ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS
- 27 April 2010
89. Fire Station – South Darwin
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
In regard to the proposed new fire station to service the growing residential needs south of Darwin and the increasing industrial base at the Business Park and the East Arm port activities:
1. what planning work has been undertaken in regard to the proposed new fire station as advised in a media statement of 28 April 2009;
2. is there an interdepartmental committee undertaking the work and, if so, what agencies are involved;
3. what is the total cost of the new station;
4. how much land does a new fire station require for the station and support services and any other associated buildings;
5. for the proposed new fire station, have any consultancies been put out to tender for any research work and, if so, for what work and what cost for each consultancy;
6. how many sites have been considered for a new station and what is their location;
7. what planning work has been undertaken in regard to traffic management plans and for which of the identified sites;
8. of the sites identified as being prospective sites, does any site require a rezoning application before the Development Consent Authority;
9. if a site on Tivendale Road has been identified, what work has been undertaken in regard to traffic management;
10. if a site on Tivendale Road is a preferred site, what will be the cost to install traffic control signals at the intersection of the Stuart Highway and Tivendale Road to allow the emergency vehicles to access the highway safely and expeditiously; and
11. does the access from any of the proposed sites mean the emergency vehicles have to cross the railway line and, if so, how many times and at which locations?
ANSWER
1. Planning work undertaken includes: response time modelling; identification of available Crown land and the sites’ locations in relation to that modelling; services and facilities availability; planned future use of land in the vicinity; roads, current and future use; traffic considerations; risk management; and, response considerations have been taken into account.
2. Agencies that have been involved in the project to date include:
Lands and Planning;
3. The Northern Territory government approved $12.3m for a new fire station. Final costings will be subject to a finalised project.
4. Approximately 2.2 ha.
5. A consultant has been hired for the Social Impact Study. The financial cost for this consultancy is approximately $5000.
6. Five sites have been considered within the Berrimah area. See Attachment 1.
7. Each site has been considered in terms of traffic management.
8. All of the sites considered would have to go through the Development Consent Authority as a matter of process.
9. A number of meetings were held with the Road Network Division and Lands and Planning to consider traffic management, including road entry, distance and setback from major arterial roads for emergency response vehicles.
10. Advice from the Road Network Division is approximately $2 m.
11. All sites considered would require crossing the railway line depending on the location of the incident. Attachment 1 clearly identifies considered sites and the rail corridor. There are new roadworks being considered for the area, including the current Tiger Brennan extension and other planned potential roadworks, which will change the current rail crossing.
112. Territory Growth Towns - Police, Fire and Emergency Services Needs
Mr GILES to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
In relation to the delivery of Police, Fire and Emergency Services to Northern Territory growth towns, for each of the identified growth towns of Maningrida, Wadeye, Borroloola, Galiwinku, Nguiu, Gunbalanya, Milingimbi, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Angurugu/Umbakumba, Gapuwiyak, Yuendumu, Yirrkala, Lajamanu, Daguragu/Kalkarindji, Ramingining, Hermannsburg, Papunya, Elliott and Ali Curung:
1. please advise what planning has been put in place to answer the Police, Fire and Emergency Services needs of the proposed growth towns;
2. for each town:
- (a) what facilities and resources are currently available to residents for Police, for Fire, and for Emergency Services;
- (b) how many personnel are permanently stationed in each location, by employment level; and
- (c) in relation to public safety, what is the safe incarceration capacity of the local police station?
ANSWER
1. Northern Territory Police.
- Territory 2030 Implementation is the A Working Future, Territory Growth Towns strategy which will develop 20 key communities as regional hubs and then transition them into functioning towns which:
have services, building and facilities like any other country town;
are properly placed and designed; and
benefit from targeted investment in infrastructure.
- The 20 Territory Growth Towns (TGTs) are Ali Curung, Angurugu/Umbakumba, Borroloola, Daguragu/Kalkarindji, Elliott, Galiwinku, Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Lajamanu, Maningrida, Milingimbi, Nguiu, Ngukurr, Ntaria, Numbulwar, Papunya, Ramingining, Wadeye, Yirrkala and Yuendumu.
- Thirteen of the 20 have been nominated priority TGTs, being Galiwinku, Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Lajamanu, Maningrida, Milingimbi, Nguiu, Ngukurr, Ntaria, Numbulwar, Wadeye, Yirrkala and Yuendumu. Of the 13 priority growth towns, Milingimbi and Yirrkala do not currently have a policing presence within the community; however, they are serviced regularly by Maningrida, Ramingining and Nhulunbuy police members.
- A Working Future is closely aligned with the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Indigenous Reform Agreement, which aims to improve outcomes for all Indigenous Australians.
