultural precinct can be. I was reminded of the words of the member for Macdonnell in calling for a shared creative citizenship in Central Australia. She made the point and I quote: ‘The whole of Central Australia is a cultural precinct and we should all start thinking like that. That should be our common ground for all of us here in Central Australia, and how we approach Central Australia creatively is how we will achieve a shared citizenship in this vast and beautiful region’.
This is the approach of this government to the challenges and opportunities of Central Australia through the work of my Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, a shared creative partnership with the citizens of Central Australia. It is an approach that seeks to integrate and coordinate government assets and activities across the region dedicated to the social, economic and cultural advancement of Central Australia through policies of sustainable development. It is an approach that sees opportunities for Central Australians in sustaining jobs and enterprises while at the same time nurturing and looking after the land that sustains us all here in Central Australia.
It is an approach in which we will move away from dislocation and isolation towards embracing integration of assets and resources in partnership with private enterprise and which takes an exclusively regional approach to Central Australia. It means taking an holistic view. It can be summed up in a straightforward philosophy. The first one is caring for county, knowing country, sharing country and learning from country. For example, national parks are not just repositories of plants and animals or stock as picture postcard landscapes. It contains within them non-indigenous and indigenous heritage from our exploration, pastoral and mining histories through the rock art. For that matter, our pastoral estate is not just cattle runs to be mustered and turned off each season. It is a source of biodiversity which must also be cared for into the future. Our water resources go well beyond the turning of a tap or the sinking of a bore. They are a precious legacy that must be sustained for our children and grandchildren.
We are working with the people of Central Australia to care for country, to know our country, to share country, and to learn from country.
This government has, through its Framework for the Future process, significantly expanded the national parks estate in the Northern Territory through agreements with traditional owners throughout the Territory, not least in Central Australia. The West MacDonnell National Park is set to become one of the most important destinations in the Territory, indeed the nation. The park is already recognised as Australia’s first national landscape and work is being carried out towards World Heritage listing, including consultation with traditional Aboriginal owner groups in the Western MacDonnell region.
The Development of the Red Centre Way is a high priority and planning is well under way for the development of the Red Centre Way Visitor Centre, which is to be integrated with the Alice Springs Desert Park after extensive consultation with regional stakeholders. This will herald a new era of enterprise development in the region, particularly amongst indigenous communities and, indeed, a new era of tourists integrating the destinations of Watarrka, Uluru and the Western MacDonnells.
We are working to increase the capacity of our staff to implement joint management principles for our expanded national parks estate in Central Australia. For this, I must thank the Central Land Council and the traditional owners it represents for a lot of hard work.
Joint management plans for Rainbow Valley and the Devils Marbles are well advanced and drafts will be put out for public comment in the near future. A critical part of the work of our national parks people is that of maintaining visitor facilities to enhance the experience of people who come to our parks. To this end, we are developing a comprehensive asset management system, including evaluation of whole of asset system in order to strategically plan for ongoing management requirements. Of course, quality visitor experience is highly dependent on high quality information being available. While we will continue to produce and reassess fact sheets and interpretive signage, we are also actively investigating web-based linkages for the visitor, including making material available through MP3 technology.
We recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Alice Springs Desert Park. The Desert Park, for which the previous CLP government must be given credit, has developed into an important destination for tourists but also become something that is seen as an asset for Central Australians themselves. There is significant use of the park by schoolchildren and the park has also opened itself up through open days. There has been more recent use of the park for night desert art markets. The Desert Park is certainly becoming the people’s park. Work is well under way to develop new five- and 10-year plans for the Desert Park, and its future integration with the Red Centre Way West MacDonnells Visitor Centre will allow cost-effective ways of consolidating the Desert Park as well as the West MacDonnells as one of the Centre’s most important destinations. A key to this has been the development of closer links with the community and local business and an expanded role for the park in the conference market.
Finally, we have committed continued and additional support for the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens with strong support and assistance from its hard-working and dedicated community board.
No one is under any illusion that the development of land in arid regions such as the deserts of Central Australia is easy. It presents challenges that have been made no more simple due to ongoing community and scientific debate as to definitions of sustainable resource use. Nevertheless, assessment of land and water for agriculture is critical, particularly for new horticultural and cropping development. The challenge is to provide, on a timely basis, assessments which meet the needs of external and internal clients. The demand is high. Smart assessment technology is expensive and requires high skills, and we must not only assess resources, but we must also assess possible impacts on the environment. The identification of sustainable uses and yields is not easy. There are many different definitions and interpretations. There is a challenge with the public conception of sustainability.
A further challenge with land and water resource assessment for development projects is handling the question of impacts. All development will, by its nature, have impacts on natural resources, but the question is: will they be significant in the foreseeable future? There is believed to be significant, good quality groundwater resources on Aboriginal land in Central Australia. Suited as water supplies for horticultural development, it has the potential to support work opportunities for Aboriginal Territorians in many rural towns and communities in Central Australia.
The challenge is to undertake the assessments necessary to enable sustainable development to proceed so that we can actually make a difference. This means lining up the key players inside and outside of government who work together to achieve successful and timely outcomes which is a formidable task. The land and water assessment and information branches provide extensive information to industry, the public and government. A challenge here is to provide quality information for the increasing demand, using technology and smart communication systems which meet the needs of the user.
The management of natural resources in the desert present a huge challenge, but one I believe the people of the region are tough enough to meet. The recent welcome heavy rains in Central Australia, for example, will assist pastoralists, but will inevitably contribute to an intense fire season. A detailed fire forecast is currently being developed by our Natural Resource Division which will assist meeting this challenge.
Related to this is the issue facing the continued sustainability and growth of the pastoral industry in the Centre generally. We are committed to supporting the continued economic growth of a sustainable pastoral industry, while ensuring that pastoral lands are healthy and biodiversity is maintained. Policies and guidelines will be required for the implementation of non-pastoral, commercial or conservation use for existing pastoral operations. In this, we will work alongside native title holders throughout Central Australia. This year, we will commence a revision of soil conservation legislation and guidelines to provide guidance and certainty for industry, and to improve management of one of our most valuable natural resources.
Water management, as I have mentioned, is a continuing issue, especially in major residential areas such as Alice Springs, or commercial use, such as that around Ti Tree. The last thing any of us want to repeat is the mistakes of the southern and eastern states in their approach to water management. Central Australians understand this only too well. We have promoted the formation and support of the Water Advisory Committees in Alice Springs and Ti Tree. These committees will provide advice on the development and implementation of water allocation plans. These plans will be built from the ground up through the Water Advisory Committees, and any licensing and regulations that may flow from water management plans will be ones that assist the stakeholders that are represented on these committees. A critical input into this will be the implementation of the Central Australia Water Conservation Project.
We are currently reviewing the Northern Territory Weed Strategy, which is a huge issue for Central Australia. I do not pretend to have the answers, but it will involve:
the coordination and management of externally funded projects for the strategic control of Athel pine;
a rational approach to buffel grass which is emerging as a potentially contentious issue. While it provides fodder on the one hand - and we see the same thing with gamba grass - on the other hand it impacts negatively on biodiversity and fire regimes; and
the consideration of widespread weed management issues, such as the rubber bush and Parkinsonia, for which the development and implementation of a strategic approach is difficult due to the scale of the landscape, the scale of the areas affected and the low numbers and resources to landowners.
Turning a full circle, I make a simple point about our arts community in Central Australia. The arts community is very much like the rest of Central Australia. They are pretty damn hot, and they are inspired. You only have to attend some of the highlights of the cultural calendar to gauge this. The Centralian Advocate Art Award, the Beanie Festival, the Alice Desert Festival, Wearable Arts and Desert Mob are inspirations to the work of the artists and the dedicated band of people who make these events possible.
Of course, there are challenges and difficulties, but that does not stop the artists of Central Australia. Instead of bemoaning the Berrimah Line, they have gone out to forge new directions and new approaches. Their directions and their approaches have been highly successful, particularly in the last round of the arts grants from Arts NT which are awarded competitively. Central Australians did far better, pound for pound, than their colleagues up north. They have not wasted time. They have gone out, got the job done, and continue to do so.
That goes to what I said at the outset about the development of a strong, creative community here in Central Australia. In a very real sense, it is do with the country around here. It breeds toughness but also engenders a philosophy of getting the job done in a spirit of partnership where people can learn from each other.
Mr Deputy Speaker, the region of Central Australia faces enormous social and economic problems - no one pretends otherwise. However, I believe Central Australians from all walks of life are tough enough, and certainly smart enough, to seek collective solutions that will benefit us all. The real challenge, as the member for Macdonnell said to us last year, is how we approach Central Australia creatively and, therefore, how we will achieve a shared citizenship in this vast and beautiful region. That is what we are working on. I commend the Chief Minister’s statement to the House.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the minister for NRETA for her discussion on a couple of important issues that I was not particularly going to raise in my discussion about Central Australia. However, water and weeds is a familiar topic in the north as well. Perhaps, although there is a lot of talk about the Berrimah Line and Central Australia versus the north, I regard myself as a Territorian. My number plate is exactly the same as the people down here; it says ‘Outback Australia’.
I first came to Central Australia in 1964 as a young geography student. We came up in a city bus with the school and it fell apart because the road out to Ayers Rock going across the South Australia/Northern Territory border was all corrugated gravel, and the road back from Ayers Rock - as it was called then - to the bitumen was all corrugated as well. I remember we spent some time in Alice Springs welding the bus back. How things have changed in Central Australia since then, with much improved road transport, the increase of rail transport and improvements in rail. That is obvious by the number of people who come to visit Central Australia.
I love Alice Springs. It is a great change to come down here from the humid north and wake up under a doona. That is something that does not happen very often, not if you have lived in the north for a long time. I love all parts of the Northern Territory because there are so many different climates and geographies; it is such a wonderful place to live.
I would like to hone in a little more on the Chief Minister’s statement. Obviously, when you read the statement, there are many good things happening in Central Australia, especially Alice Springs. The government has many programs it is trying to put forward. On the other hand, no matter what you think of the rallies we have had so far outside the parliament, it would be difficult to dismiss that and say it was just a few people who had a gripe. It obviously shows that there some serious concerns in Central Australia about issues that really are not just exclusive to Central Australia. You will find gangs, crime, and alcohol abuse in various places throughout the Territory. I know the member for Katherine will agree with that.
I, for one, even though I have lived in the Territory for a long time, have pulled up at Red Rooster in Katherine about 8 pm and found it a little scary, to be honest with you, right opposite the takeaway there at the local pub. If I found it a bit daunting, imagine what tourists who pull up at Katherine at that time of the evening think. It is not good and neither is it not good for the image of the Territory.
Although there has been much discussion about tourism and how tourism numbers have increased, there was talk today at the Chamber of Commerce breakfast that one of the problems is repeat visitors are not a very high number when you look at the statistics on how many people come back to the Centre. I may be guessing, but you do wonder, although people have a wonderful holiday here, whether some of the images that they confront are the reason that they do not come back. I hope that is not the case. I can understand why if people, especially older people - and we have to remember many people come to the Territory in their retirement with the caravans behind them. I came down from Darwin on Saturday and Sunday and I was also in Alice Springs the last weekend, both times travelling by road. There were certainly many caravans moving north so the road tourist season is well and truly on its way. They are the people we must make sure are looked after and they are the people we hope will return.
I would just like to say a few things about the issues that are of concern to many people in Central Australia. I have a concern about these things in general that are happening in the Northern Territory. The government still is not willing to bite the bullet when it comes to looking at alternative ways of tackling crime. I have said for a long time the idea of having just two forms of prison, the Alice Springs gaol and the Berrimah gaol, is not the right approach. The closure of the Wildman River Wildness Camp is a disgrace. I believe there is a great need for alternative forms of detention, especially with young people. I have said before that I visited the work camp at Wyndham last year. This work camp enables low- to medium-grade prisoners to work out in the community from a base. They are not working from the prison; they are working from a camp, you might say, which is made up from demountable living quarters. These people look after themselves. They get up in the morning and make their own breakfast, and head off for work. They cannot leave the place unless they are going to work, but there is a fair bit of responsibility for washing their own clothes, making sure they are on time for work, all those sort of things. In other words, they learn some skills, they learn how to go to work, and it has been very successful in Western Australia. There are about six work camps there.
We could do a variation on that especially for juveniles. My daughter worked for a number of years on cattle stations. She learned to be a ringer at the Mataranka Station which trains young people in horse skills. From my understanding, on most cattle stations, ringers get up really early in the morning around 4:30, have breakfast, get the horses ready, do mustering or fencing until about 12 o’clock and, in the heat of the day, they either relax or have a sleep. At the end of the day they tether up the horses or do some other odd jobs.
There is a great opportunity to have four or five work camps operating in the Territory where young people who may be involved in gangs - after all, we have now have legislation which says we can tackle these gangs - where these gangs can be broken up and some of these young people are sent out by a magistrate for three, four, five, six months to work on these cattle stations and to learn some skills like fencing and horse riding. In the afternoon, they get some education. Perhaps you have the old silver bullet-type caravan that follows them round so in the afternoon they learn some basic education to try to bring them up to a standard where they are at least are able to catch up on their school work which they would have missed normally.
Work camps are very important because there is one thing that you need in life: some time to get out on your own and to think about what you are going. I take time off during the year. I have done trips to places that I have always driven past. I have been to Butterfly Gorge and Umbrawarra Gorge. Believe it or not, I have stayed two nights at Renner Springs and walked up to what they call Lubra Hill and sat up there. It is a beautiful place. I have stayed at Banka Banka. Most people drive through Banka Banka or just stay overnight. There is a beautiful walk into Banka Banka. It has a lot of Aboriginal, World War II and pastoral history. It is a wonderful little place. It is peaceful and quiet. We are missing that to some extent with the way we are dealing with some of our juveniles.
Yes, they need work, they need education, but they need time to reflect on where they are going in life because many of these kids are at the crossroads. They might not have committed a serious crime. Being in a gang is not really what you would call a serious crime, but it can potentially lead to serious crime. Pinching a car may not be regarded as the top of the scale in crime, but it is the sort of crime that if you can get the culprits early, you may be able to turn them around.
Wildman River was what that was all about. Kids worked part-time for Parks and Wildlife. Sometimes they were doing sandbags on the barrages to prevent the salt water coming through. They were doing fencing. In the afternoon, they were doing education. There were good classrooms there. They had a small football field and swimming pool. They had to cook their own meals in the evening and the only difference was that they were locked up at night.
For all intents and purposes, the concept was get these kids, give them some sort of focus, give them some sort of goal, give them a chance to think because there is nothing better than to go out into the bush and have a think. Have a look at Dillinya, the alcohol rehabilitation place south of Katherine out towards Top Springs. Why is it way out in the middle of nowhere? It is about 250 km west of Katherine. It is there because Sheila Millar knows that by getting people back to their country you have a lot better chance of getting these people to change their ways. She has been very successful. She is out in the bush. She has a beautiful set-up. The houses are all clean. It is a great place. It is a similar philosophy.
People need to get away from the place which is causing them problems. If these kids are mixed up in gangs, which are about a couple of leaders and a lot of followers, break them up and you have a chance of changing these kids around. Are we doing something? No. We have the Don Dale Centre. The Don Dale Centre might have its purpose, but one size does not fit all. We need other kinds of facilities for young people, and for older people. As I mentioned, the work camp at Wyndham is for older people.
It is the same when it comes to the issue of alcohol abuse. I have stood in this House since day one and spoken about alcohol abuse. The situation has not improved. In fact, it is worse. Unless the government takes some really strong approaches to alcohol, we are not going to change it. We still associate alcohol and sport. We still have enormous amounts of advertising. The alcohol industry is enormously powerful. Go to any football match. What are the advertising signs? Alcohol. Alcohol and sport are very much part of the culture of the Northern Territory.
We can look at all the ways of trying to change people’s habits of abusing alcohol, but I bet you that, behind it all, breweries are not saying: ‘We really want you to stop all that’. They might say it to make you feel good, but the reality is there are big bucks in alcohol. The fact is that in places like Alice Springs and other communities, we have to pick up the consequences of the abuse of alcohol.
It is time that, either through taxation or direct contribution from the breweries, large amounts of money from that area are put into alcohol rehabilitation. That can include community dry out areas. I have mentioned before that people will go through the revolving doors of rehabilitation time and time again. Through the alcohol courts, there should be places where these people are required to go. They must stay maybe for six months and they receive medical attention. There might be a garden or small workshop where they can learn some basic skills of woodwork or metal work, do some basic literacy and numeracy. However, they are required to stay there. The alternative is gaol. We give them the alternative, but they cannot stay on the streets any longer.
There comes a time when society says enough is enough. If people cannot help themselves, then that is why we have a government: to help those people. It is not a matter of incarcerating people. I recall a meeting the minister for NRETA attended here many years ago, as part of the substance abuse committee where, as soon as we said people should be put away somewhere and helped, there was talk about the Stolen Generation. I found that really offensive in the sense that this would not apply to any particular race or creed; this is applying to human beings who have come to the end, who are basically helpless because they cannot help themselves. We need places where we can require those people to attend. That would improve our own society, because those people would not be on the streets, but we would be trying to help those people get over what is a major health issue that they cannot pull themselves up from. That is an area where we are not doing enough. It is those two areas we need to spend some money on.
The government could look at putting more pressure on the federal government to require breweries to put more money back into rehabilitation of people who are affected by alcohol, to put more money back into programs to teach people to use alcohol wisely. Breweries have a responsibility; they produce the product. They might say, well we are not responsible for the way people use it. I say: ‘You produce a product that you know can be abused, I believe you have to take some responsibility. I do not think you take it all, but you do take some responsibility. You make millions’. We know that because of the amount of advertising that is on television, and we know that from the huge sales of alcohol in Australia. I believe that breweries should take some responsibility.
On a couple of other things the Chief Minister mentioned. I congratulate the idea of the Clontarf Academy coming to Alice Springs. That is a great idea. What we have to do is make sure we do not get carried away with the gloss of it. The objectives of it are terrific, but what we need to do is make sure that not only are kids going to school, but the achievements are really there. I say that because I have some background in this area. I know and am able to get some information occasionally about this. We have to be careful that it is not all about footy, that the real changes, the real academic achievements are going hand in hand with the football achievements. It is a great idea. It is a great thing for the Territory, and I congratulate the minister for Education – I presume he had a lot to do with getting it here, even though he is a fan of that other form of football – good to see him slowly changing. It is great that it has come here.
The solar city is great news for Central Australia. It really is good but I would like to see it further than just Central Australia. In her statement, the Chief Minister talked about the great record the government has on energy conservation. I must admit, I absolutely disagree with her. I go past houses in the new suburb of Farrar that have black tiled roofs. I go past units in town that are so close together you are lucky to get a breeze. I believe we have lost it when it comes to energy conservation. I would love to know the number of airconditioned buildings in Darwin over the last five or six years. I saw in town the other day – or was it written in the newspaper - about some new troppo-type design houses that do not require airconditioning. What was the cost of the houses? About $800 000 each . There has to be something wrong. Surely we can build houses for less than that which do not use airconditioners or have black roofs.
The new suburbs of Palmerston – I do not know who has made the ruling; it is something to do with covenants – have dark red, dark green, dark blue, and black roofs on houses in the tropics. If the government says it is serious about energy conservation, surely it should be looking seriously at why that is happening. All those houses will have higher temperatures, and what will they require? They will require airconditioning. What will that mean? More greenhouse gases, if that is the way we are putting things today. We are going to have to produce more power and burn up more gas to run those airconditioners. I really believe we have to look seriously at the design of houses in the Northern Territory, especially in the tropics.
The last thing, and I know the minister next to me will probably wonder what I am going to say, is about the cost of land. It is mentioned in here. I have mentioned it several times when speaking in parliament in Darwin. I believe we have to do a lot more for first homeowners. It is not about affecting the market. Many first homeowners cannot now get into the market because the HomeNorth system does not give you enough money to get into the system.
I was looking at some of the housing costs in Alice Springs. I see a new estate with 800 m blocks for about $180 000. HomeNorth goes to $260 000, that you leaves you an $80 000 house - not much to build on. They have units, but if I have a couple of kids, some of those units are very small. I really believe the government has to look at releasing Crown land and keeping some of those blocks for itself, and then releasing those blocks to bona fide first homeowners at a price which is relevant to the cost of developing the blocks. Maybe there is a small margin for profit. They should put a 10-year covenant on them, so people must build within the first two years but cannot sell for 10 years unless they sell back to the government. We can do a lot more to help young people and people on low incomes to find a place to live.
Look at the waiting time for public housing; it is about 28 months in Darwin. That means we do not have enough public housing. Look what happened to the people at Sundowner Caravan Park; they struggled to find a place to live. There is a real requirement for government to help these people and I do not think we are doing enough about it. You can do it, because we have the land, but you are not. That is something that the government should take on. They should not be talking about the market if it is something so great, because the economy is booming. That might be great, but they must not forget the young families, the low income families and the battlers, because they need help as well. That is a role of government; not just to protect the economy.
Ms LAWRIE (Planning and Lands): Mr Deputy Speaker, I commend the Chief Minister’s statement on the government’s initiatives and achievements in Central Australia. There are two things very evident from her statement: there is certainly a lot of positive activity in Alice Springs and throughout Central Australia, and the government is also implementing detailed plans to deal with some of the serious challenges facing the region. The Territory’s economy is strong and Alice Springs is a key part of that strength. The Chief Minister and other ministers have talked about our strong economic management. There are areas within my portfolios that play an important role in this strong management.
An important aspect of the economy is the property market. The property market has been very strong in the Territory in recent years and Alice Springs has not missed out. There is always much debate about the future of the property market, given its speculative nature, but the government is confident that the market will remain strong; so are several independent observers. The Housing Institute of Australia March 2007 economic report said: ‘2007 should be another great year for the Northern Territory’. Chris Anderson from Access Economics said earlier this week that: ‘The Territory’s economy is running very, very sweetly at the moment’, and ‘I actually think that housing construction in the Territory will continue at pretty solid rates’.
The median house price in Alice Springs has grown from around $200 000 four years ago to around $270 000 currently. Many regional areas of Australia have property markets currently in decline, so it is good to see Alice Springs as a regional town bucking that trend. Obviously, this strong property market is good news for home owners, but it is also good news for those looking to get into the market, as the Territory has the highest rate of first home buyers in Australia. Since July 2004, there have been 236 HomeNorth loans granted in Alice Springs, worth a combined value of $45.5m.
Appropriate land release strategies are an essential component of a property market. The wholesale release of land, as called for by the CLP, would wipe out values of current properties. A smaller city like Alice Springs would be particularly susceptible to such a market drop if too much land was released. The Martin government is managing land release in Alice Springs.
An indigenous land use agreement was signed in 2004 which cleared the way for the development of 40 residential lots at Stirling Heights and a further 39 lots on Albrecht Drive. The Stirling Heights development has been completed; 18 building permits have been issued. There are now some very fine homes in that new subdivision. The Albrecht Drive development was again passed in at auction and is now available for sale at a reserve price of $1m. Government will purchase six blocks from this development for first home buyers, and the multiple dwelling block for public housing.
The next release of land will be at Mt John Valley. Negotiations have commenced for the native title holders, and I recently received a letter from the new working executive of the Lhere Artepe agreeing to the release of land. The release will provide for around 70 pristine blocks. In the private sector there are 25 blocks available at the North Edge subdivision. Prices range from $99 000 to $152 000 and block sizes range from 422 m2 to 1790 m2. Preliminary work has commenced on a 62 lot rural subdivision on Ragonesi Road. A total of 256 lots are proposed in six stages. There is much happening with some very good land opportunities coming online.
Construction and infrastructure: last sittings, I provided a statement on the construction industry in the Territory and how simply you cannot have a strong economy without a strong construction sector. This is especially true in Alice Springs and I am glad to say that Alice Springs is certainly contributing to this very strong construction industry.
In 2005–06, the Alice Springs economy received $100m in infrastructure spending from the Martin government. This spending has created 900 jobs in the Centre. The latest construction snapshot put out by my department shows the high level of activity in Alice Springs. The value of construction projects in Alice Springs is $91.5m. This includes both government and private sector projects. Some of the higher profile projects include the Red Centre Way; Namatjira Drive; the Desert Knowledge Project; Business and Innovation Centre; Centralian College middle school project; Stuart Lodge redevelopment; Yeperenye Centre, which is both commercial and retail expansion; Imparja Television studios; Quest Apartments; and the North Edge residential development. There will be more to come in this year’s budget announcements.
Roads funding is a large part of our construction budget. This year we had the highest budget for roads ever in the Territory. At more than $130m, it is $50m more than the CLP’s 2001 roads budget. Central Australia has been a big winner. Some of the projects include the Red Centre Way, the Tanami Highway, the Outback or Plenty Highway, Lasseter Highway, Santa Teresa Road and Maryvale Road. All of these projects create jobs and help the economy of the region.
While we are talking about the Alice Springs economy it is important to set straight a few mistruths that are being spread in relation to vehicle testing in the region. The first mistruth is a notion that the police supported the application for exemptions to the speed limit. Nothing could be further from the truth. The police did not support such an exemption from our road safety laws, neither does the government. That is why, like other jurisdictions right across the country, we have decided to not allow an exemption. Any potential impact this might have on the economy of Alice Springs remains to be seen. Speed is only a very small component of the vehicle testing and Central Australia remains an ideal location for heat, dust, endurance, and other testing. Certainly the government has been approached by companies since the speed limits were introduced for them to continue testing within the road laws. Claims by the CLP that the industry will end are clearly wrong. I am advised that there are four companies testing in Alice Springs.
Members would be aware that the Commonwealth government applied for an exceptional development application for two sites in Alice Springs to develop short-term visitor accommodation facilities. Last month, as Planning minister, I approved the Commonwealth’s applications because the government believes that the provision of short-term visitor accommodation is an essential component of the town camp strategy and will help alleviate some of the social problems occurring in Alice Springs. The government is very aware of the concerns of the community over the Commonwealth government’s development of these facilities. That is why we only approved their application on the condition that a very stringent management plan is put in place. This management plan will help ensure that nearby residences and businesses are not adversely affected.
The CLP in-fighting over this issue has been quite incredible. In the Centralian Advocate the member for Greatorex said: ‘I’m all for it’. The CLP Senator, Nigel Scullion, described the decision as ‘fantastic’, and yet the Leader of the Opposition called the decision ‘an act of bastardry’. One thing is very clear: if the CLP had been managing this issue, then $70m would not be injected into the Alice Springs economy and the town camps would not need fixing.
The government was very aware of potential sacred site considerations at the Dalgety Road site. That is why, as part of the approval, we have included the condition that the development must comply with an authority certificate.
Earlier this week, I provided a report on the work the government, police and youth service providers are undertaking to address the unacceptable number and ages of children on the streets of Alice Springs at night. The After Hours Youth Strategy is working to address this issue. The member for Greatorex responded to the report and failed to mention one single thing that the CLP would do to address this critical issue. It shows that they are lazy, have no policies, and have no plans. They simply whinge and whine from the sidelines.
The member for Greatorex went further in claiming there were no youth programs - further evidence that he is out of touch. Some of the youth services that government funds include: the Alice Springs Youth Accommodation and Support Services, $909 000 for crisis and medium-term accommodation; Anglicare, $576 000 for supported accommodation; the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, $255 000 for the after-hours service formerly called the YDIC; and Tangentyere Council, $1.53m for the Safer Families program. The fact that the member for Greatorex claimed in parliament on Tuesday that he did not know of any of these programs shows he is even more out of touch than I thought. I had a meeting with the youth services sector that evening, and I had to apologise to them for his ignorance. It was quite extraordinary.
Cool Mob do a fantastic job in diversionary youth focus programs. I congratulate Cool Mob, which is based out at DASA. They are fantastic in their diversionary programs.
The Chief Minister has talked extensively about the work that the government is doing to address the problems in Alice Springs that are related to alcohol. The government has a whole-of-government approach to dealing with problems caused by alcohol. These problems underpin our social problems in Central Australia.
Other ministers have talked about the work that they and their respective agencies are undertaking as part of the government’s alcohol management plan. There have been some very good early results: an 11% reduction in sales; and the number of people being taken into custody has been cut in half.
As Minister for Family and Community Services, my responsibility relates to treatment and rehabilitation. We have increased the Alcohol and Other Drugs budget by 80% since we came to government, up from $11.5m in 2001 to more than $20m this year, which is more than an 80% increase.
Treatment services are provided through Alcohol and Other Drugs Services administered or provided through the department, and if you had listened to the member for Nelson’s earlier speech, you would have thought we were doing none of this. However, for his information, I will take him through some of the services that we fund in Alice Springs: Tangentyere Council, $473 000 for remote area Night Patrol and community Day Patrol; Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programs Unit, fondly known as CAAAPU, $413 000 for outreach referral and a 20-bed residential treatment centre; Congress, $250 000 for youth programs; DASA, $1.4m and 40 beds for residential rehab, withdrawal, counselling, sobering-up shelter and that Deadly Bush Mob program which is fantastic, they do a great outreach program; Holyoake, $219 000 for non-residential assessment, counselling and community education; and Alcohol and Other Drug Services Central Australia, $1.1m for specialist medical withdrawal.
At the last sitting of parliament in Alice Springs two years ago, the government was outlining the volatile substance abuse legislation that was about to be introduced to parliament. We had also just announced $10m towards treatment services for petrol sniffers. At the same time, the roll-out of Opal by the Commonwealth government was only just beginning.
Two years later, and much has happened. Tragically, petrol sniffing is still occurring, but there has been an overall reduction across Central Australia. Since the introduction of our legislation and the roll-out of Opal, several communities that have been prone to the problems of sniffing for decades have largely become sniffing-free. It is a credit to those communities. Some other communities, sadly, have not seen the same improvements and we will continue to work with them to ensure that everything possible is done to help them achieve this.
One community that has seen some big improvements is Papunya. The local member for Macdonnell has worked hard with this community and they have been very successful. A community management plan for Papunya comes into effect on 1 May. This will be the first community management plan under the VSA legislation. It will be the first of many, as there are dozens in the process of being developed and implemented over the coming months. I congratulate the member for Macdonnell and the community president, Syd Anderson, and the community of Papunya for the work that they have undertaken in developing this plan and in working so hard to curb the scourge of petrol sniffing.
Tragically, deaths are still occurring, and we must continue our efforts. However, it is clear that we are on the right track. I thank the frontline workers from organisations like CAYLUS and NPY, who get out there and work with the communities to ensure that support and the care of sniffers and the former sniffers is being provided in the communities. There is no doubt that we have not wiped out sniffing in Central Australia; however, when you compare now to where we were two years ago, it seems as if we have come light years. It has been a phenomenal effort right across Central Australia, from those frontline workers and the agencies, including agencies within government and non-government organisations and, importantly, the work in the communities to get the results we have seen today.
One thing is certain, though, if the CLP approach to petrol sniffing had been implemented, then things would not have improved. They would have become worse. Two years ago, the CLP demanded that the government immediately cancel the $10m for treatment, and they spoke out loudly against the roll-out of Opal. I go to some of the quotes from the CLP in the Parliamentary Record from that time: ‘$10m for petrol sniffers, that is not a good priority’; ‘$10m to address petrol sniffing problems is a dumb way to spend money’; ‘The idea that Australians have to power their vehicles with a different fuel because some people chose to inappropriately use it to their own detriment and the detriment of their communities is crazy thinking’. Sadly, two years later, nothing seems to have changed. The lazy CLP still has no policies and no commitment to addressing this issue - absolutely no policies.
Regarding child protection, Central Australia has been in the national spotlight in recent times regarding concerns facing our indigenous communities and the care of children ...
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr Mills: I know what is going on, on your side.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Picking up on the interjection there, Mr Deputy Speaker, it appears there is a push on in the CLP, there will be a leadership change next week.
The Chief Minister’s inquiry into child abuse in the Territory is designed to lift the veil of secrecy that exists in our communities. I congratulate the Chief Minister for her inquiry and look forward to the recommendations coming down from the eminent people who are running that inquiry, Rex Wild QC and Pat Anderson. I have every confidence in the recommendations that will be coming forward. As Minister for Family and Community Services, I look forward to working with the government to respond appropriately to any recommendations that they make.
In child protection in Alice Springs, I congratulate first and foremost those frontline child protection workers in Alice Springs. They do an incredibly difficult job. We have doubled the notifications coming into our system and doubled the number of children in out-of-home care; that is, children we have removed from their families. That is an enormous workload increase on child protection workers. We have not done that without putting in additional resources. We have additional resources. In Alice Springs alone, for example, we have 21 additional staff in child protection workers. They cannot work on their own. They work very closely with non-government organisations such as Congress, Tangentyere, Waltja, ASYASS, and NPY. There is a collection of significant agencies under the umbrella of the child welfare coalition. I have met with them on a number of occasions, and they are now working very closely with Family and Community Services staff.
I thank the work of particularly Penny Fielding and Julianne Donnelly who have carried out a very difficult task in pulling together a sector which was, at times, mistrustful of an agency that was going through tremendous reforms from 2003 onwards - at the same time confronted with an avalanche of child protection notifications coming in through the door. The work done by the staff at all levels of FACS, as well as the non-government organisations, has been outstanding in Central Australia. I also acknowledge that, without the cooperation of those non-government organisations, we would not have the degree of tight case management that we see today in the welfare system. It is that case management that is starting to bring dividends in how we are able to care for the children in a comprehensive way: the changes in the protocols between the government agency and the non-government sector; the additional resources that have been put in by government to deal with the increasing demands and workload in this area; and, increasingly, the complex nature of cases that are coming before us. We now have specialist teams in place and we are always trying to recruit foster carers, particularly indigenous foster carers.
I also thank the police. The police have joined forces with the FACS workers within the agency. They have what we call CAT Force which is the child abuse task force. It is quite an innovative approach in terms of the Australian response to child abuse. CAT Force exists in the Territory. It is relatively new and has been running for some month now. Early results are extremely promising. Where we have notifications of abuse, the combined investigative powers and skills of both the police, as well as the expertise …
Mr WARREN: Mr Deputy Speaker, I move an extension of time to allow the member for Karama to continue her remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.
Motion agreed to.
Mr Mills: No, because of the offensive comments earlier …
Ms LAWRIE: You are gagging me?
Mrs Braham: I think the ayes have it.
Mr Mills: The ayes do have it, but …
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: But there is a no against it. Sorry.
Ms LAWRIE: The member for Blain does not want to hear about the work of the CAT Force. It is quite astounding …
____________________
Suspension of Standing Orders
Extend Time to Complete Speech
Extend Time to Complete Speech
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Mr Deputy Speaker, I move that so much of standing orders be suspended as would allow …
Mrs Braham: No, no it was a motion; it was not a …
Mr STIRLING: No, I am moving a motion to suspend so much of standing orders as would allow the member for Karama to finish her remarks.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: One moment, I will seek clarification. The Treasurer has moved a motion.
Motion agreed to.
____________________
Ms LAWRIE: Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the Deputy Chief Minister and the Chamber. As I was saying, the combined investigative skills and powers of the police, as well as the inquiry skills of the child protection workers - and we put our top workers into CAT Force - in child protection has reaped dividends already. Where we have abuse notifications we are now, for the first time in many years, getting very quick results with charges being laid. That is good news to anyone who wants to send a very clear message out there to the community that no one will tolerate the abuse of our children. I thank those frontline workers in both police and FACS who formed CAT Force. It is probably the most unpleasant task that any government employee has to encounter.
Regarding Multicultural Affairs, the last portfolio responsibility that I carry, Alice Springs has had a rich multicultural history ever since the original Afghan camel herders arrived, and the German missionaries set up at Hermannsburg in the 19th century. This has continued ever since and, nowadays, we have about one in five Alice Springs residents born overseas. The government supports multicultural community in Alice Springs and provides a range of grants to organisations to help them to undertake specific projects and share their culture.
Just this financial year, a total of $128 000 has been provided for Alice Springs-based projects and initiatives. The government provides operational funding to the multicultural community services of Central Australia. I thank Michelle Castagna and her team. We have significantly increased this amount from $34 000 in 2002 to $56 500 this financial year.
Alice Springs has achieved a very high level of skilled migration in the last few years. Since 2003, 280 skilled migrants have come to Alice and have seamlessly integrated into the community. Skilled workers in Alice Springs have come from countries like the Philippines, South Africa, India, the United Kingdom, Fiji and Thailand. They are working in the trades, health, hospitality, tourism and general business sectors.
It is great to see the number of groups actively involved in Harmony Day activities during the month of March. This year, schools such as Sadadeen Primary, St Philip’s College, as well as groups like the Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia and Incite Youth Arts undertook Harmony Day-related activities with sponsorship from the government. I understand the Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia activity was very well attended with about 400 people from a very wide variety of cultural groups.
As well as sponsoring multicultural initiatives in Alice it is important to mention that Eric Sultan was recently recognised for his contribution to multiculturalism with the Charles See Kee Award, our highest award. Eric is a descendant of one of the first Afghan camel train drivers in Central Australia. He has been a very important part of establishing and promoting the Islamic faith in Alice Springs, as well as the contribution of the Afghans in this region. Eric was instrumental in the establishment of the Alice Springs Mosque and has worked tirelessly to share the Afghan culture and the Islamic faith.
The government will continue to support the multicultural community of Alice Springs as we continue to watch them make such a wonderful contribution to the town.
Mr Deputy Speaker, as Minister for Planning, Infrastructure, Family and Community Services, and Multicultural Affairs I commend the Chief Minister’s statement. I pledge to continue to work with the Alice Springs community across its diversity to tackle the challenges that Central Australia faces.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Mr Deputy Speaker, I did not intend to speak today, but I was stirred into action by the Minister for Planning and Lands and some of the things she had to say. The Chief Minister’s statement does list all the good things, and yes, it is great that those things are happening. However, the statement is deficient in many areas and it is what is not said that is important.
I need to correct the minister who said that she would not allow permits for the testing of cars at higher speed limits than we have. A media release has been issued by Test-Trak; they were completely gob smacked by the attitude of this government. The government did not even consult with the industry before making the decision ...
Ms Lawrie: The Chamber of Commerce ….
Mrs BRAHAM: That is not the car testing industry, minister, I am sorry. Alice Springs businesses stand to lose an industry worth millions of dollars after this minister refused a request to implement a permit system for car testing in Central Australia. The tests are not racing cars; they are not acting as hoons on our roads. They are done under strictly controlled conditions with highly-trained and qualified drivers and over relatively short distances. These tests are conducted for the safety of the people involved under the OH&S policies of some of the world’s most respected companies.
This industry has been in Central Australia for 40 years. Never once in those 40 years has there been a safety incident arising from these tests. What does that tell you? It tells you that we have a highly professional group of people coming to Central Australia to do testing in conditions that suit them. With just one stroke of a pen this minister has wiped that all out. The industry attracts many benefits for Central Australia as well as for the car companies themselves. They recognise that. As Test-Trak says, the industry had not been consulted before the introduction of the Territory’s new speed limits which meant that many companies did not allow time to modify their testing plans, especially overseas companies which ship cars to Australia to test. The industry has always maintained strict controls over testing; only a small proportion of the testing involves high speeds.
Mr Gould from Test-Trak said he had met with government, tourism and business groups in Darwin and Alice Springs, and met with widespread support:
- I am disappointed by the statement issued by the minister’s office last week that misrepresented information I had provided about four teams operating in Alice Springs. We had previously explained that teams plan their tests in advance.
As I said, they often bring their cars from overseas. Most rearranged their testing to do speed tests before the new speed limits took effect and that is why they are still here. Car companies are now exploring other options for testing elsewhere in Australia or overseas.
We get all this hype: ‘We are promoting Alice Springs, we are trying to encourage economic development, and Alice is a great place’ but, just by that stupid decision they have wiped out an industry that has been going for 40 years. I do not think government ministers had full details when they made that decision. I suggest that government ministers go back and rethink this ...
Mr Vatskalis interjecting.
Mrs BRAHAM: Because what are you going to do, Minister for Sport and Recreation? Are you going to allow the Finke Desert Race participants to go over the speed limit? Are you going to allow that, Minister for Sport and Recreation? Are you going to allow those participants to go over 130 km/h or will they have to stick to it? These participants are on a major road and you are going to allow them to break the speed limit. The irony of this government is amazing. The fact that they say to an industry worth millions of dollars to the Centre: ‘No, you cannot go over 130 km/h ...
Mr Stirling: Where is the evidence it is millions of dollars? That is what we asked for. We are unable to get it …
Mrs BRAHAM: No, you are wrong, minister. Perhaps you asked the wrong people. It is all there.
Mr Stirling: … provide the evidence.
Mrs BRAHAM: You did not go to the right people. So now we have perhaps the Finke Desert Race in jeopardy, do we? Are we going to have problems with them going over 130 km/h an hour? Come on! If you can give them permits to do that, then you could have given the car testing companies permits to do it. Read the letter that was sent to the minister, might I add, from Test-Trak with all the information that the Treasurer said he did not have. Go and read that.
The Chief Minister in her statement, and the minister who spoke before me, talked about land being open for Alice Springs. Wow! We just had Stirling Heights and we have Mt John. A block of land at Stirling Heights of 800 m - guess how much? $187 000. Here is another one - $165 000. That really helps people in Alice Springs, doesn’t it? It really helps first home buyers; all these people we keep saying should buy their own homes. The price of land is ridiculous. Government is not providing us with land at a reasonable price. I say to the minister: have a look at the local real estate figures, have a look at what is on sale at the moment and tell me it is a good thing that you are now opening up land at Larapinta at $180 000 a block, or at Mt John, which will probably be $280 000 a block.
That is the situation we are caught in. That is where we are stuck and we cannot afford that sort of money just for a block of land and then get our young people to build a home as well. No wonder people are leaving Alice Springs. Who can afford to build and buy at that rate? That is what the Chief Minister did not say in her statement.
I also want to raise with the Minister for Sport and Recreation, now that I have caught his eye: can you give reassurance to the sporting bodies of Alice Springs regarding the decision to move the Alice Springs Masters Games event away from the local organisers and voluntary committees to Major Events Company Pty Ltd? It is a proprietary limited company. Will you guarantee that local sporting associations will not be financially disadvantaged with the transfer of this fantastic event to Major Events Company? Under what guidelines did you make that decision? Will the financial arrangements, which have happened at each Masters Games since 1986, continue? Are you aware that, since 1986, sporting organisations get a portion of each competitor’s entry fees of their sport, and that helps pay them to conduct the games at their respective sporting venues?
I would like to know the answer to those questions, and I raise them now. If I get the chance to ask more than one question, I will certainly ask you that. There is great concern in this town that the Masters Games will be taken over by Major Events, a company that does not have a great deal of regard in this town because of some of the things that have happened in the past. I say to you: you do not want to lose your volunteers; you do not want to lose your local sporting bodies by this move. Give me some guarantee that they are not going to be disadvantaged in any way because of that decision. Perhaps you can justify for me just why that decision was made. I think it is crazy.
I do not see why the Department of Sport and Recreation could not have kept it on. I always thought they did a very good job, and I am quite sure the people in Sport and Recreation were also proud of the job they did. There was certainly a great cooperation between the community and the department. Perhaps you can tell me why that is?
I hope the Minister for Planning and Lands listened to the rally at lunchtime. We did try to present it in way that said: ‘We are concerned citizens’. We did not get out there and make abusive remarks, and yell and scream, except when she made that terrible silly statement of sexual abuse of young children. That was not what we were discussing, and that was really not a very good thing to open up at a rally like that. Some of those people went away from that rally to speak to the minister concerned, and they will be coming back to us. I know the minister has said she would take on board some of their concerns and take it to Cabinet again. If the Chief Minister is sincere in what she says in this statement, by ensuring Alice Springs is a safe place, that there is community harmony and community commitment, then she will listen to those residents because they have raised genuine concerns.
I do not intend to dwell on it for long, but I am quite sure every member in this House heard the custodians, briefly, and felt for them, for the quandary they are in and the position they are placed in. I believe you saw the elderly people from the Old Timers, and I am quite sure you heard the residents from Dalgety Road. Might I say, and I will be a bit political here, that I thought it was ironic that the Leader of the Opposition, suddenly, when this became a public issue, decided that she would support the people against the dongas, although her member for Greatorex, her deputy, had already come out strongly in favour of the dongas, had gone to the local meeting and spoke in front of the Old Timers and said he would support the dongas development being built out at the Tyeweretye Club. I believe he also even put in a submission to the DCA.
It is fairly sad that now the Leader of the Opposition does not even have the member for Greatorex to apologise to the people. She has not condemned him for what he has said. She has just jumped on the bandwagon and kept going with it. If you talk to those Old Timers out there, sorry, member for Greatorex, you have lost a lot of votes, and their faith in you has gone, because you have not retracted those words and you have not sorted it out with your Leader of the Opposition. I met with the Northside Action Group and, as we have said, we will try to keep it bipartisan. I do not want the people out there to be fooled and to be kidded by what is going on. If the Leader of the Opposition was really sincere in what she was talking about, then she would have condemned the member for Greatorex and made him retract those words.
The Chief Minister also talked about grog restrictions and the need for a safer community. If you talk to people, the North Side in particular has suffered most of all through this change in grog restrictions. From a peaceful, harmonious little shopping centre, we have now become the battle ground. It is opposite Hoppy’s Camp, which is probably one of the worse camps in town. Why on earth we do not close it down I will never know. We need to see what is happening. I have parents out there saying they are starting to feel that they cannot send their kids to the shops after school because of the loitering of the drunks around that area. Too many things are happening in that particular precinct. Although I know the police and security are good, as soon as they go, the drunks roll in again. Unfortunately, grog restrictions have not helped. They may have lowered something – I am not quite sure – but they have raised the community’s distress, the level of insecurity, and lack of safety. Quite frankly, before it goes on much longer we need to get rid of them.
We need to open the takeaway shops, if we must have them, at 10 am in the morning, and close them earlier. Do not let them buy their casks at 6 pm to get drunk at night, and then go and bang on the doors of people like the member for Macdonnell seeking refuge late at night. We do not need that. If we are going to have any sense in grog restrictions, then start thinking about the people who have to live with it, and who have to put up with the consequences. Let us stop continually putting bandaids and hoping we are fixing it. Of course, we have gone into the area of let Aboriginal people drink or do not let them drink; let them spend their Centrelink payments, or do not let them spend it by giving them vouchers. Let us make some strong decisions.
If we are going to say: ‘Yes, you can drink’, then at least let us do it in a controlled manner, and stop the abuse that is happening, and the distress that is happening out there in the suburbs. For goodness sake, for their own humanity and survival stop Aboriginal people from killing, bashing and hurting each other. It is not just the rest of the community that is suffering; they are suffering as well. I am sure the member for Macdonnell will agree with me on that.
The Chief Minister also did not mention – and I have mentioned it before - the remand centre. We have a holding centre here that is only meant to hold people for a few days. We do not want our juveniles going to Don Dale. They come back worse than when they went away. Government, if you want to do something for us and get a plus, set up a juvenile detention centre out at Owen Springs. You own Owen Springs. Set up a wilderness program similar to what you had at Wildman River. Let them get out there in the MacDonnell Ranges, clean up the place, plant more trees, clean up the rubbish, do all the things necessary to make that MacDonnell Range park pristine again. There is plenty they could do that would keep them out of mischief. perhaps change their attitude so that when they come back into town they might have a different focus on life. Remember they can be held, I think, for 28 days on remand. Twenty of those days out there in the wilderness, doing it a bit hard and a bit physical, with good help at night to understand what is happening, is not a bad way to go before they get into court. If they have done that successfully, then the magistrate has good reason to say: ‘Okay, you are on the way, this is what you should do’. The diversionary programs we have at the moment do not really work. We need to get something a bit stronger and a bit longer. Chief Minister, when you reply tell me whether you think it would be a good idea to have some sort of detention centre here in Alice Springs. The little holding bay we have at Aranda House is just not sufficient.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I could go on and on, as all of us could, about Alice Springs. I have said enough times that I love this place; it is a great town. There is much to be done. There are really good things happening, and I have mentioned some. However, there are some bad things happening and it is the bad things that we have to modify. It is the bad things that need tough decisions.
I noticed the Chief Minister did not mention once the problem for people on communities. Where is her plan for improving community life out there in the bush? Where is her plan for making sure the facilities out there are such that those people love their homes? There is not one mention in that statement about what government is going to do about the communities in the Central Australia. I would have thought that was a fairly important part of any government which is looking at the Centre and a solution to the problems. It is almost as though they do not exist in this statement. It is almost as though they do not have any influence on Alice Springs – and that is crazy. It is almost as though they do not know where Alice Springs is. You need to formulate a plan; you need to look at how you can foster employment, education, sport and recreation. All those things that make little towns so successful in any part of Australia.
Little towns are good because they gel together and they pull together. Many of our communities are pulling themselves apart. I ask government: why have not you mentioned them in this statement? I say to the Chief Minister: you have forgotten one of the most important elements of Central Australia, and they are the people living in the remote areas. I hope when I hear the members for Macdonnell and Stuart speak, that they have some plans written into their speech to show us that they are thinking of their people and they will plan for them as well.
Mr WARREN (Goyder): Mr Deputy Speaker, I am very pleased to speak in support of the Chief Minister’s statement on Central Australia. I had not been going to speak, but one thing that has really struck me since I have been here - and I have been very encouraged to meet the local people, they have been really great and it has been a really good time to come down here – and really saddened me, and I find it very depressing, is the way the local members, other than the three Centralian members on our side of the House, are talking down Alice Springs, and talking down Central Australia.
Member for Braitling, you just made a very depressing speech. I was not going to speak until I heard you speak. It was a very depressing talk and, really disappointing. I will be quite honest with you. You are an Independent, member for Braitling. When the member for Nelson comes out to speak on behalf of the rural electorate, like I do, he is upbeat about it. The member for Blain knows that. He knows that we are very proud to be rural members. We are always upbeat about it. I come here and all I am hearing is a lot of negatives about Alice Springs. This is a great place. This is an absolutely fantastic place. I have met the local people and have nothing but pride for my fellow Territorians in Central Australia. They are a great bunch of people.
I take up one point that the member for Braitling raised, and it might also have been the member for Greatorex but I will not categorically say it was him. Certainly someone on the opposition bench spoke about people leaving town. This place does not look exactly deserted to me - it really does not. The economy is going along quite well. It looks pretty upbeat to me. Let us take up on that point, because I am only a person who has three degrees, one of them being a Masters Degree in Economics, so I guess I am speaking from maybe an ill-informed point of view. My understanding is that if house prices are going up - which they are, because I checked them. I believe it is a great place to invest here, but if house prices are going up, then supply and demand says that there cannot be people leaving in droves from the place. There must be more people coming in, because supply and demand basically tells you that prices go up because people are buying. If people were leaving town, the prices would be going down but they are not. They are going gangbusters here and that is great for this economy.
I am really pleased when I get around with the members for Barkly, Macdonnell and Stuart to hear the way they are upbeat about the economy in this part of the Territory, which I am also very proud of. It is great being here. I am really proud of Central Australians. I urge you to be a bit more upbeat about it. The member for Braitling is generally pretty upbeat, but do you have different water over there or something? I do not know.
I have been coming here for nearly 30 years and I have seen this place grow. I am a proud Territorian and I am proud of Alice Springs as much as I am of the rest of the Territory. I came here in the early days, and that was when even the CLP was young and innovative and had a bit of zest and things were happening. There was a lot of federal money around as well. Of course, it was federal Labor. That is fine because Labor governments are about social issues. There were a whole lot of things happening. The people are still here and they are fine, but it is lacklustre support that they are getting from the opposition and, unfortunately, from the local Independent and that is a bit sad.
I will tell you about some good times that I have had here ...
Mr Kiely: This is being recorded.
Mr WARREN: I have nothing to be ashamed of, in anything I have done here. This is a great place.
Prior to entering politics, I was a consultant geological engineer for many years ...
Mr Mills interjecting.
Mr WARREN: Yes, I am very proud, member for Blain, to be part of building of the Territory, and that is the Alice Springs to Darwin railway. I was the geological engineer for that project, which was a great project and big part of it was down here. I met some really good people while I was here.
What you have to understand is that you talk it down, but you had an iconic project that started here and was moving north. This is where it all started. This was a vision that had been around for over 100 years, and your government started that and then you were suddenly bagging everything and bagging the place.
We picked up the baton and we ran with it. It was a great project. Tim Fischer, the Deputy Prime Minister at the time, said it was the new Snowy. That is what he called it, and it was. It was a great project. There was a lot of employment out there; many things were happening because of that project and it was a major employer. It provided a major monetary injection into the local economy.
It was at a time when we had just come to power, and it was a great fillip for the whole economy down here, but had it not been for the drive of the people on our side of politics to continue that, it would have faltered. The opposition was clearly out of steam, but we picked it up and ran with it. It was the Labor government that delivered that start-up for the economy down here and it has continued to this day.
We have transferred the economic benefits out of that, as a good Labor government should, into social reforms for the whole of the Territory, but particularly here. It shows when you meet the average people out in the street. There are a few people who hang around the CLP who are a bit negative, but these are not the people we are meeting.
As part of that project, the manpower resources ranged from small townships that picked up work and a lot of people from outside the Territory who learned to appreciate the Territory. The little townships were fed by the economy from down here; local contractors and businesses coming and going all the time and servicing those mobile townships and construction camps. It was really fabulous and there was a real spirit and buoyancy down here.
I first came here for the drilling of the bridges and culverts and, being the geological engineer, I had to do all the preliminary foundation work. The welcoming nature of the people down here was really great and they were really keen to see the benefits of this project. So we had these mobile townships out there and they were really going gangbusters and the economy was booming. It was really great. I spent a lot of time on the earthworks here. I was going up and down the railway. Most of my time was in the area between Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. I got to meet a lot of the roadhouse people along the road, very nice long-term Territorians, and it was really great.
We have had a significant project here. We had the earthworks going on to start with, and that went on for 18 months, almost two years before the actual ballast and rail construction started. We had the bridges and the culverts. In fact, I was heavily involved in the construction of a major cutting on the outside of town here, as I was involved in all the big cuttings along the railway route. I can recall the days of guys sitting down and the banter we had over whether the batter slopes were at the right angles and different things.
These are important stories and it is a pity the opposition members are walking out on this very important story. They will learn a bit about the history of Alice Springs, unfortunately from a northerner, but if they open their eyes they would see it as well.
Anyway, to listen to the banter that went on with the local people getting involved, and also the whole engagement of the community, it was really vibrant. I remember we were working the batter angles out, and we had a bit of back blast at one time. We had to actually widen the cuts, and that really made the cutting safer. No one really appreciated it at the time but they made them safer. There was a whole logistical support that went into this project that I really want to come back to, and that is from the township here and the input from the local contractors and businesses. You can only bring so much from outside; you cannot continue to bring things from outside. You really have to rely on the local community, and they really lifted their game to ensure that they were part of that major project.
I am also indebted and grateful to the principal contractors who actually undertook to engage indigenous employment and training programs as part of that project. Originally, the target was 10%, but it actually grew to about 20%, particularly in the construction of the ballasting and rail construction.
I will side track for a minute, because I remember, after the end of the project, going off to Perth and meeting some of the guys that I had worked with up here. I was very proud to see some of the local indigenous people from the country who had actually continued on and gained skills from that particular project, and that was really great.
Iconic projects like this - and the Labor government is the one that has really carried these through in a strong way - have delivered to the whole of the Territory. Also, of course, down here because this is a very important part of the Territory, as I said - unlike the opposition who seem to want to talk this place down.
Whilst the railway construction is one of the most significant projects to occur in Central Australia, it is by no means the only one. We have had significant mining projects here, road construction over the years, and things like that. Many were funded under the Hawke and Keating years of the Labor government and there was federal monies coming in, so it is good to see that even though we have had to struggle for whatever dollars we get out of the feds, this Labor government is prepared to carry those things on.
When you guys are talking down this place, please think of the people out there who are not talking it down. The opposition is not in touch with the local community, because I am hearing two stories. I am hearing a fairly uplifting, very proud story of local businesses and local people, and a somewhat depressing, negative slant on things by the opposition.
There is another thing I wanted to talk about while I was here, and this is an uplifting story. I had the opportunity last year when I was here to walk the Larapinta Trail. I am a very keen and avid bushwalker when I get the time - you would not think so to look at my shape - but I do actually get stuck into it now and then, and I do lose a lot of weight but it is not the reason I do it. The reason I do it is because I enjoy doing it, and I enjoy doing it in very spectacular, brilliant and amazing, visually enhancing parts of Australia particularly. I have walked the Bibbulmun Track, that is 1000 km, and that took me 49 days, or 7 weeks. It took me 15 days to walk the Larapinta Trail, and that was 15 days of absolute brilliance. It was really great. I was meeting people; many tourists who had nothing but praise about the Central Australian experience, and the good people that they met here, and they way they had been treated well by local people.
This is a tribute to the government now, which has invested quite a considerable amount of money into that trail. There is water every day. You get up and you walk. I know with a pack it is hard, but that is what the whole experience is about. It is not just about getting out there and walking along a flat bit of ground; it is about getting up into the high country at different times and having a look at the whole perspective of the land. Let me tell you, when you are looking at the sunset and the hues and different colours bouncing off the rocks in Central Australia, every five minutes the scenery changes and it is very spectacular. I am very proud that we have such an iconic trail as part of our tourist attractions in the Northern Territory.
When I spoke to hikers out there they told me that this was one of the top 10 hiking walks of the world. These are people from all over the world who were telling me this. Let us not underrate the potential that we have here in things like the Larapinta Trail because it is great. Just even going outside to look out at the hills you get a perspective on the Larapinta Trail and the offerings of Central Australia. It is great.
I would just like to talk a little more about some of the things I have experienced down here. Whilst this is very much an important aspect for the Alice Springs Labor members - and they have done a really fantastic job, and are great ambassadors, I might add, for the area - also the ministers have some important points to make. It is not often that someone like me, as a backbencher, is able to talk on things that are of value in Central Australia. Therefore, what I have been doing is meeting some of the students. The Education minister should be very proud of the bright, cheerful, upbeat ways of the students who are coming in. They are very excited. They are spending some time here. This is a fairly important thing for them, and it is great for them to engage. This government has spent a lot of money and effort in engaging kids in the whole concept of understanding what parliament is about. It is not just in Darwin, it is down here as well. It is also the students, member for Braitling, who are engaged and uplifting around here. You have a good bunch of students down here.
I was also very pleased last night to attend a ceremony with the Education minister where - I think it was about 25 to 30 - senior teachers who had been teaching for at least 25 years received recognition that the minister had prompted - very much so. This is the sort of thing that this government does. We are socially aware - recognising the great value and the effort of the unsung heroes of our professions like the teachers. They should be recognised and that is really important. Often, we go through life and we are not recognised for the value that we input into life. The teachers here are the same as Territorians everywhere. Territorians everywhere are the same. They are upbeat, so …
A member interjecting.
Mr WARREN: I am sorry, I do not pad. I speak to the fact. You want me to get downbeat and speak downbeat like the opposition? No, I will not do that. I refuse to downplay the Alice Springs area.
I just really wanted to stress that this government is uplifting. It is about taking up the challenge and the economy. We are proud of the economy we have here. We are proud on our side of the House. I urge the members on the other side of the House, particularly the Alice Springs members, to not get dragged into this downward spiral of negativity. Just acknowledge that the economy is going very well. Just acknowledge it and play off that. Swing off that and put your bid in for things in the area down here, just like the three local Centralian members who have been very strong advocates for this area here. Get in there and put a bid in for the projects that you need here. Do not sit back and carp and whinge and downplay the whole area. It is not like that.
Alice Springs is a great place, it is a great part of the Territory. I am very proud …
Mrs Braham: What a shame you are not in Cabinet.
Mr WARREN: I am just happy to be able to speak upbeat about Alice Springs. That is cheer enough for me. I would rather be here than sitting over that side and hearing all the depressing - it must be really depressing.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I will conclude my statement and congratulate the Chief Minister on such a fine and uplifting speech on the benefits and the whole uplifting atmosphere of Central Australia. I am proud to be a Territorian member of parliament. I am proud to be speaking in this part of the world, because it really is very, very important for us all.
Mr BONSON (Millner): Mr Deputy Speaker, I was inspired by the member for Goyder. We have heard a lot of negativity over the last day-and-a-half. This man has three degrees, geo-engineering etcetera. If we have a look at the qualifications around this building, out of the 25 members he is arguably the most qualified individual in this House in work experience, educational background and general life experience. That is actually not a criticism of other members. It is just putting this person and the inspirational speech he just gave in context.
I am going to talk about a couple of things. Like the member for Goyder, I was not going to speak on this matter, but I have decided after listening to the doom and the gloom of the member for Braitling’s contribution. I was also here two years ago when I was inspired by the member for Braitling’s attempt to fight off the negativity brought down by the CLP. Unfortunately, this time, the member for Braitling did take a negative context in her speech about some of the issues. This is in contrast to what happened two years ago. I will not spend too long on it because we saw a conservative attempt, I suppose, every time we have brought the Assembly to Central Australia to create a negative feeling towards the NT government.
As we know, there is an historical relationship between Alice Springs and Darwin. Unfortunately, over a period of time, there is a perception of the Berrimah Line. What we have heard over the last three days is a positive contribution by the NT government on what we do in the Northern Territory.
We spend $3.2bn every year in the Northern Territory. For some unknown reason, apparently that $3.2bn is somehow concentrated in the 20 km area of Darwin. I reject that and I reject that for all the members of government. We have three of the best Central Australian representatives the Northern Territory government has ever had. That is not a criticism of the member for Braitling. She does a wonderful job advocating on behalf of the Central Australians. The members for Macdonnell, Stuart and Barkly have, in private meetings away from the media, away from the general public, often spoken at great lengths about the needs of Central Australians, both in Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, and the remote and rural areas of these two great towns.