- COAG recognises that overcoming Indigenous disadvantage requires a long-term, generational commitment that sees major effort directed across a range of strategic platforms or building blocks which support the reforms aimed at closing the gap.
- The Building Blocks endorsed by COAG are:
- (a) Early Childhood;
- (b) Schooling;
- (c) Health;
- (d) Economic Participation;
- (e) Healthy Homes;
- (f) Safe Communities; and
- (g) Governance and Leadership.
- Under the Remote Service Delivery National Partnership Agreement, the Northern Territory (NT) and federal governments have signed a Bilateral Implementation Plan. One of the goals of the Remote Service Delivery (RSD) program is to develop Local Implementation Plans (LIPs) for each of the growth towns which address each of the Building Blocks. To achieve this, a jointly funded/staffed organisation called the Regional Operations Centre (ROC) has been established.
- NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services (NTPFES) senior management has been heavily involved in the development of draft LIPs for the priority growth towns. This was facilitated by ROC and involved representatives from most NT government departments, key federal departments and the representatives from the regional councils.
- The draft LIP process sought to address the needs of each community, identify strategies and determine a lead agency. In some cases, work has already commenced/been completed, while, for others, little could be done without significant funding. However, on the whole, most concerns could be met.
- NTPFES is mainly involved in the Safe Communities Building Block; however, this is not exclusive, with many agencies having linkages into numerous areas in a collegiate approach. It is noteworthy that the concept of Community Safety Plans has proven to be very popular and will be vital in each location.
- As the LIPs become available, they will be forwarded to the relevant areas so that work/implementation can commence. It has been identified that NTPFES facilities will need to be reviewed to ascertain whether they are at an equivalent standard to any other country town to determine whether existing facilities are in need of revitalisation. This will become more important if the police numbers increase in any particular community as a result of the Remote Area Policing Strategy.
- All members in remote communities will be involved in community engagement activities aimed at developing proactive community safety plans, and supporting other agencies and the community in the implementation of the LIP. A specific webpage on our Internet site will be developed to provide advice and assistance in this regard.
- A specific community engagement strategy with dedicated community engagement officers is currently being drafted by the Assistant Commissioner, Regional Operations and is expected to be available and ready for staged implementation before the end of June 2010.
- Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service:
- The NT Fire and Rescue Service (NTFRS) was engaged in the cost benefit study, Growth Towns Fire Fighting Options, undertaken by GHD Consultants for the NT Department of Housing, Local Government and Regional Services. A draft report was released in March 2010.
- The report highlighted a potentially significant capital cost in establishing a baseline firefighting infrastructure in many of the growth towns. Only four of the 20 growth towns are gazetted emergency response areas serviced by NTFRS and, even in these four towns, firefighting infrastructure such as water reticulation, including supply, volume and pressure is of a minimal standard. NTFRS firefighting equipment is limited to small composite tankers, or small, trailer mounted tanks and pumps, all of which are maintained by them.
- Northern Territory Emergency Services:
- Funding has been approved for NT Emergency Services (NTES) to provide low-cost emergency services, including basic urban firefighting capability where required, to TGTs and a five-year phased approach will be implemented. This will address deficiencies due to limited volunteer numbers and the lack of capital equipment in remote areas and includes developing plans for training community volunteers to participate in a range of emergency response services. Twelve of the growth towns presently have an emergency response capability provided by either Police or Emergency Service and/or Fire Service volunteers. The remaining growth towns have no emergency service capabilities. There are no permanent NTES staff stationed at any of the growth towns; however, funding has been approved for two additional full-time equivalent (FTE) NTES area managers to cater for this increase in low-cost emergency service capacity in the growth towns across the NT. These two positions have not been identified in the NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services FTE.
2. (a) and (b) The existing facilities/resources and personnel in each growth town are as follows:
| Growth Towns | Facilities and resources for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and personnel permanently stationed. |
| Ali Curung | Permanent police station (one Sergeant, three Constables, one Aboriginal Community Police Officer (ACPO)).
Emergency Services facilities and resources - equipment stored in locked cage at police station. NTES response capability presently limited to search and rescue. Police are trained by NTES for response to road accident rescue. |
| Angurugu/
Umbakumba | Police - basic temporary facilities (one ACPO/two ACPOs). |
| Borroloola | Permanent police station (one Sergeant, three Constables, one ACPO).
Fire - Gazetted Emergency Response Area. Facilities include an appliance shed and training facilities. Emergency Services facilities and resources - office, training room and storage. NTES response capability presently limited to search and rescue. Fire volunteers respond to fire and police respond to marine search and rescue. |
| Elliott | Permanent police station (one Brevet Sergeant, one Constable, one ACPO).