Historically, the Labor Party has shown with members like Neil Bell, the former member for Macdonnell, and Peter Toyne, the former member for Stuart, that it has produced great advocates for positive change in the Northern Territory for Central Australians. Unfortunately, I cannot say that about the CLP. I listened to some of the comments made in the last hour about the positive and negative contributions of all members. What came to the fore was that every member in this House, except for two, made positive contributions about their electorates. The two members, of course, are the members for Greatorex and Araluen, and it is solely based on political pursuit of power.
Every member of the government talks positively about their electorates and the good things that are happening. The Independent members, the members for Braitling and Nelson, consistently talk about positive things. The member for Nelson is not a member of this government, yet every time he speaks about the issues in Nelson, he does it in a positive light. He makes positive contributions. I understand, through the budget process, that he has even made budget bids. That is how positive he is towards the general feeling in the seat of Nelson.
Yet, we have the members for Greatorex and Araluen constantly talking about negative things happening in Alice Springs. The member for Katherine makes contributions as well and very rarely if at all, would she make a negative contribution about her seat. The member for Blain makes contributions and very rarely does he make negative contributions about the seat of Blain. Yet we have two members, the members for Araluen and Greatorex, who, for political purposes - and we know they cannot sit in the same room together or talk together, and I believe the member for Greatorex should be seriously looking at a leadership challenge, but that is only my opinion …
Mr Stirling: Yes, well keep it to yourself.
Mr BONSON: Keep it to myself? Okay. The point is that we have an opportunity here to sell a positive message. What is government’s role? Government’s role is pretty simple. Every government, whether they are federal or state or territory, has specific roles such as providing eduction and health care for its citizens, providing safety through police and fire and emergency services, etcetera; fundamental foundations of the role of government.
One of the other roles of government is to develop a strong economy. What we have seen under the Deputy Chief Minister, the member for Nhulunbuy, the Treasurer, for the last six years of a Territory Labor government, for the first time, is a very positive tax regime for small businesses, a very competitive housing regime, and very competitive stamp duty. We are, and I stand to be corrected, Treasurer, the lowest taxing small business government in Australia.
Mr Stirling: Yes.
Mr BONSON: This gives people the opportunity to create wealth. Every member on the government side talks positively about the economy in terms of small business, tourism and mining. What we have seen in Darwin is the creation of the feeling that it is good to invest in your house, it is good to buy a property, to go to the shop to spend money on household goods. This has created a feeling of wealth creation. We have seen this mostly in the house prices boom for home ownership in Darwin.
It was interesting to listen to the member for Karama, in her ministerial capacity, talk about the growth of Alice Springs housing. We have the claims that everyone is leaving Alice Springs. The reality is in the Territory from one election to the next, we have a 40% turnover. That is an historical fact due to many factors with people coming here for work or business opportunities, but for a number of different reasons, in Katherine, Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek deciding that because of family in South Australia or Victoria or Queensland, etcetera, they will return home. We do have a 40% turnover, but we have a large proportion of people who are committed Territorians, one of whom is me, being a born and bred Territorian.
We will hear from the members for Macdonnell and Stuart. I have spoken to the member for Stuart about what he should talk about, and one of the issues he will talk about is his family’s connection to Alice Springs. His family’s connection is that it is one of the founding familles of Alice Springs, pioneers, in fact. The Hampton family are well known and well respected throughout the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in Alice Springs. It is no surprise to me that a family like his is now represented in this honourable House.
As years develop and his knowledge of the workings of politics in this House go forward, there is no doubt in my mind that the member for Stuart’s political career will be very positive. With the members for Stuart and Macdonnell, we have people who are born and bred Territorians, who know the issues around Alice Springs and remote areas, who have a cultural and language background, family connections, and have opinions of what they think should be done in Alice Springs.
Over the last three weeks and further back in time, both those members, and the member for Barkly, have strongly advocated in caucus meetings on behalf of the people of Alice Springs with different ministers about what they think should be happening in the Territory.
When we talk about this creation of a perception of positive things happening, the member for Karama in her ministerial role quoted the housing construction price figures. The mean price when we were first elected was $200 000 and the mean price now is $270 000. That works out to nearly a 35% increase in capital housing growth. We have the members for Greatorex and Araluen saying that Alice Springs is going to rack and ruin, that it is a terrible place to live, that you would not want to raise your families here - yada yada yada. Yet people are investing in Alice Springs, they are buying houses in Alice Springs.
I walked passed a real estate agency and had a look at the prices for myself regarding investing in Alice Springs, because I am confident, from what the members for Barkly, Macdonnell and Stuart say about Alice Springs. I am confident to invest in Alice Springs and I am thinking about it. Unfortunately, with people like the members for Greatorex and Araluen, how can I believe that I am going to have a positive return here if the local members are always talking it down? I am being honest. Imagine someone who is not connected to this parliamentary system, who does not know the reality of what is happening regarding growth and positive outcomes happening in Alice Springs. What if you were a down south investor; how would you have confidence if you rang the member for Greatorex’s office or the member for Araluen’s office? You would not have any confidence.
I have some notes here. We have met with hundreds of people and we have had, I would estimate, nearly 2000 people come through already in the last two days. No doubt we are going to get a big turnout tonight, and that is fantastic for democracy. But we have been hearing some of the social problems that we have had to deal with as a government. I believe that some of those social problems come down to education. I have spoken about this over the last six years. What we have is a large proportion of the community, for whatever historical reasons and variety of different reasons, over the last 200 years have not been able to fully participate in the capital system in which we operate. If you were to go to a business owner and say to them that 28% of their business was not profitable, would it be worth investing any profits that you have into that 28% to increase your profits? The simple answer would be yes, whether you are BHP, the National Australia Bank, or you are the small newsagency on the corner street. The reality is, we are a business, we are in the business of government, and we have a population for historical reasons, due to remoteness, language difficulties, racial relations, and cultural background that, unfortunately, are not fully participating in the economy of the Territory.
As a government, we decided six years ago in 2001, as a group, to take a stance on this issue. We decided to invest in that 28%. The former Education minister, the member for Nhulunbuy, and the current minister, have proudly come out and said we are building schools out in remote and rural areas. We are building eight or nine. That is a major capital investment in hoping to get a return. Indigenous education will help with many of the social issues in Alice Springs.
I have spoken about the issue of attendance a number of times. I have to give credit to the member for Daly when he outlined some of the statistical facts about Wadeye which has currently hit the news. The reality is that there are approximately – and these figures can be argued – 1000 kids who could be considered school aged, living in Wadeye. We have on the figures - if I can recall off the top of my head - around 600 to 700 places there, yet we have 150 kids turning up for school.
There are two issues there. One is that is the NT government’s and the Commonwealth government’s responsibility to provide education. Should we be doing that? Yes. Are you trying to do that? Yes. Will we continue to do that? Yes. The other side of it, of course, is Aboriginal people saying: ‘We have places for 600 to 700 kids there but 150 of them go and that is inconsistent. How do we get the other 600 to 700 to go to school?’ This is where it comes down to parents and their families. There is not one Aboriginal member of parliament here who, without their family support, and some level of education, would not have been a success. I cannot think of the degrees that the members for Barkly and Arafura hold. Of course, education helped me achieve a Law degree. The Law degree taught me how to teach myself. It taught me processes about a mainstream society that, unfortunately, indigenous people have a problem participating in. However, people are breaking through that ceiling.
The light on the hill, for instance, and what I have heard about in Alice Springs. In 2002, I went to the Clontarf Academy and spoke to Gerard Neesham and Derek Kickett, famous names in AFL. I saw the program run. I came back and spoke to the then Sports minister about that issue. It took four or five years behind closed doors to boom it up, because there were different issues about funding, etcetera. I am very proud that the current Education minister said: ‘Yes, this is a good program; it is a fantastic program’.
The success rate of students attending that - and I understand the figure is 150 already. I met with them today. I am going to talk to the young men on Friday. They train twice a week. They get to play footy games and get promotional gear such as shirts and clothing if they turn up to school. The success rate in Western Australia with a similar Aboriginal community is 80% of kids going through the program make Year 12. Unbelievable! Eighty per cent of this group get work. Gerard Neesham and I became friends over the last five years. I must admit the last time I was in Perth I rang him up and got tickets to the Dockers game. The reality is this: he believes in Aboriginal people like we do, and Aboriginal people believe in football. Therefore, we need to encourage it. Whether we understand all the reasons why – I have my own theories on why we do – the reality is Aboriginal people, particularly young men, are attracted to footy and proving themselves on the football field. Guess what? We are going to use this carrot to get them into school, because 99% of them are not going to make it to the AFL, but 80% of them, on these figures, can make it to Year 12. That is what it is all about.
We heard the ministers talking about the town camps and the educational strategies happening in these town camps. The reality is that we have Australian citizens, first recognised in the referendum some 40 years ago as having a right to get education. The reality is, because of resourcing, the NT government historically had decided not to invest in remote areas. Well, this government has decided to. That is where our main strategy has been - in education. That has been led by a member whose electorate is in the bush, in the middle of Arnhem Land, where 80% of the people are indigenous and has seen some of the issues. It was picked up by a northern suburbs member in Darwin who said: ‘This is not just the right thing to do; it is the only thing to do’.
We have promised 10 000 new apprenticeships and traineeships in a jobs plan, a jobs plan we simply never had. Where is the positive contribution by the CLP in anything we hear about in Alice Springs and Darwin? It is all negative, negative, negative, trying to run negative campaigns to win the next election. We are about community building, about nation building, about Territory building. I love saying this word - statistics. Statistics are very important in proving the methodology of what we want to do into the future. The simple truth is that the …
Mr HENDERSON: Mr Deputy Speaker, I move that an extension of time to allow the member for Millner to conclude his remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr BONSON: I thank the Leader of Government Business for that extension because I was beginning to rush my contribution. As you can see I have a little to talk about and I would like to talk about some of the famous statistics we have in apprenticeships and trainees currently in training in Alice Springs. In 2001, when we took over from the CLP, we had 402 people in training. We have now 606, nearly a 33% increase from my mathematics, but I will stand corrected on that. Indigenous people in training: Alice Springs, 90, sounds like a small number, but 90 is better than nil in 2001 under the CLP. Now we have 142. My mathematical calculations is that is about 60%, and I stand corrected if that is wrong. Women in training: in Alice Springs, 112 under the CLP in 2001; 162 in 2007. That is roughly 50% to 60% increase again. Traditional trade apprentices in training by region: Alice Springs, 177 in 2001; in 2007, 310 - fantastic. Traditional trades in apprenticeships and in training: Alice Springs in 2001, 177; in 2007, 310. That breaks down to 8.7% in mechanical and fabrication engineering; 25% in automotive; 28% in construction; 25% in electrical; and 11% in food.
What we have seen over the last few years is a concerted effort by a group of individuals known as the Northern Territory government. That has been led by the members based in Central Australia, including the members for Macdonnell and Stuart, and the member for Barkly as a minister.
I will not talk further, even though I could talk for hours about my relationship with Alice Springs in terms of football trips, basketball trips, family connections, inter-marriages, etcetera. There is no doubt that there is a proud feeling of competition between Alice Springs and Darwin on the sporting field and sometimes that flows on into belief of how people have been treated. The reality is Alice Springs’ tourism, construction, health, education, and employment is one of the highest priorities of this government.
Madam Speaker, in closing, the reality is that 23 of the 25 members of this parliament make positive contributions about their electorates. We have two members, based in the urban areas of Alice Springs, the members for Araluen and Greatorex - unfortunately, one is the Leader of the Opposition – and all they want to do is create negative perceptions about their home city. If we could work together with them, we could find greater solutions. Everyone in government has put out their hand in love and compassion and said: ‘Come on, let us walk hand in hand down the Todd Street Mall’. But where are they? Where is the opposition? It is disappointing that they are not in this House to hear this contribution.
Ms SACILOTTO (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, as a former resident of Alice Springs, I am very happy to be back in the Centre. I have such fond memories of living in this special town and the remnants of that time have been friendships forged and maintained. I hear regularly from the people I worked with and had friendships with in Alice Springs. I get to Alice Springs as often as I can. I enjoy the town and I enjoy the people who are here.
I was pleased yesterday morning to see so many local business people using the Alice Springs sittings of parliament as a productive way of highlighting issues which have serious impacts on their lives and businesses. It is their right and responsibility to bring these issues to the forefront, and I commend them for the commitment to the town. That was shown loud and clear by business people taking time out of their day, money making time, and closing their businesses to demonstrate the level of concern and passion they have for the town.
There is a problem. There are concerns, and this has been recognised not only this week, but in the past by our Chief Minister and all ministers. There is work going on. There is a plan. Our own Chief Minister in this House yesterday said Alice is one of her most important major projects. How can business help? Business is going well in Alice Springs. Talking to old friends and old business colleagues, house prices are going up, and things seem to be going well in the economy. Business can help by employing apprentices and trainees. How many apprentices and trainees have been employed by Alice Springs business? We have heard from the member for Millner, and that is fantastic, but there are more young people out there with time on their hands and untapped talents. We also need to ask ourselves how many indigenous apprentices and trainees have been employed by Alice Springs businesses. I urge Alice Springs business to investigate incentives to employ apprentices and trainees and to tap into the largely untapped resource particularly of young people, but of young indigenous people as well.
As a former small business owner-operator, I understand the importance of small business to the Territory in both Darwin and Alice Springs. Small business is a major employer for the Northern Territory and, as such, needs to be nurtured and supported. Our Business minister has told us of some of the incentives for small business and larger business in employing trainees and apprentices, and I urge all Alice Springs businesses, if they are able, to employ a young person in their business.
This town is a strong town and has been built over many years by families that are still here, still working and still have very strong ties to Alice Springs and the Territory. Some of these families are the Loy family which still own businesses and employs people in both Alice Springs and Darwin. The Sitzler family is still employing, still building, still providing a strong presence in Alice Springs and Darwin. I acknowledge Mr John Cameron and people like Paul Edgar, whose very early business, Eager Beavers, was one of the first supermarkets in Alice Springs.
I had a chance to speak to Mr Andrew Doyle, one of the principals of Frampton’s First National, who was out the front yesterday. A former colleague and someone I count as a friend, he has been here for a long time and he has a passion for Alice Springs. He loves the place, as I did when I lived here. He wants to bring his family up here and he wants to continue working here. The economy is such that business is good for him. His business is growing, he has new premises, he employs many people in Alice Springs and is a serious contributor to the economy and the employment in Alice Springs. I commend Andrew for his contribution to Alice Springs.
When I first came here in 1996, I was only here for two years so I can hardly claim to be a local, although I do have fond feelings for the place. There was a good feeling in the town generally, although there were the same issues at that time in varying degrees. It does seem to work on a cyclical basis. There were other issues at the time, such as employment. I was an employee of the NT government at the time, on maternity leave, and came to Alice Springs and wanted to work in the government in Alice Springs. At the time, there had been a re-JESing of quite a few positions across the government. I believe it was called the Efficiency Review; the ERC Committee had gone through. Some people in the government sector had lost their jobs at the time, and it was quite difficult. There were many people who were displaced from their positions and did not have a position as such. I turned to the private sector, and it was good to work in the private sector. It was interesting and I learned many of my business skills there which I took to my own small business.
At the time, in 1996, the economy was not going so well. Employment was not as good as it is now. It has picked up a lot since then, and although there are many issues and many concerns which are totally legitimate, as far as the economy goes, real estate – at the time I was in real estate, and was one of the salespeople who sold some of the properties at 111 Bloomfield Street - was going for about $97 000, and they were trickling away but they certainly were not running. I noticed the other night in a real estate window that they were going for around $250 000 now. That has certainly been a good increase in the price of real estate.
There is also the issue of land release in Alice Springs. One of the business leaders, at a function in Darwin the other night, said to me that he feels that if the town is to grow, there needs to be some land released so that people can have their first home and grow a family here. I believe that needs to be worked on, and I know that the minister is working on that at the moment.
I am very confident that there are many things happening. Although they are not to fruition at this point, you need a plan, and you need to action it in a sensible and staged way. Nothing can happen overnight to change all the concerns and all the issues, but with a steady implementation of sensible planning, the issues that are concerning people at the moment will reduce. Alice Springs, as far as the economy and the people and the strength of this town go, will prevail through these difficult issues.
The Chief Minister speaks very passionately about Alice Springs. Yesterday, we were all accused of not being in Alice Springs. The Chief Minister was absolutely right. We represent different electorates. I represent Port Darwin. Obviously, you would not expect to see me in Alice Springs every week. The members who are here - the members for Macdonnell, Stuart, Greatorex, Braitling and Araluen - have an absolute responsibility to be positive about this town and to be helpful on issues, to be representing their communities. The members for Stuart and Macdonnell are very passionate advocates for their electorates. I believe we need to see some more passion from the other members. The member for Braitling speaks quite passionately, but there could be more passion from the other side of the Chamber, and that will make the difference. People want their member to represent them in a strong and passionate way about the Alice Springs area.
In closing, Alice Springs has been such a strong town for so many years that it really can be again. I call on the members for Greatorex, Araluen and Braitling to stand up and to support their community by being their strong voice for Alice Springs.
Debate adjourned.
MOTION
Note Statement - Achieving Better Educational Outcomes
Note Statement - Achieving Better Educational Outcomes
Continued from 22 February 2007.
Mr NATT (Primary Industry and Fisheries): Madam Speaker, I support the minister for Education’s statement. There are challenges faced by this government in taking education and training to a higher level. I am proud to say that we have met those challenges head on and, indeed, taken education to a higher level. This is due to the hard work and commitment of this government and the teachers and school staff.
I am pleased to see the middle school reform moving ahead. My son came through the middle school process in Adelaide and was lucky enough to remain in the system when he came to Darwin to attend Kormilda College. The stages of middle schooling most definitely helped him throughout his schooling years. My son is very much a chip off the old block; he would rather have kicked a football than read a book or studied. When I went to school many years ago, I went through the old system - primary school to Year 7, and then high school to Year 12. The transition to high school was daunting, with little or no choice offered, and little or no support provided. That is the way it was - like it or lump it. There was no choice, we had to like it.
In preparing my reply to the minister for Education’s statement on education, I cast my mind back to when I moved from primary school to high school. I remember back to the time and the range of personalities, characteristics and maturity of my classmates. It was quite vast, as you can imagine.
Unlike my road to high school, my son was fortunate to experience a smooth transition. My wife and I were extremely pleased to know that the middle years schooling process helped him immensely. Although he may have had a few scary moments, his transition through those years was smooth. His issues during his development stages were catered for and, importantly, were understood. He had the room to move and expand into the wonderful young man he is today.
I applaud the previous minister for his decision to undertake the step into middle schooling. I congratulate the current minister for his passion for ensuring there will be better secondary outcomes for our students. The Northern Territory schooling outcomes were the poorest in the country, and this record is simply unacceptable. Something had to be done to provide a greater focus on the different needs of students in the secondary system. I understand this will take a few years to fall into place, but the important issue is that we have accepted that a change was needed in the system, and we have made that change. The new system will, over time, cater for the young adolescents. It is a far cry from the old system. The students now have an opportunity to move through their formative years in a comfortable environment - something they would not have had if we had persisted with the old system.
As part of the role into middle schools I am heartened to hear that 20 new school counsellor positions have been created. This will be a comprehensive resource for the secondary school system to cater for the social and, importantly, the emotional needs of our young people. These young people have to contend with the growing awareness of themselves and their peers, being asked to take greater responsibility, dealing with peer group values and view, and many other significant changes. I understand counsellors want to undertake active consultation with young people, and also consult and interact with parents and families to identify the needs of the person and potential assistance outside of the system. This is a fantastic innovation for the young people of the Territory.
Some young people may experience difficulties in sharing and discussing their thoughts, views and challenges with a parent. Having a counsellor at hand during times of social and emotional crisis will be a great help. Confidence can be gained over time and a rapport struck. This will mean students will have sounding board and a support mechanism to work through their needs.
Sadly, behavioural issues in today’s student population seem to me to be slowly increasing. This is, obviously, due to a number of factors. I have witnessed it firsthand while employed in my previous role at the AFLNT. In the junior grades, emotions do run high as they would in any sporting event, whether playing or as a spectator. The retaliatory nature of some responses to a bump from other players is quite extraordinary. Many players react to the so-called indiscretions with a violent act, which is quite disturbing.
A focus for addressing behavioural issues at school is great news for many teachers, school staff and parents and, of course, fellow students. The more important issue with employment of the counsellors is working with the students and their issues so they can refocus to achieve a positive outcome.
Another aspect of the Better School process that this government is undertaking, in which I have a great deal of interest, is the expansion of a range of vocational exercises and VET curricula. Having come from a mechanical background, I am keen to see that the importance of our trades is recognised. With the business, building and construction industry enjoying a wonderful time at the moment we need to ensure a skilled workforce foundation is created to face future needs. One way to ensure that our trades are supported is to encourage young students in their last years of secondary school into a trade. To ease them into various sections of industry, the VET program gives them the start and confidence they need.
My son is a prime example of the success of this program. While in Years 11 and 12 he entered the VET program visiting various industries on work assignments to broaden his understanding and insight on his future working life. On the back of this experience, he decided to take a step into the workforce as an apprentice in the field of carpentry/construction – a direct result of the confidence and interest gained in the VET program. I understand that planning has been finalised for the 2007 In-schools Workshops for VET coordinators throughout the Northern Territory. The planning workshops will inform and enhance the VET coordination practices and better facilitate and coordinate the operation of the program. The aim of the project is to offer a more relevant curriculum to the senior students of secondary schools by expanding vocation expertise and VET curriculum.
The Expertise Establishment Grants Program will assist the schools to work with their local communities to utilise skills the students have learned from VET programs. The new School to Work Transition Strategic Plan 2007 to 2009 is, I understand, to be implemented in the first half of this year. The strategy will fulfil the aims of this project including initiatives to increase the involvement of business and industry of VET in Schools. I am extremely pleased to see these initiatives implemented to assist our young Territorians. These initiatives will improve the delivery of vocational learning to the VET students which equates to capable skilled young people in the workforce supporting the future of business in the Northern Territory.
The Palmerston High School has a very successful program working under the VET scheme. It has established a Palmerston Future Charter Partnership Agreement with local businesses which provides avenues of work to the Palmerston High School VET students. The program is a wonderful success story. It has grown each and every year and the interest shown by the local businesses is extremely gratifying. Businesses in Palmerston and beyond know that the future is in training our young Territorians. I thank them for their continued support and also congratulate the Palmerston High School for showing such initiatives to ensure many of its students have the capacity to broaden their horizons and provide their much needed stepping stone into the workforce.
Another program I am extremely excited about involves two schools in my electorate. The Driver Primary School and the Palmerston High School will trial the new computer technology Student Learning Profiles and Portal Services. I understand this program will be rolled out this month and it is an initiative to bring the classroom into the home and make schools virtually available 24 hours a day. Any initiative to enhance and engage students to improve their educational outcomes is to be applauded. To have such a tool that will provide teachers and students with access to a digital environment where they can access work and online learning systems is fantastic. I understand that later in the year the system will be upgraded to give parents access to important information about their child.
The portal will also allow access for parents to go online to view enrolment details, attendance and achievement details of their children. This will assist parents to monitor and become even more involved in education. I see the sharing of information between teachers and their students a vital link to assist the learning needs and plans of the student. The Martin government remains committed to ensuring that students have access to modern technology to complement their learning needs. I am extremely pleased that the Palmerston High School and the Driver Primary School are part of this pilot program.
I welcome the minister’s statement and congratulate the department and the school staff for their proactive approach to the new education system. Something had to be done. Our younger population was suffering under the old system of subject-centred teaching and learning. Our students were not achieving the results at a satisfactory level when you consider the national average. Standards across the Territory varied greatly, and there was no consistency in the staging of schooling. By moving it into the new era, literacy and numeracy standards and results will improve. Attendance and retention will also increase, and students and parent satisfaction will rise.
The most significant results will be seen in the increased student numbers completing their NTCE to a satisfactory standard in the hope we can improve our national standing. As has been stated, there is much more work to be done and we are on track to deliver better schools and better outcomes to our young Territorians as they undertake their important educational journey. I am pleased to support and commend the minister’s statement to the House.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, I support the statement and recognise that, amongst the many highest priorities of this current government there is one high priority that I will support and recognise as the highest priority. That is education and the quality of education. It is for that reason I support the statement.
For those churlish members opposite if I make some comments which you may sense to be slightly critical, recognise that I have a role in this parliament to run the other side of the argument and perhaps to look underneath the spin and gloss to ensure that we have a fair argument and a fair deal for Territorians and, in fact, we have the truth.
There are many aspects of this statement that I and the CLP will support. I will use the words contained within the statement which indicate that we are together in this. On page 9, the minister said:
- I believe it is incumbent on us all, including me as minister …
… to accept this as a huge challenge.
It is indeed:
- It is a challenge that brings with it the reality that we cannot afford to have a ‘business as usual’ approach.
Status quo is not acceptable; improvement is essential.
The results, of which we are all aware, demand that kind of approach. There may be tough debates that we will have. It is a little difficult in this parliament because it often descends into defending personal positions and you think it is about yourself. It is not about you; it is about the children and families out there. It is a time for some tough debates, philosophical debates, discussions of the real matters that concern families that will unlock the potential of our young people, and to deal honestly with the problems with which we are faced.
Because I have limited time, I cannot go through it all, but to satisfy members opposite there are aspects of this statement I genuinely support without a doubt. I support the sentiment of it as well, but there are some important questions that need to be answered. As a member of the opposition, I have asked genuine questions on a number of occasions and received political, defensive responses. I hope that is not the case because we are dealing with something that is a very serious matter and it does require some deeper discussion.
My first question is whether the current minister for Education, when becoming the Chief Minister, will he retain this portfolio? If the answer is no, obviously there is one amongst us who has the academic qualifications to take that role, and I am sure that the minister knows to whom I refer. It is an important question because if it is to be the highest priority of government, it may well be the case that the Education minister should also be the Chief Minister.
I move on. If you are going to be the minister for Education, you must truly be the minister for Education and not be trapped by the department of Education. There is a distinct difference between being the Education minister and being the minister for the department of Education – a colossal difference – and you need to lift and inspire this debate. I urge the honourable member to ensure that we contain reference to the whole sector when we are speaking of education, because much of the hard work, leadership, and achievement that has occurred in education, particularly in indigenous education, has occurred in the non-government sector. In fact, I cannot find any reference to the non-government sector in this statement. That underlines and underscores my deeper concern that we are not talking about education. We are talking about programs and policies that are originating from the department of Education. We need to lift and inspire, and we need to talk about education as a concept, as an idea, as a vocation, as something much higher than bureaucracies and departments and spending of money.
If the title of it is to gain some strength, being we are to improve outcomes, obviously we want to improve outcomes. But what is an outcome in education? What is an outcome, and how is that outcome to be measured? We can say we want to improve outcomes. We do. But we are not quite sure what an outcome in education actually is. We need to be very specific about what is the outcome that we are endeavouring to measure. Is there such a thing? In fact, it is very difficult, because the current curriculum is so abstract that it is very difficult to find the means to accurately measure an outcome. They are subjective and vague. As a result, no one really knows what kind of real academic progress is occurring in education. We see, generally, the achievement is expenditure, when really we should be able to find accurate and quality means to actually measure an outcome. Unless we can identify and define what an outcome is in education, we do not really know whether there is real academic, intellectual improvement.
The minister spoke of middle schools, and I ask: what evidence is referred to in the statement when claiming that a move to middle schools structures increases learning outcomes? It would be a difficult thing to argue. I know there is a sense of change and there is a benefit in these structures. I was a practitioner, I started a middle school, and there are some benefits in it. But you ask the harder question – how do you actually measure an academic outcome, a learning outcome? What evidence is that statement based on? I ask the minister to respond to that. How is a learning outcome actually measured? This is critical. Otherwise, we make statements and we see an achievement as expenditure. What indicators will be measured to gauge educational improvement? What actual measures? Will it be a feeling? Will it be subjective? Who knows? Or will it be something that you can measure? One clear measure would be attendance at school. Another clear measure is what kind of academic progress is seen.
There is debate about performance pay for teachers, a position I cannot completely agree with the current federal minister on because it is difficult to actually measure academic progress in real terms. Then there is the debate that comes in on the side for members opposed to the federal government’s position that it is going to be elitist. Not at all. You can have progress from a very low base, and there are some of our most outstanding teachers who bring change and improvement to someone, or a cohort, or a class, who have had great difficulty and their achievement may be, in fact, more significant than the achievement of those capable students who are just treading water, passing the time.
We do not actually have the means to accurately measure learning. Really, we do not have the tools to do so. That is the point of the debate that is going on around this country about objective or outcomes-based education - a debate I tried to bring on in the Chamber in our last sittings which, clearly, by the response, the minister misunderstood. It is a debate that is the most serious of debates. If we want to change education, we need to understand what we are talking about when it is outcomes-based education. It is vague, abstract, a burden to teachers and a confusion to parents. We need to bring back standards and clarity into education and provide teachers with clear tools and proper road maps so that they know where they are going, and parents understand how their children are going - and not be afraid of having a standard that, if a child reaches that standard, fine, but if they do not, we know where we can strengthen them to help them reach that standard.
There are alternative pathways. We do not have that with an outcomes-based approach to education. Everybody wins but, secretly, they are unsure whether they are achieving or not …
Mrs Braham: You are making good sense, Terry.
Mr MILLS: Sorry?
Mrs Braham: You are making good sense.
Mr MILLS: Everybody has a general sense that we are doing stuff in education. We have a vague and abstract approach where we think an achievement is expenditure. Then government will say: ‘We are spending more money on education then ever before’, when, in fact, the expenditure of money is on timetables, structures and buildings. That is not a spend on education; that is a spend on something else. A spend on education to produce a real outcome is something you can actually measure in learning - real learning - something a parent can understand. ‘How is my kid going at school?’ You have real information to say: ‘I need to prop them up a bit. I need to help them at home with their reading’. At the moment, there is a general sense that we are all doing stuff in education, and there is a general sense of confusion. I believe we have to change direction.
The facts are clear and we have to do more than just skate over the service. A publication which just came into my office - the minister would have seen this I am sure - ICEEM Publications in Education No 2 - Participation in Year 12 mathematics across Australia 1995 to 2004. I got that before I came here to Alice Springs. It shows at the highest level in mathematics, for example - it talks about elementary, intermediate and advanced maths - the percentage of students in the Territory on an equivalent basis, who are studying advanced maths is 3.2% and it is declining. The national average in advanced maths - just as one marker; and there will be defences made of this but it just one indicator - is 11.7%.
They issued a media release after the benchmark results come out - benchmark results are a basic standard. To achieve a benchmark is just to make the grade; to be in the ballpark. We have to recognise that and be brutally honest about it. That is why I hope the words written in this statement actually have more weight to them that just another statement, as it is deadly serious.
When we have 22 out of 27 benchmarks not achieved by Territory students, we cannot afford to spend time talking backward and forward across the Chamber about ‘27 years of this’, and the great and wonderful things the Martin Labor government has done. For goodness sake, we will finish that silly debate and the issues will remain unaddressed. As we see the results come through year after year, they will decline, and then we will mask them with press releases and the altering of programs to hide the fact that, to our own political shame, kids are failing, and we are failing them. Let us put our attention where it should be.
Another important point which must be raised in this response is that I accuse the minister of walking both sides of the fence on a very important matter; that is, attendance at school. We are starting to see a change of language right across the country. When I first spoke to Brendan Nelson about the need to be tougher - and you are tough not because you want to hurt but because you want to help. If parents are neglectful in choosing not to send their children to school, we cannot abide that any longer. Brendan Nelson, at that time, was a bit wary of taking that robust approach. However, I am so concerned I believe we must make a stand. We cannot just say it and then offer an excuse for not actually implementing it in a robust manner. We have to do it. It is a time for no status quo any more. It is a time for serious action to arrest a change.
Eighteen months ago there was a statement made, and the cornerstone of this statement made by the former minister were these words:
- I would like to see contracts made explicit and hanging on the wall in a place of prominence in the school …
talking about indigenous schools:
- … something that will be continually referred to and reinforced as the direction of the school. For new teachers coming into the school, it will be the first document that they encounter. The subjects covered by community engagement need only be limited by the expectations of the participants and the recognition of achieving the possible, not setting impossible tasks.
I cannot agree more, but how many of those agreements have been brokered? How many of those documents hang on the walls in the communities? How much of this work has, in fact, been done? The excuse that is given when we are urged by the popular debate that we need to change our language - and that is to be tougher on parents who do not send their kids to school - will say we do not want to raise a big stick, we want to get into some sort of agreement with these communities. Eighteen months ago, that was the course embarked upon; 18 months later do we have any of these contracts?
I know there are good families out there who want someone to stand up and support them and to stare down the other side who would much prefer to take that money from their child’s education, from their own future, and do something else with it that is not welfare. They are demanding someone to stand up and support them. I was at Wadeye and those of us who were at Wadeye and heard those indigenous teachers nearly brought us to tears. They need people to stand up for them and take the tough line, and then we will see things turn around. They will know that we mean business.
As my time runs to a close there is another important matter about which I must question the minister. In the statement, and in defence of the Northern Territory curriculum framework, the minister said it is a quality curriculum, and it is both robust and defensible. He said:
- This was the key finding of the independent, external evaluation by Mr Bruce Wilson, Chief Executive of Curriculum Corporation, Australia’s only national curriculum organisation
I hereby formally request a copy of that independent, external evaluation by Mr Bruce Wilson because it is important. My suspicions are this: Mr Bruce Wilson is, of recent times, a critic of outcomes-based education. I am very interested to know what is the nature of this external evaluation.
It is time for change. There have been some very strong and very important debates that have occurred around our country. Parents and teachers are concerned. We can no longer just play the game and to run the tune of the department. I am not running down the department but we have to make sure of how this system works. We are elected to lead. We are the ones to take the risks. We are the ones to break a new path. The department desires that kind of leadership. It is going to be tough because we can skate around this for ever and a day, and we will swan around this parliament, and we will leave it and we will not, in fact, have made a difference.
There has been some superficial change. There have been some meaningful programs put in place. I am not taking that away but there is a deeper resolve that is required and some stronger debates that must occur. You will have the support if you actually move a little deeper in some of these discussions. We want to see change.
When the reference is made to holding schools accountable, that sounds great but how is that going to be effected? You talk about that in the statement. I could give you some specific measures of how to measure how schools are going. Did the kids turn up? You should have that. How many have turned up? What is the quality of the curriculum in that school? It should be able to be assessed independently. Did the kids learn anything? You should be able to measure whether the kids are leaning stuff at school or not. Are they improving over time? You should be able to track these kids and see how they are improving. We have a curriculum that does not allow that. It is a broad and general curriculum.
Those dear teachers who are working so hard, are those teachers properly resourced? Are they participating in appropriate in-servicing? Most importantly, and I deliberately left this until the end, are our remote teachers. We must make a greater and more courageous effort to support them ...
Dr LIM: Madam Speaker, I move that an extension of time pursuant to Standing Order 77 in order that my colleague may conclude his comments.
Motion agreed to.
Mr MILLS: For teachers who are working in remote areas, it is critical that we find a structure and that systems are in place. We only have to look to Western Australia where they have found ways of valuing and strengthening that dedicated service in a remote location. They are the places where you need to have a teacher stay longer. If we talk about tourism in terms of extra nights in a bed, the extra terms and years, the length of service in the bush, is more valuable than anything. There are ways of honouring, respecting and valuing that remote service. We can ill afford to have a system in place that does not properly value that service. There are systems in place and I urge the minister to consider them. It will be a courageous debate around the Cabinet table, particularly when considering Treasury divvying up amounts, but if we are serious we have to go there. We have to back it up with sound systems to ensure that parents send their kids to school.
It is simply not acceptable to say: ‘We have written a letter to Mal Brough so it is in his court. Do not look at us’. That is not really good enough and it is not quite honest because there is the capacity, if you are serious, in your own act to show that you mean what you say. I know that in previous estimates, the question was asked by the concerned opposition, the Labor Party at that time, of the government: how many parents have been fined for not sending their kids to school? That was often asked. You will have the same answer today. The same capacity is there. The positions have changed. The language has changed. They are saying: ‘Yes, we think that parents must take that responsibility but it is Mal Brough’s responsibility’.
If you are deadly serious, there is something you can do about it. You have tons of advisors. Maybe the money that you give the parents at the start of the year could be tied up with it. There is something that can be done, surely. Do not give me the ‘Yes, but it is going to be hard’. Find a solution and find a way of implementing that while Mal Brough looks at a letter that has been written to him. I urge that kind of attention.
Finally, because I have had the grant of an extension of time, in terms of remote service, we are still having the debate in opposition, but I am a believer in bilingual education. We need to show some rigour in considering the application of bilingual education in our remote locations. There are many communities that were supported by the Labor government when they were in opposition on that very question. It has merit and must be revisited in a very sensible way, but not without the issues and the frameworks that I have already discussed regarding a quality, rigorous standards-based education.
You cannot have a loose, subjective, broad curriculum and a bilingual approach. That is why the Accelerated Literacy Program is so good: it is clear. If you add to that clarity and that focus in curriculum a bilingual approach, you will start to make progress. Add to that length of valued service of teachers in remote locations, genuine consequences for parents who do not send their kids to school, and genuine rewards and support for those who do the right thing, then you can turn it around.
You have to do those things. You have to provide that leadership. You have to make a decision and do more than present a paper. That is good, there is lots of merit in it, but we are requiring change, real change. I take the minister’s words seriously when he said:
- It is a challenge that brings with it the reality that we cannot afford to have a ‘business as usual’ approach. Status quo is not acceptable; improvement is essential.
For eight months now, the Leader of the Opposition has seen education as a very low portfolio. She has referred to the change in portfolio responsibilities as a demotion - so that the new minister actually got a demotion for getting education. I have it in Hansard on dozens of occasions where the Leader of the Opposition has referred to education as a junior portfolio, as a demotion from other portfolios that the current minister formerly held. That is the stark contrast in opinions about education from the CLP opposition and the Labor government.
What is important, in this first statement of the minister, is his focus on education. He came into this portfolio with his eyes wide open, and also building on the great work done by the former minister, the member for Nhulunbuy. What the Martin Labor government noticed is that, without the core education level, nobody can ever succeed in this modern world. Gone are the days of Sydney Kidman who, at the age of 13, ran away with five shillings in his pocket on a one-eyed horse. He went on to become, as we all know, a drover and built a huge pastoral empire. Nobody can do that now in this modern economy and this modern world.
Education means success. It means a better society. It means a better local and regional economic advantage. It also means you can maintain and care for the environment that we live in.
The former speaker, the shadow minister, talked about a range of things, but he was basically saying: ‘You are not doing anything’. I challenge the shadow minister: you came out with a whole range of ideas. Have you ever written, or sat down with the Education minister with those ideas, to talk to him about it? I do not believe you have at all. He also put a challenge to the minister, whether he would actually retain his portfolio if he became Chief Minister. Well, perhaps the challenge goes back to the member for Blain: when he becomes the Leader of the Opposition, will he maintain Education …
Mrs Miller interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: You are supporting him, member for Katherine? Well, you only have to get one more. It is up to you, member for Greatorex.
The minister mentioned the challenges that happen, and the churn that happens with children, and particularly with ADF families. There are other challenges. The challenge that will specifically affect my electorate is that the regional and remote isolation poses increasing pressures on the Northern Territory government in providing an acceptable level and standard of education. We have a complex arrangement, such as to the extreme of the mission schools agreement; we have single classroom/one teacher schools hundreds of kilometres from regional centres; we have schools which are isolated by floods up to five months during the year; we have schools located in communities where unemployment rates are over 90% and there are associated problems with that; and communities where English is not the dominant language in the whole region. Also, the sheer cost of providing maintenance, renovations or upgrades is high and is also increasing.
As the minister mentioned, the previous CLP government ran down the Northern Territory budget prior to 2001. It totally neglected the education infrastructure in the bush. The neglect of the CLP administration in handling of our taxpayer money has been a massive bill of catch-up in the bush.
The situation in our education system in the Northern Territory is fairly stark. The Northern Territory is five percentage points below the South Australian level. South Australia, of all the states, is the lowest. That is the stark difference in all that.
The minister also talked about distance education. The Katherine School of the Air is a fine institution and provides services throughout my electorate. I have visited them on numerous occasions. It has a current enrolment of over 200 students; 105 of whom have access to the IDL system, which is Interactive Distance Learning. There is a studio available there. There are 105 students who have access at the moment and 45 students are coming online in the near future. So, 150 students will have access to the IDL system.
The Katherine School of the Air’s principal, Jen Coad, is part of a highly-skilled team that the government supports: 22 teachers delivering an education program to students and their families in the bush. Katherine School of the Air has embraced the middle schools approach and, this year, it saw the start of middle schools program with the first enrolment of Year 8 students, and 2008 will see Year 9 students included as part of the program. This gives remote families the opportunity to keep children close at home and still have access to a comprehensive education. Katherine School of the Air has a dedicated middle years team working with alternative pathways for students to retain and engage them in the school. Excitingly, this year will see the Katherine School of the Air middle school years first residential at the Northern Territory Regional College, another learning institution in my electorate.
The minister also discussed infrastructure. He highlighted the huge infrastructure investment that this government has made in education and, more specifically, education in the bush. It is this investment that invests in opportunities and commitment to the education in the bush. In fact, the former minister visited one of my remote communities in 2004, Emu Point, which is roughly 50 km to the west of Daly River. The then minister saw this community. What he saw was around 40 kids being educated under a bough shelter by a local qualified Aboriginal teacher. The minister immediately went back to Cabinet and sought funds to build a school there. He was supported by his Labor Cabinet colleagues. I went out with the new minister for Education to the opening of that school on 13 September 2006. They are absolutely delighted with that investment that this government has made in education in the bush.
Another commitment to education in the bush is at Wadeye, where the government has prioritised this community in allocating $5.5m to build a secondary education facility, and also build six houses for teachers. This government said: ‘This community needs this facility and they will have to have it’. It is a great facility and I hope the minister will be at the community in the coming weeks for the opening.
Other infrastructure which has been delivered out in the bush includes: $1m at the Minyerri community for a secondary school facility; more secondary school facilities at Kalkarindji, $1m; Maningrida, $2.2m; Shepherdson College, $2.5m; and Papunya, $1m. There are significant upgrades in the bush including Utopia, Mulga Bore, Alcoota, $550 000; Milyakburra, $500 000; Gunbalanya, $750 000, and there are several other schools.
New schools that have been built total $7m. Apart from Emu Point, we have also nearly $1m allocated and built at Manyallaluk, Wugularr $2.5m, and Croker Island, $2.2m. That is a huge investment out bush.
With that investment is the personnel. Over 90 positions have been created and $6m in recurrent is allocated to those positions. Thirty-one of the 100 new teachers are in remote areas: 12 accelerated literacy teachers; 10 ESL teachers; five assistant principals at the group schools; two music teachers; and two working in remote resource packages. Three new Regional Director positions have been created. There are 18 teachers in the middle schools; 20 teachers are pooled for speciality teaching; and 10 teachers for distance education and regional learning. For the mobile preschool, there is one full-time position and 17 part-time positions. We have a teacher support position and a homeland secondary trial at Garrthalala. So there are 90 positions going out into the bush which is a huge investment which nobody can deny is being made.
Much has been said about the middle schools and there is a lot happening in my electorate. There are upgrades happening at Taminmin with $4.6m and in Katherine, $500 000. The Batchelor Area School is also adopting the middle schools approach. They have made some radical changes this year introducing Years 7, 8 and 9 doing middle school and they have seen the advantages of amalgamating classes for specific programs. Middle school has provided teachers with new and different teaching challenges. They are working through the challenges with the children and there are going to be benefits from that.
There is also early age entry trials happening and there are three in my area: Mataranka, Pine Creek and Timber Creek. I believe there is also a trial at Pigeon Hole in the electorate of Stuart. This is stuff that is happening out there and it is a positive focus of this government.
Last year, I had the pleasure of travelling around a number of my schools to present the Chief Minister’s Literacy Awards at the end of year ceremonies at Batchelor, Adelaide River and Timber Creek, and I also attended some in Darwin. These programs are a bold incentive for the students to increase their literacy.
The last point I want to make is the minister's discussion regarding the remote learning partnerships. A concept of engagement with the communities as constructively looking at serious educational barriers such as attendance. Without overlooking other issues around education, the main game is getting every kid in front of a teacher for at least four days in a week, for 40 weeks of the year. It does not matter what their curriculum is or how good the teachers are, or all the infrastructure you have, you do not have a chance of educating a child unless they are in front of a teacher in a classroom. It is attendance, attendance, attendance; that is the key. Everything flows on from that. This point has not been lost on the community leaders, school councils, teaching staff, and this government.
The leadership group at Wadeye have long been trying to get the community children to school as they know that it is the key to getting an education. Education is the key to a healthy and productive life, and also society. I attended a public meeting called by community leaders in December to talk about getting the kids to school. As has been mentioned previously, Wadeye has near on 1000 school-aged children. This number fluctuates. At the beginning of the year it is up around 500 and tends to sink back to around 250. This government has invested $430 000 in an attendance strategy to try to encourage those children to go to school. That strategy is currently under way; however, the attendance still struggles. The shadow minister talked about this government standing up and being counted. I can tell you, member for Blain, this minister is standing up, has taken advice from me, has visited that community, and listened to those people.
Several months ago, I went to see the Education minister about issues at the community. That community is extremely frustrated with parents within the community for not sending their children to school. It obviously has a major impact when you have only 20% to 30% of children going to school. When you look at the 60% to 70% who are not going to school, there are the associated life problems that causes by not getting an education. It puts pressure on educated people in the community and those people move away so you are left with a bigger problem.
The Education minister travelled with me to Wadeye and met with the leadership group. We were accompanied by the Catholic Education Office and officers from DEET. The community has put a proposal to the minister about attendance, and I support that. I know the minister is giving deep consideration to that proposal, and it does centre around the Education Act, shadow minister ...
Mr Mills: It is good to hear. Do not be so defensive.
Mr KNIGHT: I am not being defensive, member for Blain. I researched this and I know that the former CLP government had a look at it 10 years ago and backed away, like so many things it backed away from, because it could not do it. It did not care about the bush. Why didn’t you do it?
Mr Mills: Get over it! Get over it!
Mr KNIGHT: For those people who have not read the Education Act …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: You are preaching to the minister about how to run his department and you have not even been near it. Have you been a minister in the government? No, you have not.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Daly, please direct your comments through the Chair.
Mr KNIGHT: I will, Madam Speaker. The shadow minister was preaching to the minister for Education about how he should run his department. He has no experience in the area of managing a department.
For people unaware of the Education Act, section 22 deals with compulsory attendance:
- (1) Where a child is enrolled at a school, the child shall attend that school on each day, and for such parts of each day, as instruction is provided at the school for the child.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a child –
- (a) who is enrolled at a school of the air …
(3) Subject to this section, where a child fails to attend school in accordance with subsection (1), each parent of the child is guilty of an offence and liable to a penalty not exceeding $200.
We have an act which provides for that. It is being considered. It is certainly my wish that it is being considered. There is a range of initiatives that need to be examined. There are associated issues around why a child does not go to school - I have trouble getting my children to school. There are issues around housing, family matters, and law and order. That is what we should be working on. We should be working on clearing those barriers and getting those kids to school because we know that is the answer to the success of these communities.
As you have heard during these sittings, the Chief Minister has approached the federal minister, Mal Brough, in relation to social security payments, specifically around child payments, which everyone knows as ‘kid money’. If we couple these two approaches together, it is fairly tough but, like speeding, we do not want to fine anybody, but we do want them to go to school. The ideal would be that we do not fine anyone and we get 100% school attendance ...
Mr BONSON: Madam Speaker, I move that the member be granted an extension of time to complete his remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, I will conclude. I support that view of the Chief Minister. It is strange that the Commonwealth government has been strangely silent on this request. It is a little odd in that their mantra for the last few years has been all about mutual obligation. Here we have a classic example of mutual obligation. The general society, through taxation and through government payments, is supporting families and children and their families to send them to school. It should be pretty straightforward and I hope the federal minister can show some leadership on this matter and see some foresight to work with the Northern Territory government in this area.
I know they trialled it at Balgo. There were issues there. I really believe that you need to start from the premise of ‘how can we do this’ rather than ‘what is stopping us from doing this’.
I will conclude in relation to children and education. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states, in article 28:
- … Parties recognise the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular:
- …
This is from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. We need to have a good think about those things that are happening and what the international community sees as important with education. We know it is the answer. I believe we need to bite the bullet with education. I know the shadow minister is passionate about it. I hope that he try to work with the minister for Education in achieving this. Sometimes your policy development is a little off at times ...
A member interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: The only policy announcement you have had on education has been Lifelong Learning. This is policy by Google. We have Lifelong Learning, Reading for Life, we also had some mention of Reading Rewards Challenge. You Google those and you get a whole range of things which strangely meet up with your ideas ...
Mr Mills: Be careful, that is one that you pinched.
Mr KNIGHT: Oh, well, did we pinch it? So, in the Chief Minister’s Reading Rewards Challenge, this is proposed by you, 2006: ‘The Chief Minister’s Reading Rewards’. So apparently it is going to start in 2007. You have somehow instructed the Chief Minister, Clare Martin, who is obviously still in office, to be giving out $30 certificates, book vouchers - it has apparently already started. I am unaware of it. I will have to talk to my schools. It says: ‘The challenge begins at the start of the school year and officially ends before September’ of this year. It talks about ambassadors ...
Mr Mills interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: This is your announcement. It also talks about the link to immunisation. Promoting education and reading by giving a child a needle is somehow an incentive for that child ...
Mr Mills: Have you written to me and requested a briefing on any of this?
Mr KNIGHT: I will.
Mr Mills: I think you ought to.
Mr KNIGHT: So, at the age of one the child gets three books. They have to wait for another three years before they get another three books. On the fourth birthday, they will get another three books. That is quite nice of you, after three years to give them another book. It is very interesting. I listened to you, shadow minister, and you had a couple of good ideas.
The government certainly has a comprehensive package. This minister is absolutely committed to this strategy and education. I know he will make a difference. I know this government will make a difference because we have to. We have allocated resources and we are totally focused on achieving the outcomes that need to be achieved. I commend the statement to the House.
Debate suspended.
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
Madam SPEAKER: I advise honourable members of the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of the Deputy Administrator of the Northern Territory, Mrs Pat Miller; Hon Warren Snowdon MP, member for Lingiari; Hon Bob Sneath MLC, President of the South Australian Legislative Council and Mrs Pam Sneath; Hon Nick Griffiths MLC, President of the Western Australian Legislative Council; Ms Gay Thompson, Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly of South Australia; Mr Scott McKenzie, Clerk of the Tasmanian Legislative Council; Mr Nigel Lake, Clerk Assistant Committees, Western Australian Legislative Assembly; Ms Rachel Callinan, Committee Director, New South Wales Legislative Council. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
MOTION
Proposed Censure of the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
Proposed Censure of the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I move that this House censure the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services for:
1. lying to the residents of Alice Springs about the capacity of local police to respond to the deteriorating crime situation in this town;
2. abandoning Aboriginal women who are predominately the victims of domestic violence by gutting the Domestic Violence Unit which your government said was a police priority;
3. incompetently failing to provide Alice Springs residents with an effective capacity to contact the police; and
4. responding to the law and order crisis in this town as a political issue that needs to be managed by spin rather than a matter of civil order that requires an effective response.
This, like the censure yesterday, will be an easy censure to prosecute. This is a minister and a representative of the government who is prepared to lie and mislead the constituents – by that I mean all constituents of the Northern Territory – in order to ensure that they return to government.
This minister, like his predecessor, had great faith in the mobile police van. Questions have been asked about the mobile police van. In fact, I wrote a question to the minister about the mobile police van. I asked a number of specific questions in my letter of 1 March this year, such as
- How many times has it been operational and placed at sites around Alice Springs?
How many times has the van been located in the Todd Mall?
What is the average time that the van is placed at sites?
Is the van staffed at all times when it is on location?
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I do not have the exact wording of the motion before us, but it does go to the Domestic Violence Unit in the police and a phone number that Alice Springs people are asked to call. We have suspended the business of the House to bring on this censure motion. I call on you to ask the Leader of the Opposition to address the contents of the motion. We have had this debate about the police van yesterday. It is not mentioned in the motion. If she wants to interrupt the business of the House, call Question Time short on a grandstanding censure motion, she can at least address her comments to the motion that she has put before the Chair - not a motion we debated yesterday.
Ms CARNEY: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker. The first point of the censure motion is ‘lying to the residents of Alice Springs about the capacity of local police to respond to the deteriorating crime situation in the town’. There are numerous examples - and I propose to go through them – of the lack of capacity compared to what the minister says. The police van is just one of those examples.
Madam SPEAKER: I do not have a copy of the motion, and I would like to receive one very soon. I consider there is no point of order. However, Leader of the Opposition, can keep your comments as close as possible to the motion you have put forward.
Ms CARNEY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We are, of course, talking about, as the minister knows, his capacity, his willingness to lie and squib to the people of Alice Springs when it comes to talking about the capacity of our much-respected and much-loved police force, to respond to the problems in this town which, until this week, the minister apparently had not even heard of. Perhaps on occasion he tried to ring the police but could not get through.
On 1 March, I wrote to the minister for Police asking some of those specific questions. I received a letter in return which listed where the police van had been, such as at the cyanide spill up the road and at the football. None of my specific questions were answered. What does this tell us? It tells us that this minister simply will not tell the truth when asked to do so in relation to the capacity of our local police to respond to crime in this town.
There are a number of examples - so many, too many to mention in a censure motion divided into four parts. I also take this opportunity to welcome members of Advance Alice - called vigilantes by the Police minister. I invite you to do so to their face, minister. If you have the courage of your convictions, you will do it to their faces. They are not vigilantes at all; they are decent people from Alice Springs. However, I digress.
There are numerous examples of deteriorating crime in this town. The crime figures - not our figures, your figures - show that crime is deteriorating. Would crime deteriorate if we had enough police resources to meet the needs? No! What does that tell you? It should tell you something. I guess I was not surprised when I heard the comments made by His Honour Trevor Riley in the Supreme Court earlier this month or late last month. It received national coverage. His Honour said that violence had gone from bad to worse - from bad to worse. It is under your watch, minister. There are numerous examples of crime deteriorating under your watch. Minister, you should be ashamed.
You should be seriously ashamed to have a situation in Alice Springs where crime has reached a level where the mums and dads of Alice Springs, the business owners of Alice Springs, and everyone in between, came to Parliament House yesterday and participated in a protest that I have never experienced since living in this town. Why are they protesting? Because they see how hard our police are working. I see a couple of them in the gallery tonight. We all know how hard they work.
When my constituents ring me to tell me about crime and tell me that they cannot get through, you know what they always say, without exception? ‘We do not blame the police. We know that our coppers work hard’. Who do they blame? They blame the government. They blame a Police minister who is prepared to lie to them about the capacity of our local police force. I have received numerous complaints, and I will detail some shortly, about the capacity of police to respond.
Crime has become worse. There is no doubt that crime has become worse, and it happened under your watch. If one tracks your own crime figures, we see that, in Alice Springs for instance, if you look at the December quarter in 2004 compared to the quarter just released, offences against the person increased - and increased significantly.
Property crime in the last three years - your figures - in Alice Springs has increased. In December 2003, there was an average of 600 property crimes per quarter. That is now 900 crimes per quarter, and most of the people here tonight will say: ‘Yes, that is probably about right’. When you are talking about crimes - and the minister is given to not looking at the human aspect of this - you are talking about people’s cars being broken into, business owners having their shop windows broken to such an extent, as one person told me tonight, that she and her husband have stopped getting the business name painted on the front of the window as that is an additional cost so, when the window gets smashed again, as it certainly will, then they cannot recover the cost of painting on their insurance. That is the human cost of the deteriorating crime, and that is why, minister, the people of Alice Springs and the opposition is not prepared to let you off the hook.
This is a minister who certainly fudges. He was asked about police by Katya Quigley on ABC radio on 4 April:
- These 15 police that you’ve mentioned, are they going to keeping up with the number of police that are actually leaving the force?
The minister said:
- Well, ah, that’s something that’s often raised by the opposition.
Absolutely, it is. Did you know, minister, that five police officers have left either on the weekend or last week to go to the AFP? I suppose if the town council has its way, they will be back before too long. Minister, you were then asked by Ms Quigley:
- So does that mean that you can guarantee that there will be an increase in real terms in the number of police on the streets on the beat in Alice Springs?
Answer:
- What I’m saying is that there’s going to be 15 police there in the next few weeks …
Blah, blah, blah. You were not even honest enough to answer that question. Therefore, we do not know whether those extra 15 police will represent extra police on the beat. Because, minister, you have form when it comes to fudging, when it comes to avoiding and evading specific questions - whether it is on the mobile police van, from an ABC reporter; frankly whether it is about just about anything - the people of Alice Springs continue to not believe you.
I will move to the second part of the censure which deals with abandoning Aboriginal women who are predominantly the victims of domestic violence by your decision yesterday - no doubt after the rally - to gut the Domestic Violence Unit which your government said was a priority. How many officers do you have there? Ten. Why? Because I checked last night. How many of them are you going to move into General Duties? You did that so that the people of Alice Springs would think something was being done
Minister, you and, indeed, the previous minister for police, have spoken at length in the parliament. These are just some of the things you have had to say about the Domestic Violence Unit. You have been very proud of it. You have talked about the modern police force. You said in parliament on 21 February that it includes a whole range of units within police to deal with domestic violence and intelligence-led policing, particularly against property crime - and you are gutting that one too.
On 30 November 2005, you spoke again about Domestic Violence Units in Darwin and Alice Springs. You were chuffed. In fact, I think that was your predecessor. That is right. Chief Ministerial aspirant and sacked Police minister - and I am glad he was. I actually thought that you could not be any worse but, now, it is abundantly clear that you are because, whereas the leadership contender on the other side spoke proudly of the Domestic Violence Unit and, until yesterday, so did you, you are now in a position of dismantling, or at least reducing the capacity - and this goes back, in a sense, to the first point of the censure - of the Domestic Violence Units to deal with the matters that they appropriately should, particularly in Alice Springs, given that so many domestic violence victims are Aboriginal women.
The list goes on. You have talked about it. Your friend over there – I do not know; the leadership division is such, he might not be your friend. You and your colleague over there have talked about it a great deal and, yet, after the rally you say: ‘Whoops! Better make sure we are doing something. We will just shuffle a few around and that should keep the people of Alice Springs happy because we are going back on Friday and we will not need to come back for a while’.
This government has atrocious form when it comes to Aboriginal victims of violence. Why do I say that, Madam Speaker? Well, one need only remember – and it is appropriate that we are in Alice Springs because most people in the gallery, I suspect, would know Dr Nanette Rogers, Senior Prosecutor at the DPP. I also suspect most people in the gallery saw the Lateline interview ...
Mr Henderson interjecting.
Ms CARNEY: The Leader of Government Business says he does not think so. No doubt he is having a go, as he is wont to do, at the people of Alice Springs. He probably does not think that they are good enough to watch the ABC, not like the Chardonnay-sipping socialists on the other side ...
Mr Henderson interjecting.
Ms CARNEY: It is not really a matter for the Leader of Government Business to tell them what television station to watch. However, we do know that the Chief Minister did not watch it. It was promoted heavily. I left a function to go home and watch it. Did anyone on the Chief Minister’s staff - she has about 80 or so – say: ‘Chief Minister, this could be a really interesting’ …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We have broken the business of parliament to deal with a censure motion that is censuring the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services. The second point of the motion is that we are abandoning Aboriginal women who are predominately the victims of domestic violence. Therefore, the censure is against the minister for Police in regards to a case that the Leader of the Opposition needs to prosecute about what he has done in his time in the portfolio in regards to this issue. Going back to a program on the ABC some many months ago is totally irrelevant to the point at hand with regard to this particular censure against the Police minister. I urge you to ask the Leader of the Opposition to get back to the motion.
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There does seem to be a fairly big deviation from the motion, Leader of the Opposition. I ask you to come to the point fairly quickly.
Ms CARNEY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is, naturally enough, a degree of latitude in a censure motion, just for the benefit of people in the gallery. However, the second point of the censure as it relates to the minister for Police is about abandoning Aboriginal women. It would be remiss of me, I believe, as a representative from Alice Springs, not to mention the way in which the Chief Minister so readily abandoned Aboriginal women and children with her handling of events after the Lateline interview.
This Chief Minister, of course, the Police minister’s boss, embarrassed herself, the party and the Northern Territory with her handling of events after the interview. I note that in an article written by The Bulletin - and I will not quote all of it, I have quoted it in parliament before – Paul Toohey said that the Chief Minister had failed to represent Aborigines; she had failed her Aboriginal parliamentary colleagues, and so on.
We have talked about that before. We know that the inquiry into sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities was called as a result of the national embarrassment of the Chief Minister which, of course, led to the now famous leaked memo, which was written by the member for Millner.
However, going back to the abandonment of Aboriginal women, the domestic violence victims, the Police minister said, on 14 February, that the officers in the Domestic Violence Unit:
- … focus on repeat offenders and victims, and support families with a range of problems.
I invite the minister for Police, in his reply, to reconcile his decision made yesterday with the statement he made only two months ago. Is it the case that there will be fewer officers? How will they continue in an effective way and the way they want, to focus on repeat offenders and victims and, indeed, support families with a range of problems?
This is political expediency. This was a decision made on the run. This was a decision made to placate the people of Alice Springs - the old Labor trick of smoke and mirrors so that, when they all get on the plane on Friday they will think ‘We do not have to deal with them in Alice Springs anymore’.
I now move to the third part of the censure motion, which is for incompetently failing to provide Alice Springs residents with an effective capacity to contact police. I suppose it is worded in a somewhat unusual way. I was tempted, when I wrote this, to simply say ‘for failing to provide Alice Springs residents with an effective capacity to contact police’.
However, this minister has turned failure into an art form, and he now fails in the most unspeakably incompetent way. You do not even fail well, minister; you fail very badly. Let us tell you why you have failed the people of Alice Springs by failing to provide them with an effective capacity to contact the police. By contacting the police, we are talking about contacting them on the phone. We are also talking about contacting them when they are riding through town, as they did about 18 months ago. We had a mounted police unit that was an experiment, no doubt. It was pulled back and we do not have one any more, so the people cannot contact mounted police officers as they are riding through Alice Springs.
Invariably, they cannot contact police officers in the mobile police van. There are a couple of reasons for that. One is we rarely see it. We have, however, seen it in the last couple of weeks. Call me a cynic, but some of us think that has something to do with parliament sitting in Alice Springs. As I said yesterday, I have friends who work at the court house. People who know Alice Springs well will know that certain positions at the back of the court house overlook the police compound or the car park. I am reliably informed that the mobile police van is not as mobile as you would have us believe.
However, that day I saw it in the mall, I was walking with a colleague. It is worth repeating the story for the benefit of Alice Springs residents here. I was walking with a member of staff; we were going to Oscars for lunch. We walked up the mall and I saw the police van. I touched the police van because I wanted to make sure it was real. Then I went one step further; I thought I would knock on the door. Knocked on the door of the mobile police van - and do you know? - I could not contact a police officer because one was not there. The police van was parked on that occasion under the sails in Todd Mall. That was just my experience walking down Todd Mall, knocking on the door of the police van ...
Members interjecting.
Ms CARNEY: I will come to the political spin later. I thought it was very interesting when you issued your glossy brochure in Alice Springs a couple of weeks ago, Matt Conlan on 8HA said that he has seen the mobile police van more in government brochures than in reality on the streets of Alice Springs. I will come back to that.
Can the people of Alice Springs contact the mounted police? No! Can the people of Alice Springs contact police in the police van? Well, I could not and I am sure other people had similar experiences.
Now, let us get to the numbers. The night before 18 October 2006, Harry Osborne rang my home. The minister will remember this because we were sitting in parliament in Darwin. The next day, I asked you this question:
- Last night, Mr Harry Osborne in Alice Springs tried to ring the Alice Springs Police Station. The number he dialled was 8951 8888. He tried on six occasions between 10.15 pm and 10.50 pm to ring the police. No one answered the phone. In desperation, he then rang 131 444, which is the Darwin number …
As we understood it at that point:
- He rang and the phone rang out.
The phone rang out. That was just one experience. Somewhat predictably, you did not answer that question but, I think in a subsequent media release you said that the phone had been fixed. In fact, you did say in a subsequent media interview that the phone had been fixed, which brings me to your fascinating interview on 8HA on 1 March 2007. You were asked then about Harry Osborne. Harry Osborne rang in and he said: ‘Hello, minister, I was the idiot who tried to ring the police last October’. Then he wanted a response from you. You then said:
- It did ring out because, at that stage, it required a manual switch over to the 131 444 number, and that is the reason why it rang out. But I am told by police that it has since been remedied.
Your words, minister, not mine. That was on 1 March 2007. You told the people of Alice Springs that the phone problem had been fixed. It goes back to your propensity to lie to the residents of Alice Springs.
I have some e-mails here. I will quote relevant parts of them, and I am happy to table them. I have, naturally, removed the identity of people. An e-mail to me on 24 March reads:
- I rang the 8951 8888 number seven times and it rang out on each occasion. I gave up in disgust and tried yet again to go to sleep. At around 2 am there was large congregation of youths in the streets with cars doing burnouts and coming and going at high speed, and generally making a lot of noise.
I again tried the police number with no success, so called 000. The operator tried unsuccessfully to put me through to the Alice Springs Police. She tried another number which connected me to the Darwin Police. I told the officer the situation, and that I had tried repeatedly to get through to Alice Springs Police. His reply was, ‘Obviously they are busy’.
That was on 24 March; the problem was not fixed. You must have known that the problem was not fixed. Last week, on 11 April, a constituent rang my office. The file note from my electorate officer says:
- She rang police three times and got no answer. Rang 000 and they said they were too busy and it wasn’t an emergency.
On 13 April I got this e-mail from my electorate officer:
- Mr … called to say that he followed the Police Superintendent's advice …
and your repeated advice, minister:
- … to call 131 444. It rang out twice.
Then we have your answer. No doubt you will say the police came up with it with it because you are not a bloke who likes to take responsibility. However, the buck does stop with you; that is why you are being censured, and why you thoroughly deserve the censure motion. I have read out just some of the complaints. I have a big file of them, and I am sure people in this place know someone by now if it has not happened to them. Everyone knows it is happening; surely, you must know as well.
On 3 April in the Centralian Advocate was the announcement of the answering machine. This Police minister, in essence, said to the people of Alice Springs: ‘Yes, when you have the bad guys on your doorstep, when they are thumping down the door, ring 8951 8888. If that does not work, ring 131 444. If that does not work try 000. If that does not work, maybe you will get the answering machine’. Of course, we all know the jokes about press 1 if you are having a heart attack; press 2 if you are about to fall off the perch now; press 3, blah, blah, blah. That is what the people of Alice Springs are saying when it comes to the communication system that your government has to repair and replace so these good people can ring the police.
The cartoon in the Centralian Advocate on 3 April is a ripper and it speaks volumes. It says ‘the police communications problem’, and one guy says: ‘They won’t miss any now. The new phone has a siren and a flashing light’. Maybe people are going to have to send up smoke signals to get the police officers to come round. Do the police officers want to come around? Absolutely! Do they want to fight law and order? Absolutely! Do we want them to do that? Absolutely!
This is not about talking down the town; it is not about talking down the police officers. However, it is about talking you down, minister. I did think you would be somewhat better than the previous one who was sacked - and we know he was sacked because he was a leadership contender. I did think you were better, but you have failed the people of Alice Springs, and you continue to do so.
Moving briefly to the final point of this censure motion, which is ‘for responding to the law and order crisis in this town as a political issue that needs to be managed by spin, rather than a matter of civil order which requires an effective response’.
We have the glossies Labor said they would never do. This one, delivered recently, has the mobile van - I reckon that is in the mall - and has three police officers standing outside it. I can understand why a minister who lies to the residents of Alice Springs, and the Chief Minister who has now joined him, would really like that photo to go into the letterboxes of the people of Alice Springs.
This is only half of it. Then there was the thing in the Centralian Advocate on 5 April – I wonder how much the big heading cost? – ‘Safe streets, safe kids’. There was nothing about the number you should ring, or a commitment to upgrade the communications system at the Alice Springs Police Station. Is that spin? Yes, it is spin. Is it satisfactory for the people of Alice Springs? No, it is not. I said to the people who were demonstrating outside earlier that offering the people of Alice Springs beads and trinkets is not enough; they deserve and expect more.
Yesterday, you were censured for a number of different reasons. Today, you are censured for other reasons. We have had three demonstrations in two days in Alice Springs. They are targeted at you and your government for failing to respond. In that fascinating interview on 8HA on 1 March, when quizzed about how much time you spend here, you said:
- I come down there all the time.
He was in Darwin when he was talking about us:
- You know, I spend two or three days there. I talk to a lot of people. I spend time in Alice Springs.
Reporter, Matt Conlan:
- When was the last time you spent any length of time in Alice Springs? Answer the question, minister.
He got an answer; the minister said:
- I think it was probably towards the end of last year.
Matt Conlan:
- And how long were you here for?
I think probably two or three days.
You need to spend significantly more time in Alice Springs. You need to stop lying to the residents of Alice Springs about the capacity of local police to respond to deteriorating crime. You should not be shuffling police officers from a unit of which your predecessor was very proud - and you should have been, too. You are now shuffling police officers around that. I wonder how victims of, and advocates against, domestic violence will feel about your decision.
You deserve the censure for so badly, so incompetently failing to provide Alice Springs residents with an effective capacity to contact police. You were asked in Question Time, in essence, what number they should ring. You stood at the Dispatch Box and said ‘131 444’. Why is it that you do not know - and you are the minister for Police, a minister of the Crown - that people are still not going to get through? Certainly, they get through sometimes, probably often. However, when people are coming to their local members in desperation saying: ‘I cannot get through to the cops and that really frightens me’, you should be deeply concerned about that.
Frankly, you owe the people of Alice Springs an apology. How dare you stand here and say: ‘No. Job is right’. How dare you say on 1 March in that interview: ‘Oh, I am told the problem has been fixed. Not my problem’. It is, minister. The people of this town are looking to you to respond in an appropriate way. They are looking for you to respond in a way that is not just spin. If you were not moved and rocked by the demonstration outside the parliament yesterday, then you should resign. If you are not going to fix the police communications system, you should resign. You owe the people here an explanation. You deserve the censure ...
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, your time has expired.
Dr BURNS (Police, Fire and Emergency Services): Madam Speaker, I am glad to speak in this censure motion. It revolves around numbers that people should ring when they want to contact police. I stand by what I said here earlier today regarding the numbers that people should ring if they want to contact police.
For urgent calls, people should ring 000. As I stated earlier tonight - and I stand by it - that is the number to ring in the case of an emergency. The aim of the police is to answer those calls within 10 seconds. In fact, their aim is to answer 90% of those within 10 seconds. Last year, in 2005-06, they achieved 86% of that target. They did fall short for 000, but it was very close to the 90% that they have as a target to answer within 10 seconds.
In relation to a non-urgent calls, 131 444, as I stated earlier, is the number that people should ring. Police aim to answer 80% of those calls within 20 seconds. Last year, 2005-06, they achieved 79%. I am not going to hide away from the fact that, in some cases, it may be longer, depending on the incidents that are occurring in the particular town.
The Opposition Leader has made much about people of Alice Springs regarding these numbers. These numbers apply across the Territory; therefore, if you are in Darwin you will ring 000 if it is an emergency or, if it is not an emergency, you ring 131 444. Similarly, in Alice Springs. I am informed, as of tonight - because we are talking about it tonight - in Darwin there are five people answering the 131 444 number, and there are two people answering 131 444 in Alice Springs. There may be times when there are - and I have not backed the way from that - delays in the 131 444 number. However, I still encourage people to use that number for non-urgent calls, and the 000 for urgent calls.
Yesterday, we had a censure motion. I was censured here yesterday by the opposition. It was a fairly similar censure yesterday. It was about the mobile police station, police visibility, and law and order in the Northern Territory. Basically, the censure debate took up, I suppose, about an hour-and-a-half or two hours of parliament. It is very interesting to read what the member for Braitling said about that very similar censure debate that occurred yesterday. As I said earlier this evening, I have a lot of respect for the member for Braitling; I believe she is a very wise woman who is very even in her opinions and reflects a broader view. I will repeat from the Hansard what she said yesterday regarding the opposition:
- I have listened to the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Greatorex, and I have not heard them come up with anything really constructive. It disturbs me that I am hearing this continual bleating; everyone trying to put the worst spin on what is happening.
Then, at the end of the debate, she ended with these words:
- I am happy to join in the debate and put my point of view, and to share with you where I am coming from, but this is not a censure motion in its pure form. That is why the two Independents will not be voting on this motion.
It will be interesting to see what the Independents have to say about this particular motion - whether they have a similar view.
To talk about the mobile police van again, which is what the Leader of the Opposition spoke about yesterday, I made it very plain that it is a mobile police van; that is its function. It did go to the cyanide spill; it has been used in the mall; it was used in the NAB Cup; and it has been used on Northside. It is deployed as the police require it. It is an operational issue as to how that police van is deployed. As I said yesterday, there is a $100 000 investment in that police van. It has state-of-the-art communications. It is a wonderful tool for police, which is in stark contrast to what they had before under the previous government.
This government is resourcing the police force. There has been much debate over the past few days and, in Question Time, many questions about police resources in the Northern Territory, and in Alice Springs in particular. I believe this government has demonstrated that we have made a significant investment in policing. After the previous CLP government had a recruitment freeze …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: No, you do not want to hear it, Leader of the Opposition. … had a recruitment freeze on police in the 1990s for some three or four years, which is still having an effect on our police force. We have invested $75m to recruit 200 extra police into our police force.
I talked about stunts here earlier tonight. People in Alice Springs might be aware that this Opposition Leader tabled a bogus document in relation …
Ms Carney: Oh, rubbish!
Dr BURNS: Yes, you did! For those who want to see the Hansard, the Leader of the Opposition was called on for misleading parliament by the Speaker herself over that particular document …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: She should be ashamed of herself. She has spent a lot of the time here this evening - okay, I can take it, I am a politician. You can point the finger at me, you can throw the spears at me.
I believe you have been denigrating police and the work that they do and the job that they have to do, and the two police answering that phone in Alice Springs. You have reflected very badly on those people and the job they are doing, member for Araluen …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Dr BURNS: Oh, yes, you have! You have form about phones ringing out. Members might recall that the CLP had an advertisement on this very issue: ‘The phones are ringing out in the local police station’. Their advertisement was aired at prime time during news: ‘Ring this number’. What happened to the CLP advertisement? Someone rang it up and the phone rang out. People in glass houses should not throw stones, and you should not be throwing them at police …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I urge that the member for Araluen withdraws the shrieking claims of lying across the Chamber. It is totally unparliamentary. We can take it in debate, but abuse being shrieked and hurled across the Chamber is not parliamentary. I urge you to ask her to withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition …
A member interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: No, I have already made a decision. Leader of the Opposition, whilst this is a censure motion, the comments that you have made are not in relation to the censure motion itself. I ask you to withdraw those interjections.
Ms CARNEY: Madam Speaker, you have not allowed me to speak to the point of order. I have no choice other than to withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you. Minister, please continue.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Another issue that was raised by the Leader of the Opposition was in relation to Northern Territory Police being seconded to the Australian Federal Police. It is a valid question that was also raised today by the Alice Springs Town Council. It is true that some 40 officers from the Northern Territory Police have been seconded to the Australian Federal Police - we are talking all over the Territory here - for airport duties. This is an arrangement that has been entered into by the Northern Territory government with the federal government. The federal government, obviously, has a priority in ensuring airport security, and we all realise that. What people should realise is that part of that agreement is that the federal government funds the Territory government for those positions and the training to refill those positions. Therefore, whilst it is true there may be five, I think in Alice Springs, Northern Territory Police who have been seconded into the Australian Federal Police for those duties, in that particular case, the federal government is funding a replacement of those five positions within the Northern Territory Police Force and, also, the training of those officers to fill those positions. That is important …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Dr BURNS: I am placing it on the record here, member for Greatorex; that is very important. It is an arrangement that was given the tick by the Prime Minister, member for Greatorex. If you wander into his office you will find out about that particular arrangement.
The Northern Territory government is pleased to support the federal government in airport security, and welcomes this style of funding because it presents opportunities also for our police to get experience in this particular area.
In her assertions within her speech, the Leader of Opposition talked about police numbers. I believe we have talked about police numbers in detail here. We started from a low base in Alice Springs. I have already quoted from the O’Sullivan Report earlier this evening showing 50% of uniformed police in Alice Springs. We have been building it gradually over the past four years, and now it is up to establishment. I stand by that, just as I stand by the decision of the Commissioner of Police.
Unlike what was asserted by the Leader of the Opposition, it was my decision to mobilise police from certain units into uniform duties, to have a high visibility within the Alice Springs community. That is a decision made by the Commissioner of Police. The Leader of the Opposition should be aware of something called a separation of powers. I do not direct the police in operational matters …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Dr BURNS: I do not direct police in operational matters! I do not say to the police: ‘You will have 10 police in the mall next Saturday night, or 15 police at the football’, or anything like that. I do not say that; I cannot say that; I would not say that. It is obvious that the Leader of the Opposition would try to trample all over the established conventions of our Westminster system. She is someone who does not understand those conventions. She does not understand how police operate and, basically, she is making a fool of herself in this regard.
I applaud the …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Dr BURNS: Let me finish please, Leader of the Opposition.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Leader of the Opposition, cease interjecting.
Dr BURNS: Furthermore, I will place on the public record here tonight that I support the decision of the Police Commissioner and senior police in Alice Springs to mobilise police in such a fashion. As I said in Question Time, this is a flexible response to the needs of the Alice Springs community. Certainly, the clear message of the Alice Springs community is that they want this high visibility policing to address the issues that confront this community and have been articulated by a number of groups in Alice Springs. I support the Police Commissioner in that.
The Leader of the Opposition is also over the top to assert that this government - and me in particular - is abandoning Aboriginal women. This is the sort of emotive language that the Leader of the Opposition embarks upon and embraces all the time. Basically, it is offensive. As I said in Question Time, the work of the Domestic Violence Unit and property crime reduction will continue.
I place on the record tonight, as I did last night, the crime statistics for Alice Springs. Yes, property offences have been up in the last quarter of 2006 compared to 2005. These are things that require vigilance, and I am sure that the police will do that. Regarding offences against the person, in Alice Springs, quarter on quarter 2005 to 2006, there was a reduction of about 17% in 2006 compared to 2005.
I will quote again these longer term statistics and place them on the record: over the six years since we have been in power, in Alice Springs, assaults are down 18%, total offences against the person are down 16%, unlawful entry with intent down is 15%, motor vehicle theft is down 22%, and other theft is down 13%. As I said yesterday, any offence is one offence too many, but we are never going to have a society that is completely free of crime.
I acknowledge that, over the past months - and particularly a fortnight ago - there has been a rise in vicious assaults within Alice Springs, particularly in the mall. I have given my commitment a number of times in this parliament and in the meetings that I have had - and I will do it again - that it is important for people to feel safe at home and in the streets, in going about their duty.
As a government, we are committed to that. I am committed to that as Police minister. I believe the police have the resources to do the job that they have to do. At the meeting we had yesterday with the leaders of the demonstration, the police were asked that question. They responded that they believe they have the resources required to do the job. They also said that they would be mobilising further resources, as I said before, to address issues related to social disorder, which is so important to the people of Alice Springs.
The Chief Minister and I have read from a media release from the Police Commissioner. I believe it is worthwhile restating that again. In terms of City Safe, the Police Commissioner said:
- I support the work of Operation City Safe in dealing with antisocial behaviour and it will, along with other strategies, continue on a regular basis.
He also said:
- We will also continue to deploy the Tactical Response Section within Alice Springs as has been done previously.
Then he said:
- NT Police has a no tolerance approach to street level criminal activity and as part of that approach will focus attention on hot spots in and around Alice Springs.
I would have thought the Leader of the Opposition would have been supporting these words. In fact, she is just trying to pick holes. Nothing that anyone would ever do would satisfy the Leader of the Opposition.
Considerable resources and undertakings have been given by the government in relation to this matter. The Leader of the Opposition and her staff continually belting the 131 444 number, trying to prove points, does not do anyone any good. It undermines confidence. What she has been doing has been undermining confidence in our police force and their ability to respond.
I should address the issue of my time in Alice Springs, which is a continual theme by the Leader of the Opposition. As I said yesterday, since I became Police minister late last year, I believe I have been in Alice Springs seven times, including this visit. I would like to come as often as I can. I do come as often as I can, but I have duties right across the Territory.
I can assure the people of Alice Springs that I am committed to them. I have offered to, and will, meet with representatives of Advance Alice in two months time to review the situation. I also gave that undertaking to the Alice Springs Town Council today. We will see what happens in that regard. I am more than happy to take constructive criticism and suggestions about how to improve situations. We have been doing that, which is never enough for the opposition.
The proof will be in the pudding, Madam Speaker. To repeat what the member for Braitling said yesterday:
- I have listened to the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Greatorex, and I have not heard them come up with anything really constructive. It disturbs me that I am hearing this continual bleating; everyone trying to put the worst spin on what is happening.
Madam Speaker, I will close on that.
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I am surprised that the minister is unable to defend himself adequately. He deserves to be censured because he has failed in so many aspects of his police portfolio. He has failed to provide Alice Springs with the capacity to contact the local police station. He has failed to provide the police with capacity to deal with the lawlessness in this town. He has failed to ensure that people in Alice Springs can walk down their streets without getting into harm.
When you wake up in the morning and you get these newspaper headlines, how do you think you would feel? You would be terrified to live in a town where you see these sorts of headlines.
Dr Burns: Is that 1997?
Dr LIM: The minister mocks the Centralian Advocate!
Dr Burns: You did the same thing yesterday.
Dr LIM: This is 3 April 2007, less than two weeks ago. You wake up in the morning and you read this. That is why we are censuring you; you are incompetent in your police portfolio, just as you were incompetent as Minister for Health. You have been so incompetent, it is beyond a joke. When you tell people to ring the police station, you cannot even get the police station telephone number right. How competent is that?
To give people the wrong phone number is pure incompetence: 8981 8888. That is why you need to be censured. It is not my one big point. It is a demonstration of the incompetent man that you are. No wonder. I recall a letter that was written about you when the health discussion was going on. The letter called you ‘Bumbling Burns’. That is what you should be called ‘Bumbling Burns’, the incompetent Minister for Health and the incompetent minister for Police.
Minister, there is a real problem. The other day, I said that I rang the police station and my phone rang out. You interjected by calling it a stunt. Let me tell the story again so that you will know why I called the police station. It was on the Easter weekend. I was walking from my office into the Yeperenye Shopping Centre towards Woolworths. As I was entering the shopping centre, I saw an Aboriginal man flat on his back, apparently out to it - unconscious or asleep, I did not know. Many people walked past him going in and out of the shopping centre. I chose not to walk past. I stopped, and I rang the police station on my phone seeking assistance. If the man was unconscious because he had a head injury, he should have been in hospital. If the man was asleep on the footpath, well, he should not be sleeping there. If he was drunk, he should have been taken to the drying out shelter. I stopped and bent down and checked him out medically. In the process, I also called the police and the phone rang out …
A member interjecting.
Dr LIM: That is what I did. It was no stunt; it was a genuine act of concern …
Mr Henderson: Why didn’t you call 000?
Dr LIM: Until I found out whether the man was in trouble or not, 000 would be inappropriate.
Mr Henderson: It was a medical condition. It was not a law and order …
Dr LIM: It was not a medical condition yet. Anyway, coming back to the censure, until you disclose the person …
Mr Henderson: Why not call an ambulance?
Dr LIM: Madam Speaker, I think the Leader of Government Business could actually hold his voice while I talk about the censure.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Honourable members.
Dr LIM: The minister tells us 131 444 is the number to ring. I wonder whether his office staff has even tried today to find out how easy it is to get through. When you have people in Alice Springs complaining over and over again that there are issues in town, you have to listen.
Until the demonstration outside, with some 500 people from Alice Springs angrily demonstrating, you would not have listened. Every time we complained, you said we were talking the town down. In February 2006, I said at that time that there was anarchy in the streets of Alice Springs, and I was ridiculed by you and your fellow members. I have been proven right. When you walk down the street and you face unprovoked attacks in the mall, it is anarchy. It is anarchy because you, as Police minister, have failed to ensure that there are adequate police officers in this town.
It was not until just before the Easter weekend that you brought in 15 new police officers to complete the full establishment numbers for Alice Springs. You know that Alice Springs Police Station is the biggest in the Northern Territory. Alice Springs people may not know that, but it is the biggest police station in the Territory. In the Top End, you have one in Palmerston, one at Berrimah, one at Nightcliff and one in Mitchell Street in the city of Darwin. In Alice Springs, you have one large police station. You would expect that that police station can respond to phone calls from people who are in desperate need of help but, no, you do not.
I suggest that, perhaps, the minister should publicise his personal telephone numbers so that people who cannot get through to the police can at least get through to him, and then he can instruct the police to respond. That is his job. If his police department cannot respond to telephone calls, then perhaps he should be taking those calls. Have your telephone number listed in the phonebook and people might be able to access the police through you if they cannot get through in any other way.
You tell people that you will continue City Safe indefinitely, and then your police officers say: ‘No, we cannot sustain that indefinitely’. Then, you say: ‘Okay, we will take staff away from the Domestic Violence Unit to try to cover the police on the beat’. I know what patients who suffer domestic violence go through. I have treated them in the ED of the Alice Springs Hospital. That is a very important unit that protects defenceless women, particularly amongst our indigenous community in Alice Springs. To take staff away from that unit is very inappropriate. If you happen to continue City Safe in Alice Springs, make sure you have the right numbers. Because of your wish to divert police from one unit to continue with City Safe, it tells me that you need more police in Alice Springs than your current establishment numbers; you do not have enough.
When the Leader of the Opposition talked about your police statistics - and you quote your own - the reality is that, year on year, from 2005 to 2006 there has been a great increase in crime in Alice Springs. You talked about the decrease of personal violence and injuries. Yes, murder has gone down between 2005 and 2006 but, in the three-and-a-half months of this year in Alice Springs alone, we have already had five killings. That has now shot your stats to pieces, hasn’t it? This town is facing a crisis in lawlessness, and I urge you to get out of your doldrums and deal with it. You are a PhD; you have the intellect. You have demonstrated to everybody in the Territory that you have a PhD behind your name. It is not that you are stupid; you are just incompetent.
Property offences continued to go up between 2005 and 2006 by 10.68%. That has to be a significant increase. I told you just recently, my next door neighbour’s house was broken into while he was at work. The perpetrators came through the back window and stole his belongings. Only about two weeks, a single woman who lives next door to me had her house broken into. How do you expect people to be able to stay in their own homes, on their own, and still feel safe? They cannot! They cannot feel safe. What you need is to have enough police on the beat, patrolling the streets on a very regular basis with high visibility, so that the perpetrators are scared off. Until you do that, it will not stop.
All you have to do is go through the recent newspaper articles in Alice Springs. You do not have to look elsewhere; just Alice Springs alone. The editorial of the Centralian Advocate on the 3 April this year had this to say:
- Today’s letters pages make for depressing reading. It seems that almost everyone has an opinion on the town’s social problems and the solutions being offered to fix them.
More pertinently, it said:
- The Territory government’s curt refusal to consider a proposal for a youth curfew suggest the Martin ministry is out of touch with life on the streets of Alice Springs.
It went on to say:
- Surely our police minister realises that cops on the beat here are whispering not-so-quietly that they are battling with the current staffing.
I have police officers come to my office on a regular basis, or they meet me in the street, telling me they cannot cope; they have lost the battle in the streets ...
Mr Henderson: Rubbish! When? Who?
Dr LIM: You see, the Leader of Government Business continues to interject and demands of me to name names. What will happen under this government? This vindictive government will penalise those public servants who would dare to go to the opposition to provide information. That is the problem! This minister would pursue those people down every burrow to try to get them out of the Territory. That is why, in opposition, I am not prepared to name those people. If the minister suggests I am lying about this then I suggest that he goes outside these front doors of parliament and call me liar. I challenge him to call me a liar. He does not dare.
Let me go to a few other examples of what is happening in Alice Springs. Less than one week later, even the Northern Territory News was concerned enough about Alice Springs that they went on the record, and said:
- There is something seriously wrong in Alice Springs.
Two decades ago it was a quaint, peaceful town - the kind of place where people could leave their front doors unlocked at night.
…
But, if we’re brutally honest, it is in danger of losing that most precious of things - its collective peace of mind.
…
People have been the victims of unprovoked gang attacks in the Todd Mall, businesses have been robbed many times in one year and girls have been indecently assaulted while walking home from school.
If the Northern Territory News expresses such concern yet this government does not, it has to demonstrate that this Police minister is out of touch with our community. Year after year after year, the opposition voiced its concern to government through speeches in parliament. We continue to be ignored over and over again. As people would see from the interjections that I get, they say we are all telling a lot of furphies.
Well, if it is furphies, why do you think people such as Advance Alice are prepared to wear their shirts and march in here tonight during Question Time? Why is it that you have 500 people standing outside parliament during the peak business trading hours, closing their shops and coming in here? They were here between 8 30 am and 9 30 am, 10 am. They were prepared to close their shops, do themselves out of business, while they expressed their concerns to you and to the Chief Minister. It is unprecedented that the Chief Minister has been booed by an angry mob such as the one that was outside yesterday morning. It is unprecedented that the Chief Minister has been heckled while she tried to make a response. That is where you have failed. That is why I keep saying you have failed Territorians.
Minister, you have demonstrated incompetence in the way you have handled this portfolio, over and over again – not only this current portfolio of Police, but also in your other portfolio of Health. You know that. You are nodding your head in agreement. Pull up your socks and do it properly - and I know you can. I know you can; you have the intellect; you have proven it over and over again. So, use it. Do it and let us see a better environment for Alice Springs so that we do not have to be fearful whenever we leave our homes.
Alice Springs has had enough of the Martin government continuing to ignore our pleas for help. It is time we have a permanent, fully-established police force in town. Then, ask the Commissioner of Police to consider how many more are required here.
One final point, and your colleague, the Leader for Government Business, might like to respond to this. You seemed to say yesterday in the media that you have fully funded the Commissioner of Police so that he can continue his operations in Alice Springs and throughout the Territory; you have given him all the resources you can possibly give him, now it is up to him to deliver. I recall another minister in Victoria who said: ‘Oh well, I have told the CEO of the Health Department that he has to do certain things and he has not and he has now been sacked’. Is the commissioner’s job on the line?
Mr HENDERSON (Employment, Education and Training): Madam Speaker, this is the weakest censure in a debate on law and order that I have heard in my eight years in parliament. The opportunity for the opposition to hold the government to account via a censure motion is to prosecute the case that lies in the censure motion, and both speakers have patently failed to do that.
Before I go to the technicality of motions and the way the parliament operates, I say to the people of Alice Springs, as we, as the government, have been saying all week and since we came to government in 2001: we recognise that there are very deep-seated social issues and problems leading to antisocial behaviour and crime in Alice Springs, in Central Australia, and across the Northern Territory. We have said repeatedly that these are deep-seated. There are no single silver bullet cures to rid the Northern Territory of crime and antisocial behaviour. We spend many hours in this parliament debating these issues. All 25 members of this House want to see an improvement in those areas.
We have a responsibility as leaders. Each one of us is elected by our constituents, not only to represent their views, but to show leadership by moving the Northern Territory ahead and creating a better social and economic climate. That is what our constituents entrust their faith in us to do in this parliament. It is not just about representing views.
In the two days that we have been debating these issues in Alice Springs, we have not had anything from the opposition in regard to strategies and what we need to do to try to improve the major issues that affect and confront this community. All we have is scaremongering and amplifying, through a megaphone, the problems that we have. I do not see that as the role of a member of parliament. Sure, we have to talk about the issues, but we have to offer solutions. We have to try to be constructive. We have to try to engage on how we will move the Territory ahead, rather than being a cheer squad and amplifying the problems.
Never let the facts get in the way of a good story from the Leader of the Opposition. The first part of the censure alleges that the minister for Police has lied to the residents of Alice Springs about the capacity of local police to respond to the deteriorating crime situation in this town. There are many planks to the allegation, but she did not prosecute where the Police minister had lied to the people of Alice Springs. There was no prosecution; nothing would have stood up in a court of law: ‘Yes, Your Honour, the Police minister is guilty of lying’. There was not even a direct allegation about where he actually lied. There were some loose tangents cobbled together to allow rhetoric and hyperbole to reign.
We then move to the next point of the censure motion. I nearly rose to call a point of order, but I wanted to see where the Leader of the Opposition was going with this. She directly alleged – and we do not have the Hansard; the rushes have not arrived – that, as a result of the demonstration out the front yesterday – the Leader of the Opposition talked about 500 people; I think estimates were around 250 to 300, but a significant demonstration nonetheless, and many angry and upset people whose right I respect to demonstrate to this parliament - the Police minister picked up the phone to the Police Commissioner and directed him to dismantle the Domestic Violence Unit and the Property Crimes Unit and redirect those resources to the frontline. What an outrageous allegation; it is almost contempt of this House, Madam Speaker.
The Leader of the Opposition is a lawyer. I am not going to comment about how good a lawyer she was or not; I will leave that for other people to determine. However, as a lawyer and as the Leader of the Opposition who purports to be a potential Chief Minister, as a member of parliament, she has an absolute responsibility to inform herself and to speak the truth in here. It is an offence to mislead this parliament. So great is the trust that the people put in us as their representatives, the single biggest offence that you can conduct in this parliament is to mislead it.
She made a direct allegation. I would have thought that, as a lawyer - and I believe she practised criminal law, I am not sure. However, if she did not practise it she must have studied it. The Police Administration Act is fundamental legislation that outlines the powers of the police. It is fundamental legislation which any lawyer worth their salt - any lawyer worth their salt - I would have thought would have understood pretty clearly. I will read from section 14 of the Police Administration Act, ‘Control and management of Police Force’:
(1) Subject to this Act, the Commissioner shall be charged and invested with the general control and management of the Police Force and may, in addition to those powers, exercise any powers conferred on a Superintendent or other officer of the Police Force.
In plain English, the commissioner is charged and invested with the general control and management of the police force. It then goes on to say:
(2) The Commissioner shall exercise and perform all the powers and functions of his office in accordance with directions in writing, if any, given to him by the minister.
Therefore, the only way the minister can direct the Police Commissioner to deploy resources or to make any decisions at all in relation to the general control and management of the police force - the only way that the minister can do that, otherwise it would be unlawful - is to direct the Police Commissioner in writing. I would have thought the Leader of the Opposition would have known that the Police minister has no capacity - it would be illegal for him - to pick up the phone and call the Police Commissioner, or the Commander of Police here at Alice Springs, and direct the commissioner or the commander to dismantle parts of the police force and redeploy them elsewhere.
If she does not know that, well, what a second-rate, third-rate lawyer she must be. If she does know that, then she has deliberately come into this House and misled this House. That is a very serious allegation. I am going to err on the side of generosity to the Leader of the Opposition, that maybe she does not understand what is in the Police Administration Act; that she was such an incompetent lawyer she does not understand that the Police minister can only direct the commissioner by way of a written instruction.
I believe, in the history of the Northern Territory since self-government, that no Police minister in the Northern Territory has ever issued such an instruction to our police commissioner, because to do so would be to show no confidence in the commissioner. If we do not have confidence in the Commissioner of Police, the powers of the police, the structures of police, to make decisions about where police need to be deployed to maintain order in the Northern Territory, then we would have no confidence in the commissioner. I and this side of the House have every confidence in our Police Commissioner; he does a fantastic job. We can all talk about facts and figures, but there has been a general reduction in crime across the Northern Territory since he became Commissioner of the NT Police Force.
For the Leader of the Opposition to abuse her very important responsibility to be informed, to show leadership, and come into this House tonight and allege, by way of the most serious motion that can be passed in this parliament, that the Police minister has abandoned his confidence in the commissioner and directed him in writing - because it is the only way he can do so - to deploy resources in Alice Springs is an absolute shame and one of the lowest points that I have seen in regard to her performance in this House. That is why this censure just does not stand up at all. Not to understand the very sound principles that govern our police force goes to show that she is either totally ignorant or she just wants to scaremonger and grandstand on these very important issues for the people of Alice Springs.
If we look at what happened here in Alice Springs - they were awful events; people were assaulted, stabbed, and we had, very tragically, two murders. I have probably been in the Territory longer than the Leader of the Opposition. I have been in the Northern Territory 24 years this year and, for many of those years, I have known many members of our police force through personal relationships. If you talk to any police officer who has been in the police force for 20 years in the Northern Territory, they will tell you about the issues and problems in Alice Springs. To come in here and say it has all gone to rack and ruin since the Labor government came to office – that is fine, that is political rhetoric, that plays well in the community, that is good - it does belie history of the underlying issues in this town.
The member for Greatorex stood up with his press clippings about all the awful events here. Well, I will go away and get equal press clippings over the last five years of the CLP government which will have exactly the same headlines. I believe our community expects more of their elected representatives than just to amplify problems; they want solutions from us. The Leader of the Opposition and the member for Greatorex showed contempt for our police in their contribution in debate tonight. Did the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Greatorex actually get up and congratulate our police force because, in each and every one of those events a couple of weeks ago where assaults occurred in the mall and, tragically, people were stabbed and murders were committed, arrests have been made and charges have been laid? In each and every one of those cases!
Did we hear the Leader of the Opposition or the member for Greatorex acknowledge that the police have done a very large part of what we asked them to do; which is bring these people to court? They have done that; they have shown great professionalism, very quickly, within two weeks, rounded up, arrested and charged a large number of people for those offences. Such is the contempt that the Leader of the Opposition has for our police force she could not bring herself to mention that in here and say: ‘Hey guys, and the women of our police force, well done’. That is the level of contempt that she holds those police in.
Regarding the issues about the phone number, again - talk about phonegate, watergate! Obviously, there are some technical issues there. I was minister for Police over 12 months ago - I cannot remember the exact date - when the police brought in the new Territory-wide number, 131 444. There was a lot of media coverage about it at the time. I know all local members were contacted directly that a new call number was in place. I believe all electorate offices were supplied with information about the new number …
Mr Bonson: And magnets
Mr HENDERSON: … and magnets for fridges and what have you - because we do all play a very important role as members of parliament in getting information out to our constituents.
For the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Greatorex not to know that the police had changed the general contact number for people to report crimes or make complaints to - well, I do not know where they have been. They are either totally incompetent or being deliberately mischievous …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Totally incompetent or deliberately mischievous. Instead of saying: ‘There must be something going wrong, Sensis must be wrong …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … but I know, because I am a responsible member of parliament wanting to serve my constituents, that the number that you should be calling is 131 444’. But, no, the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Greatorex would rather play cute games and try to score cheap political points than serve their constituents. That is where the Leader of the Opposition does not get it. That is where she does not get it; whether you represent your constituents or you are there to serve your constituents. You can do both. You can do both, Leader of the Opposition. You can walk and chew gum at the same time - maybe you cannot. There are obviously issues regarding the nonsense about the phone number, and they need to be fixed. However, the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Greatorex, as members of parliament, were told formally that this was a new number.
In the short time I have left today, I have to get stuck into the member for Greatorex because he really is the worst of the worst - the worst of the worst in abrogating his total responsibility to show leadership in this community. We talked a lot today about the importance of tourism to Alice Springs. We all know the importance of tourism to Alice Springs. We all know the thousands of jobs, the businesses that are supported by tourism in Alice Springs, Central Australia - the hundreds of businesses that are directly benefiting from tourists. For a member of parliament, for a local representative, to come in here tonight and claim, over and over again, that there is anarchy in the streets of Alice Springs is absolutely reprehensible regarding his responsibilities to show leadership.
I will read from the Oxford Dictionary the definition of ‘anarchy’. I am not a great person for quotes and where they came from but, as a politician, there are some fundamentals. We are governed by words. Words are very important to politicians, and we know and understand the powers of words. English Prime Minister Disraeli made that point. If we look at the definition of ‘anarchy’ in the Oxford English Dictionary, it states: ‘absence of government, a state of lawlessness due to the absence of the supreme power, political disorder’. It is a total and utter breakdown of law and order in our society; a lack of political governance; a total and utter breakdown. You are talking about Baghdad or somewhere like that. Even George Bush would not admit that there was anarchy occurring in Baghdad.
The member for Greatorex came in here and made those claims: a total absence of law and order. Each and every one of the alleged perpetrators of those acts have been apprehended and charged. Where does that demonstrate a total absence of law and order? We have issues and we have problems, but does the member for Greatorex really want front page headlines in national newspapers saying ‘Alice Springs MLA claims anarchy in the streets. Alice Springs MLA says there is a crisis of lawlessness’? Is that contributing to the solutions? Or is it really going to his constituents and saying: ‘I do not care about you. I want to shaft your property prices. I want to shaft tourism in this town. I do not want to be part of the solutions. My responsibilities are to amplify and exaggerate the problems’.
Madam Speaker, this has been a defining debate in this parliament tonight which shows a complete lack of leadership from what is a very responsible position in this parliament. As the Chief Minister said yesterday, the third most important position in this parliament is to show leadership and provide a very clear alternative. Well, there are problems here. The government may be accused of not doing everything it can. That is fine. But that is a long way from anarchy and a complete breakdown of law and order in our streets. That is a very dangerous thing to say in trying to attract tourists and workers to this town, in ensuring our businesses are profitable and that property prices stay strong where people have their whole lives invested in it. It is absolute shame on the member for Greatorex, in particular, in debate in this parliament tonight. If he does not run again at the next election, it will be best for the Territory.
Madam Speaker, I move that the motion be put.
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition!
There are two motions before the chair. The first is that the question be put and the second is the censure motion. The question, then, is that the question be put.
Motion agreed to.
Madam SPEAKER: The question now is that the censure motion as moved by the Leader of the Opposition be agreed to.
Motion negatived.
MOTION
Note Statement - Achieving Better Educational Outcomes
Note Statement - Achieving Better Educational Outcomes
Continued from earlier this day.
Debate adjourned.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
Madam Speaker, Mr Mike Hindle, the Town Administrator for Nhulunbuy for the past 12 years has retired from the position and moved to Queensland. He became Town Administrator in April 1995 after working as a supervisor in the Commercial Department of Nabalco and, prior to that, was the Area Manager for the Northern Territory government’s Transport and Works.
He is a keen sportsman. Many old soccer players remember his formidable frame occupying the goal square as keeper. Cricket was another regular sport he enjoyed. Mike was also involved in various community groups and committees included the Arnhem Club and Rotary, and he was a foundation member of the Bowhunters and, in recent years, was a driving force behind the East Arnhem Harmony Mawaya Mala Group in an attempt to address antisocial behaviour. He brought together all stakeholders and, from that initial meeting three years ago, we now have the care centre operational, with the official opening just three weeks ago.
Another of Mike’s achievements was complying with new federal airport regulations, the runway being extended, and a new terminal building for Gove. In Mike’s time as Town Administrator, the implementation of beautifying the town in general, along with children’s parks and the skate park, is a credit to him. I thank Mike and Pauline for the huge contribution they have both made to our town. I wish them well as they begin a phase of their lives in Queensland.
Mr Paul Hocking will take over as Town Administrator. I wish him well. Paul and his wife, Michelle, and family have been in Gove for three years, after Paul accepted the accountant’s position at Nhulunbuy Corporation.
I also congratulate the new board members recently elected to the town board: Lynne Walker, Rick Mooney, Dave Suter and Geoff Hulme, whom I am sure, will represent Nhulunbuy in a dedicated manner.
‘Sit ‘em and clip ‘em in’ is the catch phase for a joint Nhulunbuy community road safety initiative generously sponsored by Alcan Gove. The driving force is our Officer-in-Charge of the Nhulunbuy Police, Tony Fuller.
In August 2006, an unrestrained three-month old baby was tragically killed in a double fatality road crash just outside Nhulunbuy. As a result of the accident, several community members got together to form a partnership to do something about the lack of car seats in the region. As the result, a number of child car seats are now available for use by residents of East Arnhem Land. Perkins assisted with freight, Rotary looked after the administration of funds, and Yirrkala Dhanbul has agreed to distribute the car seats and install them where necessary. The project involves an education enforcement program for parents to use the new seats. Nathan Djerrkura, Nhulunbuy’s latest export to the AFL and Geelong’s newest recruit, has lent his support behind the project by being its indigenous ambassador.
I was pleased to be part of the official opening of the Nhulunbuy Special Care Centre, a $3m project to cater for alcohol and other drug issues within the region. For many years, Nhulunbuy has been the only region in the Territory without dedicated services to help people suffering from drug and alcohol abuse. As the Territory government is committed to breaking the cycle of abuse and crime in communities, it has assisted with a budget of $926 000 for the next three years for the centre being managed by Mission Australia. Services to be provided are a community patrol, a sobering-up shelter, and rehabilitation services. My thanks to the Harmony Mawaya Mala Group for their commitment from day one to see the project through. Particular thanks to Mike Hindle, John Cook, Eden Gray-Spence, and Maggie Burke for their leadership roles in keeping the project on track and seeing it through to fruition.
Ms MARTIN (Fannie Bay): Mr Deputy Speaker, tonight marks the 60th Anniversary of the Centralian Advocate. The Centralian Advocate is the Territory’s oldest newspaper and a big part of many people’s lives in this part of the world.
It was first published in 1947 by founder and editor, Charles ‘Pop’ Chapman. I quote him from the first edition:
It is the first paper to be published in Centralia and will in years to come, when the NT is a flourishing state and has its own parliament, be a copy that has a sentimental value.
This first souvenir edition was sold at a cost of 4d and, due to regulations, was not allowed to exceed 12 pages. It was published weekly with a print run of 2000, which included 12 copies destined for England. Today, circulation is over 7500 twice a week.
That first edition came out on Saturday, 24 May 1947, with the headline ‘Storm over suggested alteration of air route’. The reporter was lamenting the decision of the federal government to cut Adelaide out of the Trans-Australian Airline route. His commentary was heartfelt, and I quote him:
- The coming week will be most interesting, as we know to our sorrow that the government does interfere and is apparently going to nationalise whether we like it or not.
Other items in that first edition included an opinion piece on the testing of atom bombs, a story on remote area taxation, a list of notable visitors to town, and an update on the peace situation in Russia. Reading that first edition is a reminder of just how much things have changed and, in some ways, not changed in 60 years. For example, though, in some of the things that have changed, back then a presentable girl - and I do emphasise the word ‘presentable’ - would get an administration job at the Centralian Advocate for 4 a week, or 3 plus a fully furnished room. You could buy a radiola at the D B Neck next in Todd Street and a tin of Rosella baked beans for 10d.
The Centralian Advocate has covered all the big national and international stories over the years, as well as providing first-class commentary on the state of the Territory. Thanks to the Centralian Advocate index at the library - launched by Alice Springs Town Council in 2001 - that commentary will live on and be available to students, researchers, historians and anyone with an interest in delving in our past.
The Centralian Advocate provides a local focus on important news stories for the 30 000 residents of Alice Springs. It is also delivered to Yulara, Tennant Creek and Darwin. Along with our major centres, the Centralian Advocate makes its way to every major Central Australian Aboriginal community - and that is an area the same size as Victoria. Not bad coverage for a local newspaper.
The Centralian Advocate is getting even more popular and its readership is expanding. Under current editor, Greg Thomson, circulation has increased 16% in the last four years. To Greg and his team at the Centralian Advocate, congratulations to you all, you do a great job! To all of the former editors, journalists and staff of the newspaper: congratulations on contributing to such a great icon of Central Australia. Happy 60th birthday.
Central Australia’s construction industry is enjoying a period of sustained and significant growth. During the December quarter, around $91m worth of major capital works were being undertaken in Alice Springs. That figure does not include the hundreds of renovation jobs being carried out by small business and in private homes across Alice Springs. Nor does it take account of a whole range of smaller investments by business people to upgrade their business premises or their infrastructure. The rate of investment in the community says much about the level of business confidence in that community. This evening, I would like to focus on just a few of those investments being made by small to medium companies in Alice Springs.
Ross Engineering is a very successful local company that celebrates its 60th year in Alice Springs this year. When it was founded in 1947 by Bill East, the business was known as East Engineering and was situated in a building where the Peter Kittle Motor company now stands. In the 1950s, Ron Ross started working with East Engineering and, in 1968, he bought the business from Bill East. By the mid-1970s, Ross Engineering relocated to its present site on Elder Street and has gradually grown in size and influence. In 1983, Ron Ross retired and the business was taken over by his son, Neil, and son-in-law, John Joseland. With the assistance of Neil’s wife, Julie, and John’s wife, Meredith, the business has diversified and gone from strength to strength. Today, they have around 36 employees and have trained an impressive 26 apprentices since 1983. They currently have eight apprentices on their books and they work closely with DEET to maximise the benefits of school-based apprenticeships.
Ross Engineering’s confidence in the future of Central Australia is demonstrated by their $1m investment in upgrading their premises. This investment includes new store capacity, and a new abrasive blasting booth, which will enable grit blasting of 15 m lengths of structural steel. This means that local construction and mining companies will now be able to have abrasive blasting carried out right here in Alice Springs instead of Adelaide or Darwin. The blasting can be done in the sealed booth, retaining and recycling grit by-product, reducing noise and waste. This is good for the environment, their business and their customers. The company has also refreshed their corporate logo, marketing strategy, and have drawn up a new capability statement. Local company, Bellette Media has been instrumental in helping them achieve this. It is another example of how investment by one company can have flow-on effects for others.
I convey my thanks to Ross Engineering for believing in Alice Springs and continuing to contribute to its economic development. Congratulations to Neil, Julie, John and Meredith, Ron and Barbara - happy 60th.
Ross Engineering is not the only local company celebrating a landmark anniversary this year. Colemans Printing will be celebrating 20 years in Alice Springs in May. This is a third generation business, and my congratulations go to the Coleman family and all the hard-working staff and managers of the Alice Springs operation. In those 20 years in Alice Springs, Colemans Printing has been under the stewardship of three different managers. The business was established under the guidance of Dave Mortimer and has subsequently been managed by Mark Teakle and present manager, Jeremy Bigg. In that time, the business has progressively grown and now employs 10 people.
Indeed, Colemans Printing has done so well that is has outgrown its original premises on Elder Street and has relocated into a purpose-built factory just down the road. With an investment in the order of $1.25m, the state-of-the-art print factory is fitted with the best quality printing machines available in the world. Their fully computerised and automated printing systems provide Alice Springs businesses and residents with a high-class printing option right here in Alice Springs. That avoids business being lost to interstate competitors.
Like many companies which now recognise that environmentally friendly operations can be good for business, the new printing machines will use fewer chemicals and the savings are passed on to their customers. In addition, vegetable-based inks will provide high-quality print in a more environmentally sensitive way. I am sure everyone will join me in congratulating Colemans for investing in Alice Springs, and for continuing to see the potential of local business. I am excited to hear that Colemans is seeking to further expand their workforce. I wish the Coleman family, Jeremy Bigg, and all the Colemans employees here in Alice Springs a great 20th anniversary.
In yet another demonstration of strong business confidence in Alice Springs, the former Cavanagh Lim Princess Building in Todd Street has been purchased by local businessmen and renamed the GHD Building. An investment of around $2.5m has seen this building transformed into a modern office complex. I am told that two of the business people involved who have significant holdings in the tourism industry in Alice Springs have divested themselves of a tourism venture in Cairns to reinvest here in Alice Springs. That is a great message for everyone living in Alice Springs.
As you approach the intersection of Larapinta Drive and Stuart Highway, it is difficult to miss the large commercial building going up in George Crescent. This is soon to be the new home of Desert Edge Motorcycles. This $2m investment will enable Desert Edge to relocate their existing premises on North Stuart Highway to the far more expansive and higher profile location right on Alice Springs’ major traffic intersection. This commitment by Michael Vroom, Stephen Gunner and Stephen Greenfield is yet another example of small- to medium-size enterprises investing in the future of Alice Springs.
We will continue our strong financial discipline and do all we can to maintain a growing economy - one that provides the best possible environment for private investment. A strong economy is good for business. It creates more jobs and that means a prosperous future for the people and the families of Alice Springs.
Last month, Jim Mitchell retired as President of Greening Australia NT after four years at the helm. Jim leaves a substantial legacy, and his commitment to the Territory and its unique environment will not be forgotten. Jim was a Director of Greening Australia NT from 1999, and his election as president in 2003 put him on Greening Australia’s National Board representing the Territory. Last year, Jim served on the national executive as treasurer, which gives you an idea of the high regard he was held in by his colleagues.
The list of Jim’s achievements are too numerous to mention but, of particular significance, was his role in establishing Greening Australia in the Territory and laying a solid foundation for the future of the organisation here. Jim was instrumental in employing current CEO, Mike Clark, and has overseen the development of strong regional offices in Alice Springs and Katherine. Under his stewardship, Greening Australia services and projects are happening right across the Territory. On behalf of all Territorians, thank you, Jim.
Jim’s replacement as president will be long-term Alice Springs resident, Geoff Miers. He is a committed environmentalist and has been involved with Greening Australia for around 20 years. Geoff is well known around town; he served as an alderman for eight years and Deputy Mayor for three. He also lectures in horticulture at Centralian College and runs his own company, Garden Solutions. I wish him all the best in his new role. Greening Australia is a great organisation, one that makes a very real difference to communities around the nation. To Jim and Geoff, and to the countless volunteers who work on projects throughout the Territory, thank you.
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Mr Deputy Speaker, I join the Chief Minister in congratulating Geoff Miers on his new role with Greening Australia. I have known Geoff for a long time, since the days when he was the president of the ERA; that is, the Eastside Residents Association. Well done, Geoff, and I wish you many good years with Greening Australia.
Tonight, I want to talk about the training of our trainee nurses at the Charles Darwin University here in Alice Springs. Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting with five of these final year, undergraduate nurses. They told me about their concerns regarding their training at the Charles Darwin University. In fact, three of these nurses are in the gallery tonight and are particularly interested in having their issues raised for the government to look at, consider and rectify. I will start with reading a letter written to me by one of the nurses who is prepared to have her name mentioned. She is Christine Koeff. I start by quoting the second paragraph:
- To give you some background on myself, I am a mature age student and have been studying my Bachelor of Nursing degree (pre-registration), externally for the last four years and am in the final year of completion. After my degree I had planned to do my grad year at the Alice Springs Hospital, if there was an available position and then to specialise in remote nursing.
There have been many problems over the years concerning the way that this course is conducted and run, and the standard of service that they provide …
Nurse training, obviously, includes the ministry for education because it involves the Charles Darwin University and also includes the Minister for Health because it requires the services of the Alice Springs Hospital. I hope ministers and their minders are listening to this. As I said, there have been problems over the years concerning the way this course is conducted and run and the standard of service that they provide. I read out a list of problems.
lack of response to e-mails, phone calls and messages left on message banks by the majority of lecturers and the higher echelon;
lack of retention of staff in Darwin, creating ongoing problems for students.
- These are just some of the problems that have been constantly experienced over many years. The main problems that we are having at present are placements. Personally, I had contacted the university and informed them that I was unable to do placements till (sic) June 2007 as I had only just finished my 2nd year placement in March. I received a message from the uni on my answering machine on Friday, 30 March 2007, informing me that if I did not accept the placement starting today, 2 April, no more placements would be offered to me in Alice Springs.
I repeat that because this is important to understand:
- I received a message from the uni on my answering machine on Friday, 30 March 2007, informing me that if I did not accept the placement starting today, 2 April, no more placements would be offered to me in Alice Springs. I received this message at approximately 1800 hours ...
That is 6 pm for those who do not know:
- I would have been unable to accept this placement even if I was able to; no details were given as to when and where and the time that I received this message. How can CDU expect students to be able to organise time off work, family commitments and the like with next to no notice? I am not the only person this has happened to.
I have found this message totally unprofessional and unnecessary and I perceived it as an ultimatum and blackmail. I pay this university for a service, and they are not providing it.
I have sent a letter of complaint to …
I will not read the name of the person:
- … who is the Head of School, Faculty of Health Sciences, and she should receive that today. Previously, I had lodged a complaint with the Alice Springs Hospital regarding placement and CDU.
In short … the university is not up to standard and these problems need to be addressed and resolved. An inquiry needs to be made into the running of this program by the government. And assistance provided if necessary.
Even if the problems with my placements are sorted out, this does not negate the fact that CDU has been lacking for a long time. This has not only affected me and every other student, but will affect students to come and those still continuing. This, in turn, will affect the recruitment process, and people’s opinion of CDU and the Northern Territory.
When I met with the five undergraduate nurses last week, several of them told me that their placements are still not finalised one week from the time they are supposed to start their placements. Why can’t the Alice Springs Hospital and the Charles Darwin University work collaboratively to ensure that our local trainee nurses get placements? The Flinders University in Adelaide is able to organise their students to be placed in Alice Springs six weeks before they are due to arrive, yet our local institution cannot get that organised.
It puts our local women at a great disadvantage. These are women who have families and their homes in Alice Springs, and you can bet $100 to $1 that, once they graduate, they would like to remain in Alice Springs or, at least, the Northern Territory, to work and help resolve the issue of the lack of nurses from which we suffer.
One student told me that she had to put her studies off for the next six months because she has been unable to fit the schedule that has been imposed upon her by the Charles Darwin University, and the time that is required for her to manage her family. There are 15 undergraduate nurses in their final year and they are all struggling. Placements are very difficult to organise. It appears that the officers responsible at both Charles Darwin University and Alice Springs Hospital are either not prepared or not able to assist.
There are 15 new first-year undergraduates who have just started, and they are all worried that this course will not go the full distance. If it does not and they have to transfer to another university, I have been advised that many universities interstate are not prepared to accept a full transfer of all the subjects across because those universities consider that Charles Darwin University does not provide core subjects at an adequate level for the first couple of years. If you have to transfer to an interstate university after two years of study in Alice Springs, you are going to find yourself demoted back to a year-and-a-half, or even first year. That would be a great tragedy.
At the moment, nurse education is through Austudy or, if they can, supported by part-time work. You have to self-support or have the support of parents. If a course has to be extended by a year or more, it makes it so much harder for these women to try to maintain their work and studies. It is not good enough.
For the life of me, I cannot understand why Charles Darwin University could not negotiate with the hospital well before the trainee nurses start their course, and make sure they lock in those placements well before any other university interstate tries to locate its students into our hospitals. That should be a priority.
It appears to me, in talking to the undergraduate nurses the other day, that the Charles Darwin University is understaffed in the nurse training area, and not focused on the students at all. There seems to be a lot of bureaucratic processes going on in Darwin more than Alice Springs and, hence, they are not able to focus their minds on the issue of placement of student nurses at the hospital. We all know that in undergraduate training of nurses, apart from the theory component or the academic component that you have to do at the university, you have to have hands-on experience; that is, experience dealing with patients, with colleagues, doing all the jobs that a nurse is expected to do. If you do not have that clinical placement, you will not come out as a well-rounded nurse once you have finished your three years of studies, and that poses a major problem for many hospitals. Some nurses are found to be wanting because they do not have enough clinical exposure.
Clinical placements are absolutely essential. Charles Darwin University and the hospitals, under this government, have an obligation to provide those placements. If you cannot provide those placements, then you should not be taking the number of students that you want to take.
It is a catch-22, and I believe that there is a way. I propose to be coming up with a policy in the very near future. The CLP will come up with a policy where we will ensure that every trainee nurse that is recruited by our university will have a firm place at our hospitals for training, and to ensure that, once they have finished their academic component, that they will be adequately trained in the clinical component as well.
I hope that the Charles Darwin University and the hospital will take my comments to heart and sort it out. I hope the Charles Darwin University will start negotiating with the hospital urgently to ensure that there are enough placements available for the next eight months of this year, and to ensure that there are continuing places available for the future, as there are now more nurses starting their first year and they need to be assured that they can complete their course over the next three years. If they cannot, then all we are doing is defeating ourselves. We are struggling now to recruit nurses. We know that to recruit one nurse into the Northern Territory from interstate or overseas could cost anything up to $20 000 each and, if they do not stay, that is a very expensive exercise. We have our local women who are prepared to do it. We should be doing all we can to ensure that they have those places guaranteed in our local hospitals.
If it applies to Alice Springs, I am sure it is also occurring up and down the track. I hope Darwin is a bit better, because the university is mostly based in Darwin. The Alice Springs campus of the CDU has been a poor cousin for a long time, and I blame the Darwin centric management of CDU for not focusing well enough in Alice Springs. These undergraduate nurses have arrived at a desperate position. They are frustrated with the lack of response and the Charles Darwin University has treated them with real contempt. It is important that Charles Darwin University starts to realise that if these nurses pull out then the Charles Darwin University will actually lose funding as well from the Commonwealth government. It will be to nobody’s detriment but to the Charles Darwin University itself. I urge the government to take heed.
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Visitor
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of the Mayor of Tennant Creek, Mr Rod Swanson. On behalf of honourable members, I extend a warm welcome to the Assembly.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Mr Deputy Speaker, I place on record tonight a tribute to my friend, Mary Blaiklock, nee Gagliardi, who retired officially from Education after 45 years, 40 of them in the Territory. I know the minister paid tribute to many teachers the other night for their long-term service to the Territory.
Mary has an interesting story and I want to read it to the Assembly so that they will understand what it was like to be brought up in the Territory so many years ago.
Mary’s family originated in Italy and they migrated to Argentina in search of a new life and settled in Buenos Aires. Her grandfather, Pasquale Ciccone, was an adventurer, and many of us in Alice Springs remember him. He spent most of his youth and early adult life in the United States. It was stories of the gold discovery that lured him to Australia in the early 1920s. At first, he settled in Victoria and, when he saved some money, he travelled to Adelaide, then to Maree by train, and on to Alice Springs by camel and donkey. That is the way they had to travel then. Her grandmother followed when he could afford to pay for her passage and, by the time she arrived in Australia the railway line had been completed, so she travelled to Alice Springs on the train. Being an only child, it was not long before Mary’s grandfather convinced her parents to join them in Australia.
In order to migrate, immigrants need to be sponsored, among other requirements. The sponsor gave the government a guarantee that he would provide the prospective immigrants employment and housing. When Mary’s parents arrived in Alice Springs in 1938, they brought with them what they could carry in their suitcases, and a guitar. At that time, they were in their mid-20s and had one child with another on the way. Adelaide House, now a heritage building in Alice Springs, was the hospital at that time, and Mary’s sister was born there in 1939. Her parents spoke Italian and Spanish, and her sister spoke Spanish better than she spoke Italian, much to her grandfather’s dismay.
The family’s first home in Australia was at Winnecke which is roughly 200 km east of Alice Springs. Her grandfather had pegged a number of areas where the reefs looked as though they might lead to a gold find. Mary’s father worked for her grandfather until he had repaid the cost of fares for the family from Buenos Aires to Alice Springs. He was a pretty tough old grandfather.
During World War II, wolfram was needed for the war effort, and goldminers were encouraged to move to Wauchope to mine wolfram. It was during this time that Mary was born in Tennant Creek, which was the nearest town. After this, the family returned to Winnecke and they went on to The Pinnacles looking for gold and copper before moving out to Harts Range and Plenty River to mine mica. It was mica mining that turned the family’s fortune around and gave them a good start financially.
Mary’s first memory of living in the bush was at a place called Undippa. This is nine miles from Mt Riddock Station. Undippa was a place where her father found his first lot of mica, and he was able to buy an old Model T Ford ute and materials to build a more substantial structure for the family to live in because, prior to that, they lived in tents or bough shelters. Her father’s best mica mine find was at the Queen Elizabeth mine at Plenty River. As both her parents were ardent royalists, they thought it was fitting that they should give the very rich mica mine a name after Princess Elizabeth.
Whilst growing up in the scrub, Mary said she never had time to be bored because there were plenty of ways to amuse themselves. One of their favourite pastimes was to climb onto the water tank and shout into the round hole at the top to listen to the echoes. They were not supposed to be on top of the tank because they could have fallen in and drowned. One day there were four of them on top of the water tank having a great time and, on two occasions, they had been told to get off the tank. The third time when they saw their mother coming, they all jumped off thinking that they were in for it. Three of them landed safely, but Mary landed with her right arm across the edge of a galvanized iron wash tub and broke it. She said she did not recall feeling any pain, but she remembered her mother getting into a flap and saying some interesting things - but God was not getting involved. In retrospect, her mother must have received some sort of inspiration because she got busy, cut some splints from one side of a tea chest, placed these on top and under her arm, and bandaged it and put her arm into a sling. She then dressed Mary in her best town dress and shoes, gave her two aspros and put her to bed under mosquito netting.
Because the father was in town picking up supplies, they did not have a vehicle at the camp, so Mary’s mother left the Aboriginal women in charge of the children, took the water bag and the dog, and set off to walk to Mt Riddock station to get help. This was a distance of nine miles. After a time, her feet became so hot that she removed her undergarments, soaked them in water from the water bag and wrapped these around her feet and continued to walk. This incident happened in December, so the weather was pretty hot. Once she reached the homestead, Kil Webb took her mother back to the camp, and took Mary into town into the hospital. Mary said she remembers her mother’s feet were so badly blistered that she was bedridden until her feet healed.
The prospect of going to school for Mary was exciting because it meant going into town, but the excitement soon wore off when two elder sisters came back with stories about the nuns and the convent, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. However, they also came back speaking English so now they could have secrets that the parents could not work out.
They soon learned to be careful when grandfather was around because he always spilled the beans. As well, they kept themselves entertained for hours and, sometimes, the older children frightened the younger ones with stories about school and the boarding house. The good part was that they brought back new games to play, new ideas to play with, and new songs and stories.
From the age of six years, Mary joined her older sisters as a boarder at the convent and her first teachers were nuns. She went back to Undippa three times a year during the school holidays and remained a boarder and student at the convent for the first fours years of her young school life. At the end of Year 4, her parents advised the nuns they would not be returning to the convent; instead, they would board at Griffiths House, which was run by the Methodist Inland Mission, and they would attend Hartley Street Public School.
In just seven weeks, Mary said, she went from being a Roman Catholic to a Methodist, and she went from hating the thought of leaving home to go to school to hating leaving her friends at Griffiths House and Hartley Street School to go back bush for the holidays. She completed Year 7 at Hartley Street School and moved on to what was then known as the Alice Springs High Primary School which was nearing completion at the time. The school is now known as ANZAC Hill High School. Each year, the number of students in her class dwindled so that, by the time she got into her fourth year in secondary school, there were only four left, and she was the only girl. Her name is on the Honour Roll at ANZAC Hill High School now. After that, she travelled to Adelaide to continue studies and attend teacher’s college. This was the first time in her life that she came out of the Territory. In fact, the extent of her travel, at that time, was to and from the bush camp to Alice Springs, with a population of about 1500 people.
She flew to Adelaide in a TAA DC3 - and I am sure many of us remember those. They had two stops, one at Leigh Creek, and the other at Oodnadatta; these were the mail and passenger stops. If the mail truck was late getting in they just waited and then continued. As they entered the plane, the hostess always stood in the doorway and flapped a tea towel to make sure the flies did not join them. We all think of that, as we still get flies when we board the plane at Alice Springs.
The trip to Adelaide took about six hours; a long time for a young girl. She said:
- I could not believe my eyes when we flew over the sea. I knew plenty of things about the sea and had seen it in the pictures, but I was just not prepared for the vastness of it, and flying over the city of Adelaide threw me completely. I was sure I would never be able to find my way around, or find my way home.
She was met at the airport by the matron of the boarding house and two of the boarders and, because she was from the Territory, she was a bit of a curiosity for some time at the boarding house. This had some advantages she said, ‘because I was not always pleased with some of the attention I received’.
Her first teaching appointment when she completed her teaching certificate was at Ross Park Primary in 1960, which was then attached to the ANZAC Hill school. She said:
- I did not take this up at the time and went to Ethelton Primary in South Australia instead. I transferred to Ross Park in 1963 and remained there for two years.
That is when I first met Mary Blaiklock in 1963, at Ross Park where I was teaching also.
In the meantime, her partner, Dennis, was accepted at Wattle Park Teacher’s College as a mature-aged student, so she returned to South Australia until he completed his training. In 1967, both Mary and Dennis were appointed to the Adelaide River Primary School. Although she had then completed seven years of teaching, Dennis, who was a beginning teacher and a male, was appointed as the head teacher and she was his assistant. In 1970, they transferred to Mataranka Primary and there, again, because he was a male, although he had less experience, he was appointed the head teacher.
At the end of 1977, they transferred back to Alice Springs and went back to teach at Ross Park until 1988. In 1989, she took up the position of Assistant Principal at Gillen Primary and, over the next seven years, she had a few stints as Acting Principal before taking up the position of Principal at Sadadeen Primary. In April 1999, she won the position of Principal at Braitling Primary and held the position until April 2005 when she went on long service leave prior to her retirement in January this year.
In all, she was associated with education for over 45 years, almost 40 of these in the Territory. She was a classroom teacher for 28 years and thoroughly enjoyed her work with the children, and developing relationships with the parents. I remember telling her that she would not be so keen to remain in the classroom in later years, and I guess that spurred her on to take on promotional positions.
She enrolled in further study and completed her Bachelor of Education, her Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management, and Master of Education, and then took advantage of promotions as they arose. She said:
- My years as principal were very rewarding, even though there were times when I believed I must have rocks in my head to be a principal. However, at each of the schools at which I was principal, I told the students, parents and teachers – in fact, anyone who stood still long enough – that this particular school was the best in town.
Of course, when she went to Braitling, it was not just the best school in town; it was the best in the world.
Her wish for primary schools is that they be allowed to get back to explicit teaching, specifically in the areas of literacy and numeracy. She said currently, school teachers are required to deal with social and welfare issues on a daily basis and to meet the ongoing demands of society and government that are continuously being thrust on schools and teachers.
Mary Blaiklock is one of those people who has contributed much to education in the Territory. It is hard to imagine that this lady, who had Italian parents and grandparents who came in 1926, has given so much to the Territory over a long period of time. I value her friendship, and I wish her well in her retirement.
Dr BURNS (Johnston): Mr Deputy Speaker, sadly, tonight I speak of the passing of Professor Alan Walker AM, the epitome of a true all-round Territorian, a humble, though at times almost larger than life, icon of the Northern Territory.
The eulogy from which I will read tonight has been supplied by Alan’s former colleagues and friends at Royal Darwin Hospital. I am proud to read it into the record because I agree with all the sentiments in it. It enlarges on my own feelings about the man, and it expresses the deep feelings of those who worked with him for many years.
While one might mourn such a loss, I feel that Alan’s many enduring achievements beg celebration, as well as respect. I realise that Professor Alan Walker was well known and respected by all in this House, and many Territorians from all walks of life. He touched many lives in countless ways, and distinguished himself nationally as well as locally.
Dr Alan Walker was a man who did the Territory well. Professor Walker was a doctor’s doctor, a noble, gentle man who reflected all of the many virtues extolled by Hippocrates more than 2500 years ago. His life was dedicated to all aspects of medicine and, in particular, service to others. An always dignified and ethical man, Alan was both selfless and energetic in his commitment, whether it was in the area of clinical care, education or mentoring his colleagues.
A sagely and fatherly figure, Alan was the epitome of the noble physician, a person who, over a number of years, engendered the dignified respect of all, a credit to his chosen calling and, for Alan, a calling that was never simply a job or a career, but rather a lifestyle.
His values and sense of justice, although mindful of others, were indeed unswerving. He lived medicine and the profession and the community was the better for it. To paraphrase the great master Hippocrates, Alan:
- Kept the oath … imparting by precept, lecture and every other mode of instruction … a knowledge of the art.
He used that art for the benefit of his many patients of his many patients, recognising always a sense of dignity to human values. He was passionate and sincere, humble and compassionate and, for this reason, loved and respected by many from every walk of life.
He was not driven by title or remuneration, but rather a care for others, particularly the vulnerable and the less fortunate amongst us. On the one hand, a simple family man committed to family values and to his local community while, on the other, a highly skilled and dignified specialised clinician who dedicated his life to others and left a legacy to be celebrated by all.
A keen and enthusiastic sportsman, he distinguished himself in many areas, not least swimming and Rugby Union, looking always to supporting and encouraging the next generation while actively participating himself.
He was very proud to don the purple silk shorts and play Rugby Union as a master - a master well considered and revered by peers and opponents alike. He was a valued member of the Lords Taverner, the Beefsteak and Burgundy Group, and a supporter of the Royal Darwin Hospital Auxiliary and the Red Cross. He was, most definitely, a multi-dimensional and learned man of the true Renaissance tradition. Steeped in the learning of history and the love of things associated, Alan was very much the well-rounded man. He could speak authoritatively on a variety of historic events and, at the same time, the virtues of a variety of classic whiskeys.
As an outstanding specialist paediatrician, Alan Walker fought fearlessly as an advocate for the cause of Aboriginal health, not simply talking about it but pioneering outreach services, particularly in the Top End, before such causes were fashionable or newsworthy. He worked tirelessly with a minimum of spartan resources available to clinicians some several decades ago, and proved that an individual can make a significant difference. There are many who lived and still live because of Alan’s clinical acumen, his compassion and his understanding of the many and varied elements that must be considered for an effective and sustained outcome to be achieved.
Both as a member and a leader, Alan worked tirelessly with the Australian Medical Association, the Medical Board of the Northern Territory, the Australian Medical Council, and the Northern Territory Postgraduate Medical Council. He was an inaugural Dean of the Northern Territory Clinical School and, until late last year, still took an active interest in clinical activities within the Paediatric Department of the Royal Darwin Hospital and health matters across the Territory.
Alan was also a keen advocate, not only of our indigenous population, but all in society. He recognised early the importance of a sound private sector in paediatrics, and the importance of education and research if services were to be further enhanced and developed. Firmly fixed upon the virtue of ‘first do no harm’, Alan changed the lives of many - colleagues, peers, patients and community members alike – and his passing creates a sad gap that will not be quickly filled. Gentle, professional, respectful and sagely are just a few descriptors of the demeanour of this wonderful man.
In this House, I know our thoughts are with Alan’s wife, Anne, children and grandchildren, all of whom he was immensely proud. We have lost a heroic Territorian but gained a legacy of sustained and practical achievement, and the example of a life which we can all hope in some small way to imitate.
By way of additional background, Mr Deputy Speaker, I add the CV of this exceptional man. Alan Walker graduated in medicine from the University of Sydney in 1955. He served as a resident medical officer at Sydney Hospital and, subsequently, at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Perth, Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in Sydney and at various hospitals in London. He was a Senior Registrar at King’s College, London until 1967 when he returned to Australia to establish the Royal Darwin Hospital Department of Paediatrics. He was admitted to Membership of the College in 1974 and a Fellowship in 1978.
He established a national and international reputation as an authority in health problems of Aboriginal children, and delivered several significant orations and published many important articles in this field.
Alan was a founding member of the Northern Territory Branch of the Australian Medical Association in 1983, serving three terms as President. He was a member of the Council of the Australian College of Paediatrics between 1979 and 1989; the Northern Territory Medical Board from 1986 to 1997; the Australian Medical Council, 1990 to 1997; and the Council of Australian Postgraduate Federation in Medicine since 1983. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators. Having been the Warden of Clinical Studies at Royal Darwin Hospital for many years, Alan was appointed Clinical Dean of the newly-established Flinders University Royal Darwin Hospital Clinical School in 1996. Alan was elected to the council of the college and served until 1997. He chaired the college’s Casemix Committee and was the Northern Territory representative on the Australian Casemix Clinical Committee. He played a leading role in the unification of the RACP within the ACP and, in 1997, convened the Cottrell Conference on the ‘Delivery of Specialist Services to Remote Aboriginal Communities’.
Alan had been actively involved in the community, serving on such bodies as the Northern Territory Council of the Australian Red Cross, the Blood Transfusion Service, the Northern Territory Spastic Association, the Northern Territory Board of the Heart Foundation, and Darwin swimming clubs. His major contributions, however, had been to his patients at an individual level.
In 1991, Alan was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to medicine, particularly in the field of paediatrics. He was honoured by a paediatric conference held in Darwin in his honour in 1992 entitled ‘Excellence in Isolation’. Alan Walker served the medical profession and the college with selfless dedication. This would not have been possible without the strong support and loyalty of his wife, Anne. It was my pleasure to see Anne when I met with Anne and Alan Walker some weeks ago at the Retired Medical Specialists Association meeting that was held. It was a very convivial function and, as always, even though he had a walking frame, Alan was full of vitality and ideas, good conversation and was good company.
Vale, Alan Walker. In the words of Hippocrates ‘… with purity and with holiness’. Alan passed, ‘… his life and practice [of his] art’.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, on Friday, I will be attending the opening by the Prime Minister of the new OPAL (open pool Australian light water) nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights. I am fairly confident that I will be the only representative of this parliament attending, and will be very proud to do so. This light water reactor will allow Australia to continue to be a world leader in molecular science research. This reactor will allow Australia to continue the good work of the Institute of Materials and Engineering Science, The Institute for Nuclear Geophysiology, the Bragg Institute, and the Radio Pharmaceutical Research Institute - institutes it seems the Northern Territory government does not support.
These research institutes will look at innovative ways of using isotopes, addressing important environmental issues such as climate change by improving climate change models and analysing past climate change. Also, they are already looking at sustainable management of water, land and air quality, enabling scientists to track groundwater usage and air particle and pollution tracking, as Australia has been doing in China. The research institutes have developed materials like CeramiSphere and Synroc, which are Australian inventions enabling radioactive waste to be stored safely. They service industry in such important areas as the integrity of structures; for example, what is the useful life of a boiler, assessment of welds, and checking the stresses on metals which is important if you are flying in a plane.
ANSTO is one of the world’s leading providers of irradiated silicon ingots of electronic grade for advanced electronic devices, integrated circuits and many other industrial applications. The new reactor will enable ANSTO to significantly increase its silicon irradiation capacity, obviously something the Northern Territory government does not want to support.
The Radiopharmaceutical Research Institute focuses on cancer and neurodegenerative diseases in collaboration with medical researchers, hospitals and industry. ANSTO produces radioisotopes that spontaneously produce specific amounts of radiation which can be used to diagnose and treat a wide range of human diseases and injuries. For example, hospitals use technetium-99m to diagnose various heart, kidney, lung, liver and thyroid conditions and some bone cancers. Phosphorous-32 is used to treat blood disorders. One of its current projects is aimed at improving dosimetry for treatment.
Of course, the Northern Territory government does not support this. Dr Toyne did not support this because he believed, along with the anti-nuclear brigade, who all believe our isotopes all come from cyclotrons or we can import our requirements from Canada and South Africa - all wrong but, then, what do we expect from people who are just anti anything to do with molecular science? Why do I say the government does not support these programs? Because this government, together with other Labor governments, does not support wastes from the Lucas Heights facility being stored on their little patch of Australia. Here we have a facility which works for the benefit of Australia being held to ransom by a bunch of ideological bound Premiers and Chief Ministers who cannot see past the good of the nation for their own political gain and popularity. It is for this reason that the Commonwealth government has decided to store radioactive waste - mainly low level but also including some intermediate level - in the Northern Territory.
Yes, we may not like it because the laws of the Territory have been circumvented, but what options did the Commonwealth have in the end? There was an agreement by the Commonwealth and the states to store the product in South Australia but this fell apart when the South Australian government objected to the Commonwealth proposal to site the repository in the Woomera region. The South Australian government may have had some design concerns over the facility but the main reason was the ‘not in my back yard’ syndrome which, of course, applied to all states and territories.
The need for a single radioactive waste repository was recognised by a Labor federal government, later by the Coalition government and by the states but, when it came to the crunch, none of the states wanted anything to do with it. We in the Territory have missed a great opportunity to show Australia that we are mature enough to find a site in the Territory to store the radioactive material and show that we support the benefits of the Lucas Heights facility. Why should we? Because we are Australian. Yes, I am a Territorian but I am also Australian and I benefit from the work carried out at this research station - and so does all of Australia. There are times when we need to put away our parochial blinkers, our one-eyed arguments, and look at things in an Australian context. This, unfortunately, has not happened and we have the Chief Minister and some of her colleagues joining the bandwagon of scaremongering and fear by telling Territorians about the dangers of storing this radioactive material.
The facts are that this material can be stored and transported safely. That, of course, is not what the minister for the Environment will tell you, even though the scientific facts show you it can be transported safely. Otherwise, a container of medical isotopes would not be on a weekly Qantas flight to the Darwin hospital. Of course, this will be continuing in a greater amount because of the requirements of our new oncology unit. By the way, where do the isotopes come from? It will not affect the beauty or the cleanliness of the Territory - whatever that means - as the member for Macdonnell said in a recent debate. If you do not believe me, visit the radioactive waste repository in Esk. This repository, built by a Queensland Labor government, sits about 11 km from the town of Esk which is about 100 km north-west of Brisbane. Has this repository destroyed the cleanliness or beauty of Esk, a town in a cattle-growing district with an influx of retirees? The answer is simply no.
The arguments the government put forward is a mirror image of the fundamentalist greens’ and luddites’ arguments - who have an underlying total opposition to all things to do with nuclear science. Our government is also happy to use this same non-science ideology-driven popularity-based reasoning on the indigenous people they say they represent. In other words, they use their position as representatives of the Labor Party to give a one-sided and scaremongering view of this whole debate.
I say ‘thank heavens’ for those members of the Northern Land Council who refreshingly moved outside of this restrictive thinking club and went to Lucas Heights and saw for themselves what this debate and Lucas Heights was all about. Funnily enough, their views did not line up with the Labor policy, which is based on keeping people in the dark. That is why there is so much vehement opposition from Labor, especially in relation to the Muckaty Station site.
I do not think I am alone in this view. In a recent letter to the Chief Minister, the Chairman of the Northern Land Council said in relation to the Barkly electorate office, that:
- The actions of arranging without consultation or authority, transport for an NLC meeting regarding a national interest project was plainly politically motivated and constituted an attempt to subvert lawful processes being implemented by the Northern Land Council pursuant to Commonwealth legislation. In short, those responsible were evidently trying to influence the course of the meeting, and/or to falsely create the impression that Northern Land Council consultations were inadequate.
That is the length some in the Labor Party will go to promote their anti-nuclear agenda.
Whether the waste facility goes to Muckaty Station only time will tell, but what is so refreshing in this whole debate is that at least some Aboriginal people have been willing to look at the other side of the story and not just the one the member for Lingiari puts out in his newsletter, or Senator Crossin repeats ad infinitum, or the Labor government tries to shove down peoples’ throats.
Unfortunately, the government has tried to play this issue for all it is worth, trying to use a smokescreen that this all about the Commonwealth overriding the Territory. I am not a great fan of the Commonwealth overriding the Territory either, nor am I a great fan of the sites selected by the Commonwealth, as they were simply selected because they are Department of Defence sites. However, if our government had been more visionary, less parochial, shown more leadership and put Australia first, then it could have selected a site or sites which could have had benefit for both the Territory and Australia. The Chief Minister says there were no sites selected in the Territory. There may not have been the final sites but there were sites selected in the Tanami and the Mt Everard region. I am sure there are other sites. Why did the government not support those sites, or any other sites? After all, with a land mass of one-fifth of Australia and a population of 200 000, of which 150 000 people live in the major towns, surely we can find a place in the Territory to store safely the radioactive waste.
Why does the government not support the Muckaty Station site? It is not because of the Commonwealth overriding our laws, as the Chief Minister said; it is because Labor does not support the Lucas Heights reactor. It does not support the advances in medical, environmental and engineering science that comes from the reactor. It does not support Australia as a world-class centre for the study of molecular science …
A member interjecting.
Mr WOOD: No, they do not support anything to do with nuclear, except funnily enough, the mining and export of uranium. They want the green vote; they want the vote from people who, unfortunately, have not been told the whole story about nuclear science. They talk about bombs, Chernobyl, plutonium, and anything they can dig up to show that nuclear is bad, poisonous, scary and monstrous. Unfortunately, this is what we have to put up with as part of a rational debate.
As usual, Labor critics will say: ‘Why not store it at Howard Springs and see what your constituents think?’ I know it could be stored safely. Just look at the Esk facility built by the Labor Party in Queensland, 11 km from the town. Esk is still there, and so are the cattle, the tourists and the residents ...
Members interjecting.
Mr WOOD: No, they do not light up at night. The cattle industry has not been affected, the tourists still come, and the population of Esk is growing.
The reality is that people have been told by Labor and its fundamentalist mates for years and years about the terrors of nuclear waste, so it would be very difficult to convince people to have it close to where they live. Why do you need to put it close to a community? Why even have that debate when there is plenty of room in Australia to put a waste repository; when there is a vast amount of land where people do not live and, in many cases, like some parts of the Tanami, rarely or never frequent? Of course, indigenous people own much of the land, but the Northern Land Council has shown that these issues can be worked through.
Sadly, this whole mess could have been sorted out if the states and Commonwealth could have agreed to a site and stuck to that agreement but, alas, this has not happened. I will quote from the dissenting report by Labor members on the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry and Resources in November last year, which looked at Australia’s uranium. What they said:
- … is that Australia has not been able to leverage its capacity to manage its own low and intermediate level waste.
They went on to say:
- … this is related to a history of dishonest political campaigns and a failure of national leadership on this issue.
How true, from both sides. The Commonwealth said the waste would go offshore and not in the Territory. This did not happen. It obviously did not happen because it was not feasible. On the other hand, the Northern Territory government promoted the evil of radioactive waste with publicly-funded scare campaigns and petitions promoted through our so called non-political public service.
The Northern Territory government could have shown itself to be a leader on this issue and shown it was willing to do something for the country, not for its narrow-minded view of the world and an outdated party ideology based on astrology rather than science. The CLP needs to review its policy on this issue also, as many of their supporters that I meet agree with me. They have jumped too quickly into bed with the government on this issue, and I believe they should think again.
The new OPAL reactor will be one of the most modern in the world. Its future depends on a safe and secure radioactive waste repository. If nobody can agree on where it should be sited, let us take the lead and show the rest of Australia that we are part of the nation and we are willing to lead the way. The opening of the OPAL reactor will be an historical occasion. It will signify Australia’s mature attitude to the advancement of molecular science for medicine, environmental, and industry purposes. Hopefully, one day we will have an equally mature attitude to the storage of radioactive waste, but I will not be holding my breath.
Regardless, I will be proud to represent the Northern Territory on Friday at the opening of the OPAL nuclear reactor. I know I will at least be representing those many independent, knowledgeable, visionary, and thinking Territorians - who, obviously are not on that side of parliament - who understand the issues and the benefits this nuclear reactor will bring to our country.
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): That was very inspirational, member for Nelson. It certainly kept us all awake at this hour of the evening. I wish you well on your trip to Lucas Heights.
Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, this afternoon I responded to the Chief Minister’s statement on the wonderful things happening in Central Australia and I ran out of time, so I want to talk this evening about roads.
The roads in the Centre that need a considerable of money spent on them include upgrading the Tanami Road. I was just about to call it a track because, at times, that is what it has been lowered to. The lack of maintenance on this road has caused huge amounts of damage to transport vehicles and has also resulted in the loss of a freight company to Western Australia. This is a significant economic loss to Alice Springs and should not have happened.
The Australian Trucking Association of the Northern Territory also reported in a recent newsletter that transport operators running on the Tanami Road had experienced nearly a month of transport delays already this year due to the road failing. I quote from the newsletter:
Revenue losses for both rail and road already amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. It seems that the mines in the areas at one stage ran dangerously close to stopping due to a lack of supply. Not a good look for potential investors or the job prospects that go with it.
That says it all. It is essential that this government ensures there is adequate funding for the Tanami Road and other remote beef transport thoroughfares. As we have said in the past and we in opposition will say again, we support the Northern Territory government in a bipartisan approach to the federal government for funding to upgrade our roads. We are on the record saying that over the last three years that I have been involved in politics.
It was pretty hard to understand, when the minister for Transport issued a press release stating that the federal government had failed to provide funding for the outback highway, and that they had backed away from their promise. The truth of the matter is that the federal government provided the funding, which the Territory government would not match. Under the long-term agreement and arrangement that the federal government has, you match the amount allocated by the Territory which, in effect, was nearly a reduction of $1.5m to the Northern Territory. That $1.5m that was not provided by the Northern Territory government was reallocated to Western Australia, which was prepared to meet their commitment. Therefore, it is a bit rich for the minister for spin - the minister for Transport, who I am actually going to recrown as the queen of spin - to say that the federal government took money away from Territory roads. In fact, that is nothing short of being a blatant untruth. This government could not and would not meet their side of the funding arrangement, and that is the truth.
Another area that is of great concern is that the idea of permits for the vehicle manufacturers to test their vehicles in the Northern Territory has been rejected by this government. This decision is very disappointing and has come as a shock to Centralians and the people who prepared a very detailed proposal for government to consider. A lot of detail was provided to government, which should have reassured them that to issue permits to vehicle manufacturers to test their vehicles in the Northern Territory was going to continue to be very advantageous economically. Manufacturers have been coming to the Northern Territory for almost 40 years and there has never been a breach of safety. This morning, the Leader of Government Business said to bring on the stats that support the claim that the loss to the economy was over $5m as stated. First of all, minister, I am more than surprised that government did not research that very important issue before making a decision to reject permits.
However, just in case you need some assistance, Leader of Government Business, in making your calculations, there are over 15 manufacturers – and there are more than that - who bring teams of drivers, technicians and support staff to the Northern Territory for an average of three weeks at a time. This involves airline seats, freight of goods into the Northern Territory, accommodation, restaurants, food, fuel, IT facilities and tourism activities amongst others. What this government has effectively done is close the door to vehicle testing, and these manufacturers will look at Africa or Kuwait, where they will be welcomed with open arms. It is a significant loss to the Northern Territory economy.
It would appear that Tennant Creek is already feeling the loss, as I noted the government has had to sponsor the Tennant Creek Show this year to ensure that it continues. From recent media reports, it would appear that the Ford Motor Company used to lease the Tennant Creek showgrounds and pay substantial fees, all of which is now lost. That is just one early example of the consequence of this decision.
Just today, in support of what the opposition has been saying about the government’s lack of interest in issuing these permits, the Chamber of Commerce of the Northern Territory issued a media release. I would like to read it into the Parliamentary Record. It is headed: ‘Government attitude astounding’.
- The Chamber of Commerce NT today condemned the recent decision by the NT government which saw the rejection of a proposal from industry to permit the continued vehicle testing by major car manufacturers on Northern Territory roads.
Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive, Chris Young, said: ‘The attitude of the Territory government towards the processes of open government and the business community in particular is astounding. This government, which committed itself to the process of ongoing consultations, pays lip service to the concept and ignores the practicality time and again’.
- ‘When the NT government introduced speed limits on the Stuart Highway, they were completely ignorant of the effect they were going to have on an industry that has been operating with an exceptional safety record for over 30 years’, said Mr Young. ‘And why were they ignorant? Because they did not consult with industry before they introduced the laws’.
- ‘No matter how you view this issue, the NT government has successfully neutered an industry which directly contributes between $5m and $9m a year to the Central Australian economy and provides enormous spin-off through the promotion of the Territory in motoring magazines across Europe.
To make matters worse, when government is presented with the well-constructed, rational and logical plan from industry which would allow the testing to continue, it is rejected out of hand with the government citing they do not want to compromise their road safety strategy. If this is, indeed, the case, why has a licence been issued allowing the Finke River Race to continue? We seem to have a hit on a double standard from a government that continually responds to issues in a knee-jerk way without proper consultation or investigation’.
‘We have repeatedly asked the government to provide us with clear and unambiguous statistics of the fatalities and injuries that have occurred over the last five years on the Stuart, Barkly, and Victoria Highways, outside metropolitan areas, where speed was considered the cause of the accident. So far, we have been deafened by the silence’.
‘The crowning glory of this whole process then comes when the government announces that it will not consider changing the current legislation, and then deliberately misquotes industries’, said Mr Young. ‘They try to justify their position, without giving a single decent reason, claim that testing is still occurring, despite having been advised by industry that the speed component was completed prior to the introduction of the new limits. The government has not spoken to the Chamber since industry delivered its compromise package to the responsible minister. We are led to believe that they also neglected to consult with their own departmental staff or other relevant institution, such as the police. If this is not an arrogant attitude, then what is?’
This morning we heard comments made by government that we had a position in opposition that was, obviously, not the same as theirs. You are dead right! We do have different opinions in this matter, the reason being that we understand about the money that would be introduced to the economy of Central Australia through having the car manufacturing industry continue their testing within the Territory. I believe that this government has been very negligent in not checking out the facts before they made this decision. I do not honestly believe for a moment that they realised how big the industry was and how much it meant to Central Australia. That continues along the same vein as the Leader of the Opposition has been saying; that the government does not know what is happening in Central Australia.
I would say after the last couple of days they are getting a pretty fair idea. I suggest they will probably be back a little more often. I am extremely disappointed; I would like them to re-look at this because there is still an opportunity to maybe salvage this particular industry for the Northern Territory. I certainly hope that they wipe the pride away and look at what is best for Central Australia.
Mr KIELY (Sanderson): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I have the pleasure tonight of advising the House of a number of significant sporting championships which will be occurring in the electorate of Sanderson quite soon. They will all be held at the Darwin Golf Club.
I am talking particularly about the golfing championships for the Arafura Games which will be happening between 14 and 24 May 2007; the NT Women’s Open Championships which will be held between the 3 and 7 May 2007; and the National Veteran Golfers’ Association Championships from 3 to 8 June 2007.
The Arafura Games will be attracting a field of both national and international golfers. It is a wonderful event and it is great that the Darwin Golf Club - and also the Palmerston Golf Club, but I will just focus on the Darwin Golf Club - has been able to make itself available to host this event which it has done in the past. It is a very credible event as well.
The NT Women’s Championships will be held from Thursday, 3 May through to 7 May 2007. This year is to be the first year that Darwin Golf Club is responsible for the running of the competition. I single out the women’s committee, the people who are running this. The ladies captain is Lorraine Horton, with Tricia Clarke, Val Ingram, Vicki Purser, Sue Reaburn, Liz Madden and Jenny Chaplin, and they are doing a wonderful job to pull this together. It is their first event, so I guess they are winging it a little. I know that, while they are going to be handling the championship itself, they are looking for extra volunteers to help run the off-course events. It has been a very proactive committee and they have hunted out some major sponsors: Justin Stone from Spotlight, and Gulf Transport through Jenny Cooper, and L’Oreal of Paris through Greg Brown. It is a very active committee running this ladies competition.
I believe there are going to be around 100 women golfers from Alice Springs, Gove, Broome, Queensland and New South Wales who have registered to participate in the NT Women’s Golf Championship. I look forward to hearing the results of that. As my office backs onto the golf course, I hope to get over there and meet some of the golfers and see how the day is going.
Following on from the May championships, we will have the National Veteran Golfers Championships. This has taken a fair bit of work by the committee of Harry Coehn, the tournament director and secretary/treasurer; Mal Powell, President of the NT Veteran Golfers’ Association; John Tedford, President of the Palmerston Golfers Association; and committee members, Joe Smith and Allan Grove.
Last year, Harry Coehn, Mal Powell and John Tedford travelled to Perth to promote the Northern Territory Golfers Association. They took their proposal to Tourism NT, which helped out in marketing this event. It was quite successful. Mr Coehn came to my office and asked for a Northern Territory flag he could take with him so that he could help raise it up the flag pole and then use that as a marker and really promote this. Full points to Messrs Coehn, Powell and Tedford for the job they have done. Their work has resulted in something like 600 people attending this event. Out of that, 350 men and 127 women will be playing, and there will be 123 non-playing people attending this event.
I urge all members, if you get a chance, to get down to the golf course. It is going to a fantastic event. Think about what 600 people coming in June means to the economy. These are 600 veteran golfers who have time on their hands, I dare say, to come here. While they are playing golf, the 123 non-playing people will be out touring, having a look around the place. The golfers will also have time after the competition to visit all our magnificent venues. This is why Tourism NT got behind it.
I seek leave to table the Stop at Darwin in 2007 flyer which Tourism NT helped get together. It says:
- Darwin’s championship golf course, located in the northern suburbs of Darwin and close to the city, designed by Peter Thompson and Mike Wolveridge, is fully reticulated and offers a great challenge to all golfers. In conjunction, we also offer the Palmerston Golf and Country Club course. A very challenging and newly-opened nine holes now make the Palmerston 18 holes course one to master. The city of Palmerston is just 15 minutes drive from Darwin. If required, the Gardens Park Golf Links and rural Humpty Doo Golf Course are also available for play.
You can see in that wrap-up, they have managed to pick up on the Darwin Golf Course, the Palmerston Golf Course …
Mr ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please pause, member for Sanderson. Is leave granted to table that document?
Leave granted.
Mr KIELY: They have managed to wrap up all the golf courses so that appeals to all the golfers and they have encapsulated what it is. It goes on to say:
- Darwin is also a popular holiday destination, thanks to a laid-back charm cultivated in equal parts by its tropical climate and geographical position. Fishing is a fantastic way to get acquainted with Darwin’s huge harbour or, alternatively, sunset cruises let you take in one of its spectacular sunsets. Darwin is also the gateway to the Territory’s Top End, unlocking access to such unique attractions as the Tiwi Islands and Litchfield Park. It is also a stepping stone for trips into Kakadu National Park and Katherine.
You can see the clever marketing that has gone on in getting this veterans championship up here and what it will mean to the economy. A big pat on the back to those three intrepid marketing golfing champions who went to Perth and Canberra.
That brings me to the other point, which is that when Mr Coehn came to tell me about the championship, he was looking to see what support we, as a government, might be able to give to him. I was reminded of our commitment prior to last election to provide $150 000 per annum for four years to conduct a golf tournament as a visitor drawcard during the shoulder period of the Top End tourism season.
Members may recall that we made a commitment, through me talking to the golfers, which was going to be through Major Events, aimed at the shoulder period in April so that we could get people to start filling up beds in our hotels a little quicker. It was seen as a really good niche market that we would be able to fill, to get these beds filled by having a golfing tournament in that particular period. There have been some difficulties in the golfing fraternity being able to organise this. As a matter of fact, two funding opportunities have gone by and the offer still had not been picked up.
Talking to Mr Coehn, I thought maybe we could use the Australian Veteran Golfers Championship as a lighthouse project so that NT Golf and the clubs who might be organising this could see the benefits of having such a tournament, how it could work, and what was required. With that in mind, I wrote to the Chief Minister, in her capacity as the Minister for Tourism controlling Major Events, and asked her whether she would consider looking at the funding that we had set aside for a unique championship and seeing if we could use this as seed funding for the Veterans Golfers Championship, on the understanding that we use this as a learning opportunity and see what you can do to promote and get a championship going in the April season. I am pleased to say that government was able to come to the party to the tune of $50 000, which will go to the Darwin Golf Club, and $50 000 to the Palmerston Golf Club to help them.
I outlined that, with the Arafura Games, the NT Women’s Open Championship, the National Veterans Golfers Championships, all these courses would be taking quite a pounding just after the Wet Season, and this money would come in handy in helping build up the course. It is not to be seen as money going into the clubs to build up the course as repairs and maintenance. This money will be helping get the courses into tip-top condition so that these other golfers - and word of mouth means a lot in golfing circles - will go away and talk about the fine facilities that Darwin and Palmerston have to offer. Then, hopefully, when the Northern Territory Golf goes to market its new championship in April, then they will be able to call back on that. It is absolutely fantastic! I believe that was a great opportunity and I am glad that it was picked up by the government. They have been advised that the money is available for them. I understand that the clubs are now looking to access that money and get to work and get these courses in tip-top shape for all these tournaments.
It brings me on to another point about the role that the Darwin Golf Club plays in our community in Sanderson. Darwin Golf Club, of course, is an integral part of the Northlakes Estate. It sits in the middle of it. It also is a great little club which is easily accessible from all the northern suburbs. It has been there for approximately 20 years. It was relocated from in town. The building is showing its age. While some people might think that golfers play an exclusive sport, and they have a lot of membership and pay high club fees by other club standards, really, when you look at the grounds that have to be maintained, that money gets gobbled up pretty quick. It is really hard to find money to maintain for these clubs and the premises.
I advise that, if the club is looking at certain ways of perhaps progressing new facilities, if they have some options that they might want to come to government with, I will support it. I believe it is a fantastic club and a fantastic amenity, and one that is good for the whole of the estate. If they can get to become a more popular spot, getting more interaction, not only from the golfing community but the non-playing golfing community, from the residents of Northlakes, then I reckon, go for it! Around the club, I have spoken to members and also to committee members on an informal basis and, over a number of committees, club managers, and bar managers, they have all been keen to upgrade the facilities of the club, because they see the tourism value and the sports dollar.
We are getting a convention centre. We need a premier golf club. People who come up here to play and go to the conventions really do a lot of work on the golf course. If they are at a convention, they can get out and do that. We have the military ships in. We are getting a clientele up on The Ghan who are really in the market where they want good premier services. There is an opportunity exists for Darwin Golf Club, and for Palmerston - for our Palmerston members. I see the Darwin Golf Club, however, as being the one that is more central to the convention groups. Also, the facilities that they have to offer make it the premier golf club and golf visiting site in the Northern Territory.
I would be more than happy to represent the committee to the Chief Minister, the minister for Sport, the minister for Business, and the Infrastructure minister, and do all that I can. There is an opportunity knocking; government should be listening. If government is not listening, then it is my job, as a local member, to get in there and open the doors, get the audiences, and get progression on it. Let us look to the future and get this club as a premier golfing venue in Darwin and the Top End. Go committee, go members; let us really make this a great venue. The benefits, particularly for the people of the estate of Northlakes, will be felt right into the future. With that, I say goodnight.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, first I wish to acknowledge those who are in the gallery at this moment. I admire you and am humbled that you would stay this duration. I also acknowledge the speech made by the Independent member for Nelson. I regard that as the best speech that has been delivered in this parliament this year. I wish him well. I am proud of the stance that he has taken. He has my support in that which he outlined. The honour has been bestowed upon him to represent the members - who, by interjection withdrew any reference to them being represented. I am proud for the member for Nelson to represent me at the opening.
This week, we have seen, clearly, a community concerned. In the Top End, perhaps also in the Centre and maybe in Tennant Creek, we have seen brochures that have been delivered to letterboxes. There has been one graph that has disturbed me for some time. I understand the nature of the debate that has occurred in the Chamber, and I recognise the concern that many Territorians feel about the rising levels of lawlessness. However, when you see a graph that shows that the policing levels in the Northern Territory is so extraordinarily high compared to other jurisdictions, we can only wonder if we would be outbidding each other as election cycles progress, to see whether we can further increase the number of police, and have that seen as our major objective and achievement.
That troubles me. I would like to see more sincere effort made to work on another front to ensure that we change the nature of the society in which we live. There are effective programs that are at work in our community that can do that.
Last night, I presented a paper in response to the concerns that I, as a citizen, and many other citizens have also recognised. Members may know that I was brought back to this issue quite abruptly one evening a few weeks ago when my home was broken into, and I apprehended a juvenile - a young lad of 17 - in my home. It was in assessing this young lad and considering his options that I felt it necessary to progress a topic that has been discussed at length in public forums a couple of years ago, and to get back to work. I was pleased that we had a good attendance at that forum last night. I will read into the Parliamentary Record elements of the program that I described at the forum last night.
It is entitled Beyond Wildman River. The purpose is to strengthen Territory youth. It is based on the principles of building mutual respect, self-restraint and generosity of spirit. When the young lad broke into our home, and I heard more of his story, I learned that he had been on diversionary programs. Due to his age and his history, the next option was to be, most likely, Don Dale. Clearly, diversionary programs had not affected him to the degree that he had modified his behaviour. Looking at him now, typical of a young lad I have taught and others that I have seen at the local footy club, to go to Don Dale further confirms what he already has assessed of his own life of hopelessness - he would be confirmed in particular path if he is incarcerated.
What concerned me was that there was an absence of value of the sort of programs that we had put between diversionary and incarceration. Between those two extremes we need to now focus on building stronger and more effective programs. We need programs that are built on a tough love approach. Anyone who has raised good kids knows there is a clear difference between what kids want and what kids need. We need programs that are courageous enough to strike that line; to care enough to say no in the best interests of the one we want to build capacity for in the future.
The paper, which is currently in draft form, speaks of wilderness-type programs – outback programs - with a core element of an outback experience. It is beyond boot camp. It is based upon principles that we see in programs across the Territory – Mt Theo to name one. Other programs operate in other states and some international programs are of a similar nature. It is more than boot camp.
I have, as an educator for 17 years, made use on occasions of taking troubled or troublesome younger students, particularly senior primary students, on extended periods in the bush to help establish better directions, and better capacity to engage. I have found this the most effective and the most robust way of changing and giving direction and strength to lives. It is a fight because there is a fight of values here; some people do not like this approach. They would like to, under the veil of endless compassion, hope that, ultimately, the kids will come to their senses. However, the evidence is clear we are not winning the war, and we need to stand up and to show some principle in our fight.
There are alternative programs already in operation in the Territory and there are some good people who operate them. However, I do not believe that they have been recognised or appreciated. It is time to gain greater support for these kinds of programs.
The program I describe is most effective for young people between the ages of 12 and 18 years. That is an age when change is most likely to be embraced. The core of the program centres on these elements: the removal of the person in this case from a dysfunctional or familiar environment - take them away from the toxic environment; challenge their existing beliefs and behavioural patterns; rebuild through exposure to different environmental demands; and the provision of a supportive group setting and models of appropriate behaviour.
What is really important in these sorts of approaches, once you have arrived at that stage, is to ensure that you provide a rite of passage and a celebration of the achievement after you have gone through that process. Some of us have been through that process, others perhaps have not. Our young people need to know that they have gone somewhere, that they have passed from one phase to another. Sadly, the way that things work is that many of our young people see graduation is, perhaps, going to gaol. They want to become young men. I have seen troubled and uncertain young lads go on long bushwalks, survival camps, and come out the other end a foot taller and feeling like a young man, with greater sense of confidence and the capacity to make decisions. I want to see that quality stirred in our young people, and I want to see the programs that can do it.
The core of the program should be delivered in an outback location remote from familiar surroundings. There are three different groups that could be directed to these sorts of programs. There is leadership training. I would like to see in fact every Territorian, every young kid to go on programs like this. You can have leadership training and you can have programs that are for young people at risk. If you go to any of our schools in any town and you will find that there are many kids who are easily identified as at risk of failing in education and less likely to make good decisions upon leaving school. Then there is the other group, which is those who are juvenile offenders. You can adapt this program to meet any one of those client groups. We should start to build in these sorts of programs and give greater value to them.
The program that I have described has three different elements. First, of course, is the bush survival component because the bush is a great teacher; it offers its own natural therapy. There is also another aspect to it; that being, exercise and healthy living have a very positive impact on mental health. Do not underestimate the effect of caffeine, sugar and other substances on the mental capacity of our young people who are caught up in a toxic environment. Many substances are just so harmful to their capacity to even think clearly and make proper decisions. A typical program would consist of a number of staged hikes and bush survival.
Another component of it would be personal challenges - real challenges. Anyone who has ever done abseiling has made that decision to go backwards over a cliff after having heard how it is to be done; trusted your equipment, then backed over; trusted the people giving you advice; and trusted yourself – it is a personal challenge. There are many challenges like that - riding a horse, for example. To match a horse with some of those young characters that I see in Palmerston and have done whatever I can to reach, can be very challenging. Once achieved, it can make them feel so strong and able to take on other challenges; to learn some traditional skills and take greater pride in the knowledge that existed in our community in times past, and to gain a greater respect for those who have gone before us.
The third element is community engagement, and there are two parts to this. One is they are to be involved in a project of value to the community in which they live. That could be heritage work, environmental projects, working for Riding for the Disabled, lending a hand at the seniors’ village, helping at a community event, or perhaps rebuilding some paths or barbecues in some of the parks.
The other part of the community engagement section is to work with people in the community and understand what goes on in their community - who does what job - and to learn that some of the people around them, whether they are the local policeman, the plumber, the taxi driver, or school teacher, were all teenagers at one stage and they all have stories to tell. Let them hear the story of a teenager who has grown up to be a successful businessman, who has a family, who overcame challenges. Let them make that connection and understand how their community works so that there is a point of connection.
There is also an important component; that is, reaching the parents. Another important point: is this program to be indigenous or non-indigenous? Would there be two sections? Absolutely not! There would only be one program and it would be for indigenous and non-indigenous working together. I would expect to see some of the facilitators and trainers on these programs to be indigenous men or women, depending on the client group. I would expect to see young indigenous men and girls, at different times, mixing together because the principles that guide this are universal; they are not guided by race. They are principles that, if we were able to strive towards, such as mutual respect, self-restraint and generosity of spirit, they transcend culture. If we were able to work towards them, it would bring us together. I do not want to see any sort of program that would create further division.
Ultimately, we need to look at the governance and support structures that would develop around a program like this. This is a draft paper and I am happy to circulate it once I have done all the academic referencing.
One particular program in Victoria which has assisted me in deciding on the sort of model that I believe would be most effective is Operation New Start. I intend to go to one stage of their program later on this year to participate in the graduation ceremony and one phase of the outdoor activities, to learn about the governance and structural support that goes on to maintain programs such as this.
I acknowledge and appreciate the level of support that has already been offered for these sorts of programs that have been discussed at the public forum, and the practical corporate support and community support that has been offered. From what I have learnt in Alice Springs, this is something that could start in Alice Springs. I hope to see it replicated right across the Territory. One day, I hope to see hundreds of Territory kids go through programs like this and to build a stronger Territory by rebuilding and strengthening our young people.
Ms ANDERSON (Macdonnell): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, as I noted in my recent statement to parliament on behalf of the substance abuse committee, the Northern Territory is on record as having the highest consumption of alcohol of any jurisdiction in Australia, and the worst profile for chronic and acute harms.
This, according to the Northern Territory alcohol indicators, includes high levels of alcohol-related accidents and hospitalisations. Alcohol harm in remote communities of the Territory can be beyond even these high levels, averaged as they are across the whole of the Territory. For these reason, alcohol management plans have become a particular matter of interest for the committee as one of the most important parts of government response to the challenges of alcohol abuse.
As I reported over the course of this current inquiry into substance abuse in remote communities, the committee has heard, at some length, testimony from witnesses in the existing alcohol management plan at Groote Eylandt. It has also heard testimony about the proposed plan in process at Nhulunbuy, kept a watching brief on the development plan of Katherine, maintained an interest across all plans proposed and in development, and on the work of the Office of Alcohol Policy Coordination, OAPC, which has been instrumental in initiating and supporting alcohol management plans.
At Groote Eylandt, the committee heard an intensive description of the alcohol management plan showing how it come about; the processes involved in engaging the community to support the plan; mechanisms now active in the current implementation of the plan; and the wide range of benefits which have come to the community as a result. Witnesses from local employers, licensed premises, Alyangula Community Council, the Northern Territory government and the Northern Territory Police, all attest to the benefits of the plan, which appears to have struck a successful balance between reduction in freedom in access to alcohol, and the benefits that come from retaining tighter control over its use.
Key to the success of the plan is that an extensive process of consultation between the community and other stakeholders resulted in high levels of community assent and engagement. The result is that the plan is more an expression of community will than something imposed and enforced from outside. This has its serious benefits, not only for alcohol abuse as such, but for a number of important factors in community life, including better outcomes on employment, and reductions in property and violent crime. It has, by default, freed the community to think more constructively about other challenges.
As a result, the committee has been most favourably impressed, and has maintained an interest not only in this particular plan, but in seeing it used as a model for other communities. The committee also viewed proceedings at Nhulunbuy with great interest, giving us, as it did, an opportunity to see a similar process under way at an earlier stage of development.
From what the committee has seen, it seems that alcohol management plans are shaping up to be a distinctive Territory response to a challenge that has, at times, appeared insurmountable. The key features of this successful approach appear to be extensive consultation with communities, a recognition by all interested parties of the damage caused by alcohol, the consequent need for action, and leadership taken by people from local council, police and government. In this process, OAPC personnel have been instrumental in getting plans under way and helping communities work through the often difficult decisions that need to be made about alcohol freedom and constraint. This approach has important results. First, the community owns the plan and the decisions made around it.
The Groote Eylandt plan is successful because key players, government and non-government, have been astute in leaving decision-making with the community while helping to keep the process on track. For this reason, the community is fully engaged in making the plan work and common reactions to an increase in control, such as raising contraband trade, are reduced. While they are not eliminated, it is plain that the fact that the alcohol plan has not been imposed on the community has led to a higher level of cooperation on these challenges as well.
It can be said truthfully that, in relation to alcohol management plans, government has been able to do three things that governments often find difficult to do: (1) it has listened; (2) it has been able to work in a coordinated way through its arms and agencies; and (3) it has been able to take a role without alienating local people from the decision-making process and from the sense of engagement and responsibility that goes along with that. This might be considered as a template for better outcomes in all kinds of interaction between government and local people across the Territory, and its importance cannot be overstated.
It is worthwhile considering how all this came to be. It will be remembered that the Office of Alcohol Policy Coordination was created as a result of the government accepting the Alcohol Framework of 2005, in which the establishment of OAPC was a key recommendation. The office was created in late 2005 under Treasury in Racing, Gaming and Licensing and, since that time, with a staff of four including its director, it has been involved in scoping, resourcing, and facilitating alcohol plan processes at a number of sites including Alice Springs, Batchelor, Borroloola, Daly River, Darwin, Gove Peninsula, Groote Eylandt, Jabiru, Katherine, Palmerston, Tennant Creek, and Timber Creek - all in various stages of scoping, discussion or implementation.
If I say a little about what is involved in supporting such a process, it will give members and this Assembly a better appreciation of how much the OAPC has been able to do. In supporting alcohol management plans, the OAPC has served a number of functions including acting as a conduit for funding, facilitating negotiations between stakeholders, and engaging expert consultants to research and prepare draft plans. These draft plans are then discussed and reviewed by communities as an integral part of their decision-making on rules for access to alcohol - a process which creates the settings for the eventual alcohol management plan.
Throughout this process, OAPC personnel have been engaged in the challenging business of fostering negotiations between different elements of communities. Since relations between these groups may, at times, have a vexed history, and may have interests that are, on the surface of it, apparently at odds, this often requires not only considerable skill but also will and commitment. In short, OAPC personnel have acted as advocates and enablers in relation to alcohol management plans, and their positive input has been key in allowing plans to maintain momentum. Communities need help to work through these challenging but, ultimately, constructive processes leading to better outcomes on alcohol.
However, the committee now finds reasons to be concerned. At the same time that the benefits of the OAPC’s activities are coming to light, there are structured changes occurring that seem likely to give it a lower status and profile within government due to it being absorbed into a new business unit in the Department of Justice. There appears to be some likelihood that the alcohol-specific functions of the OAPC will, under this new structure, be subordinated into initiatives on crime prevention and public disorder. While these may appear to be related matters, if such a move were to occur, it would blunt the force of good work I describe here today: to keep alcohol in focus and to follow through with constructive efforts to tackle this key Territory problem.
The very fact that we know the dimensions of the alcohol problem leads us back again to the central importance of the OAPC, since it is itself the publisher of the Northern Territory alcohol indicators, the best available information on alcohol consumption in the Territory today. The alcohol indicators are a remarkable example of a government so concerned about a key public health issue that it is willing to make a mark upon the wall and challenge itself to do better. The alcohol indicators must be supported and maintained.
The things this government has done about alcohol have been important, and it has shown great courage in so doing. We have come to pass, however, where some of this focus - this justified sense of the priority and importance of alcohol - is at risk of being lost. Consequently, the committee recommends to government that it restores the OAPC at a higher level of government under the protection of the Chief Minister, as originally proposed under the Alcohol Framework. Recent changes showed just how necessary this is. Alcohol abuse is not a problem that will go away by itself. To make progress, government must follow through on the great beginnings it has made. If the OAPC is able to continue its work in fostering alcohol management plans and, more widely, in coordinating the changes in the culture of alcohol consumption in the Territory as intended under the Alcohol Framework, the Territory stands to reap great rewards. Without that broader vision and that capacity to deliver a coordinated approach, the cost of alcohol abuse in the Territory will continue to be unacceptably high.
This is a great opportunity. In 10 years, we can either look back with a sense of opportunities lost, or add a new state of affairs in which a purposeful, concerted approach has turned alcohol in the Territory around to benefit all. That is something well worth the attention and concern of all my colleagues here today.
Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I also want to mention a few sports weekends that I have attended in my electorate. The Easter weekend was a good weekend for communities coming in and enjoying the hospitality of Alice Springs. However, with all the demonstrations and the things that we have discussed in this House over the last couple of days, antisocial behaviour is right at the top of the issues that we see in our town. As a member and as a long-term resident of Alice Springs, I am concerned about the antisocial behaviour. As I said at the lunchtime demonstration in the mall today, we have to isolate the two problems that we talk about in Alice; being the town camps issues and also the antisocial behaviour that has been caused by people who come in from remote Aboriginal communities.
At the same time in saying that, I want to stress, as I have stressed at these meetings today, that we really need to look at why this is happening. For every renal patient who is taken from a remote Aboriginal community in my electorate, there are 12 to 15 people coming in as a support mechanism for that person. With the changes to Centrelink, which is Commonwealth government legislation, there are not many people who get cheques delivered to remote Aboriginal communities anymore; it is direct into their key card accounts. There are not many remote Aboriginal communities which have EFTPOS or ATM machines. Therefore, people have to come to Alice Springs to access ATM machines and spend their money.
That is not making excuses for the antisocial behaviour that we face in Alice Springs. I, for one, do walk the streets of Alice Springs on weekends and I will sit in the streets until 2 am to see the antisocial behaviour. As I said earlier, we have to separate the two. It is really sad to see Alice Springs going down in this direction.
At no stage have we had people talking about why this is happening. I walked down the street into the mall this morning and was shocked to see the number of people who were in the mall. As a local member, I take this issue seriously. I talk to people not just in my electorate but also in the town camps and in the streets of Alice Springs, and encourage people to go home. I also encourage minibus drivers like Mr Chewings sitting in the audience here - and help pay for him - to take people to funerals and also to drop people off in communities where possible. I can fit six people in my car, and I am always taking six people home to help alleviate the problems that we face as residents who live in Alice Springs.
I really feel as a government, as Centralians, we need to have the courage to make the hard decisions; to make sure that these people go home, that they are not abusing the hospitality that Alice Springs gives them, and making sure that their children and their wives and their families are always safe and in good care.
Regarding the murder that happened a couple of weeks ago here in Alice Springs, there is a long history of people in my electorate fighting, and it is just overflowing into Alice Springs. It has happened not just from the electorate of Macdonnell but also from the electorate of Stuart. As politicians, as leaders, we need to go back to our communities and encourage these people to make sure that they keep their fights and their disagreements out of our reach so that our town is safe for our children to be at the cinema and enjoy the movies and walk out without being harassed outside the cinemas. We need to encourage people to go back and build their communities, to make sure they look after their families and take their children to school every day.
In closing, I would like to talk about the Aboriginal police officers at Santa Teresa a couple of weeks ago. I would like to really talk about Phil Alice and the great things he did for the safety of Santa Teresa over the three day sports weekend, with all Aboriginal police officers. There were seven communities from right around and it went without incident. Everybody was safe, everybody camped on the community, we went to the concerts, they played the footy, and it is great to see that Papunya won the Santa Teresa Grand Final but lost to Wulaign over the Easter break in Alice Springs. However, they will still be runners-up. This is the kind of message we need to send to our people, to make sure that they enjoy the hospitality of Alice Springs.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, in the last two days, we have seen three rallies or demonstrations here at the Convention Centre, which is housing the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. The first one on Tuesday saw between 400 and 500 people - mums and dads, business owners and staff - protest and voice their concerns about the future of our town. Those voices deserve to be heard.
Today at about midday, another group protested against the minister’s decision to ignore their wishes - or what was an overwhelming wish by the community - not to locate the demountables, commonly known as the dongas, at two particular sites. Those people deserve to be heard.
At about 6 pm tonight another group, Advance Alice, expressed the same concerns as so many Alice Springs residents have expressed about the future of our town, and their voices also should and deserve to be heard. I wish the members of Advance Alice well for the future because I know that, like me, they are determined to do everything in their power to improve the future of Alice Springs and, if that means protesting against government, then that is what they will do.
If we step back from those three demonstrations, it can be fairly said that many people in Alice Springs are sick of being ignored. If there is one hope I have for these sittings, as I said in my opening address when parliament opened on Tuesday, I want the government ministers, when they go back to Darwin at the end of the week, to help us in our commitment and our willingness to address our problems and provide us with the opportunities and the resources to do so.
As local member and as a person who is proud to live in Alice Springs, I naturally raise my concerns as a citizen but, more importantly, the concerns of the people I represent. I do that in parliament when we sit in Darwin, in the media, and when I speak to all sorts of people. I am used to being abused and berated by government but, as I said, in the censure motion yesterday - one of two thoroughly deserved censure motions against the government: get stuck into me as much as you like, but do not attack the people I represent. Do not attack those whose views I am seeking to put. Do not shoot the messenger. I, like everyone else, like every other member of this Assembly, am the constituent’s representative. We are their humble servants. We are public servants. We serve the public. We serve those who elected us to parliament. In fact, we would all be derelict in our duty if we did not voice and represent the concerns of our constituents.
When the government accuses me, in the course of my duties, of being a whinger - in addition to all of the other terms of abuse they throw at me – what, in fact, they are doing is abusing the people I represent, the people of Araluen and, in a broader sense, the people of Alice Springs - my town, the town in which I live. It is the town in which I have lived pretty much since I left university; the town where I have served my working life, or certainly most of it; the town where I want to and will continue to live for many years to come. When the government ministers abuse me, they are abusing Trevor Filmer, the organiser of the big rally we saw on Tuesday, and everyone else who turned up. When they are abusing me, they are abusing Mr Jerry Fitzsimmons, the man who organised the protest today about the demountables, and everyone who turned up to that demonstration. When they abuse me, they also abuse Mr Steve Brown, Alice born and bred, from a pioneering family. They also abuse Murray Stewart, an Alderman and elected representative on our Alice Springs Town Council. They also abuse everyone else who turned up and is a member of Advance Alice.
That is disgraceful beyond description, and words fail me really as to how to best describe the degree of offensiveness directed at those people. It cannot be overstated. Those people courageously turned up to exercise their democratic right to protest against government. I share with them their concerns and I commend them all for giving up their time to come to parliament and call it as they see it. That is what people do in democratic societies. Those people who turned up and the organisations, both formal and informal, are the collective voices of Alice Springs, and I am one of them, and proud to be one.
It is appropriate then that, in that context, I mention the Berrimah Line. The Berrimah Line, increasingly, is being referred to as the Berrimah wall. It has also changed its name, certainly in Alice Springs, to the Parap line. I am sure my colleague, the member for Blain, and certainly my colleague, the member for Katherine, will agree with that. I can tell you that most of the people I represent and, more broadly, the people of Alice Springs, take that view as well. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that a person in Alice Springs wrote a song about the Berrimah Line. I do not know who put this song to music and I have only heard it a couple of times on local radio - but someone has put it to music, it sounds really good and it is played, apparently, quite regularly.
My colleague, the member for Blain, is a good singer and a good guitarist, and he has publicly sung all sorts of songs. I remember in the previous Assembly, Jack Ah Kit sang a song. I think it was an ode to Slim Dusty, and he even put a hat on while he sang the song. It meant a lot to Jack and we all smiled, and we probably gave him a clap at the end.
I do not have the singing skills of Jack Ah Kit or Terry Mills, so it is certainly not the case that I will be singing this song. However, I invite members to think of the well known Johnny Cash song, I Walk The Line. I do not know who has seen the film, but I happened to see it - and it was not a film I expected to see - called Walk the Line. It was about the life of John Cash and June Carter from the Carter family. I have known about the Carter family but I did not know too much about John Cash. I learnt a lot. He was a pretty good singer and a very good songwriter.
With those complimentary remarks to people who are far more skilled than myself when it comes to song writing, with your permission, I will simply read the Berrimah Line song - or at least I think that is what it is called. I ask members, while they are listening, to think of the well-known Johnny Cash song so they have it in their mind and they can tap their toe if they are so inclined.
It has five verses and for the benefit of Hansard I seek leave to table this with everybody’s consent so the verses are accurately transcribed.
Leave granted.
Ms CARNEY: It is as follows:
- I keep a close watch these roads of mine.
I’m sinking money into Darwin all the time
The folks down south didn’t vote for me, that’s fine
I’ll walk the line
The Berrimah Line
I listen to all the chardonnay socialists
They tell me what to say and I think its best
Look after Darwin and just forget the rest
Just walk the line
The Berrimah Line
Our wave pool will be so much fun
On the waterfront basking in the sun
But bad luck if you’re living in Palmerston
You’re below the line
The Berrimah Line
In governing I’ll keep you in the dark
Alice Springs soon won’t have any parks
In fact I think I’m giving away 49
Cause I walk the line
The Berrimah Line
At election time I’ve found the winning link
I don’t need votes of the southerners who think
Just want to sit around and drink all day
I love the line
The Berrimah Line
Thank you, Mr Acting Deputy Speaker.
Mr ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you to everyone in the Assembly, and the gallery who have stayed on. That was a great day and good on you, Alice Springs.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016