Fire - Gazetted Emergency Response Area. Facilities include appliance shed and training facility (recently discovered to be in need of demolition due to white ant damage). Emergency Services facilities and resources - office, training room and equipment shed. Response presently limited to fire volunteers responding to fire and road accident rescue. |
| Daguragu/
Kalkarindji | Police - one Brevet Sergeant, one Constable. Police are trained by NTES for response to road accident rescue and flood boat operations. |
| Growth Towns | Facilities and resources for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and personnel permanently stationed. |
| Galiwinku | Permanent police station (one Brevet Sergeant, two Constables, two
ACPOs). Emergency Services facilities and resources - equipment storage shed at police station, NTES response capability presently limited to search and rescue. Police are trained by NTES for response to road accident rescue. |
| Gapuwiyak | Themis police station - temporary police facility and cells (one Brevet Sergeant, two Constables, two ACPOs).
Emergency Services resources - NTES response capability presently limited to search and rescue. Police are trained by NTES for response to road accident rescue. |
| Gunbalanya | Permanent police station (one Brevet Sergeant, three Constables, one ACPO).
Emergency Services facilities and resources - open equipment storage shed at police station. NTES response capability presently limited to search and rescue. Police are trained by NTES for response to road accident rescue. |
| Hermannsburg | Permanent police station (one Sergeant, two Constables, two ACPOs).
Fire – small fire trailer held at police compound. Emergency Services facilities and resources - shed containing office, training facility and storage. NTES response capability is presently search and rescue, road accident rescue, storm damage and basic urban fire. |
| Lajamanu | Permanent police station (one Brevet Sergeant, one Constable).
Fire – small fire trailer held at police station. Emergency Services facilities and resources - open carport at police station for equipment storage. NTES response capability is presently search and rescue, storm damage and road accident rescue. Police are trained by NTES for response to flood boat rescue. |
| Maningrida | Permanent police station (one Sergeant, six Constables, two ACPOs).
Emergency Services facilities and resources - office/training room and equipment storage area at police station. NTES response capability is presently search and rescue, storm damage, flood boat rescue, road accident rescue and basic urban fire. |
| Milingimbi | Overnight basic temporary police facility with no cells. |
| Nguiu | Permanent police station (one Brevet Sergeant, one Constable, two ACPOs).
Fire - Gazetted Emergency Response Area. Composite tanker to be delivered late June 2010. Appliance shed recently erected. |
| Ngukurr | Permanent police station (one Brevet Sergeant, one Constable, one ACPO).
Fire – small fire trailer located at police station. Emergency Services facilities - carport for equipment storage. |
| Numbulwar | Themis police station - temporary police facility and cells (one Brevet Sergeant, two Constables, two ACPOs). |
| Papunya | Permanent police station (one Sergeant, two Constables).
Emergency Services - police are trained by NTES for response to road accident rescue. |
| Ramingining | Themis police station - temporary police facility and cells (one Brevet Sergeant, two Constables, two ACPOs). |
| Growth Towns | Facilities and resources for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and personnel permanently stationed. |
| Wadeye | Permanent police station (one Senior Sergeant, five Constables, one ACPO).
Fire – small fire trailer located at police station. Emergency Services facilities and resources - equipment storage at police station. Police are trained by NTES for response to road accident rescue. |
| Yirrkala | Police – this area is currently serviced by Nhulunbuy police.
Fire - Gazetted Emergency Response Area. Appliance shed and rural/urban grass fire unit. |
| Yuendumu | Permanent police station (one Sergeant, three Constables, two ACPOs).
Emergency Services facilities and resources, equipment storage. Police are trained by NTES for response to road accident rescue. |
- (c) The safe incarceration capacity for all matters pertaining to custody is zero. Every custodial incident has inherent risks. The manufacturer or builder of each cell block, temporary or permanent, does not ascribe an arbitrary safe level of incarceration. Prisoner safety is cared for through the conduct of valid risk assessments, which are subject to assessment and reassessment according to available time, observations and available information. For example, the behaviour of a single prisoner can render the cell that prisoner is occupying unsafe to cohabit with any other prisoners. All existing police cells have been reviewed and upgraded where possible to comply with the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody's recommendations.
19 August 2010
168. Integrated Land Information System – Usage Charges
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Would you please advise how much revenue was generated in 2009-10 from the statutory charges for accessing the Integrated Land Information System.
ANSWER
The question specifically refers to statutory charges for accessing ILIS. Therefore, in calculating revenue, charges relating to registration of dealings, for example, land transfers, have been excluded. Further, a number of fees charged by the Department of Lands and Planning (DLP) for provision of sales reports and the like are not statutory charges so they have not been included.
The revenue received in 2009-10 for statutory charges under the registration regulations for access to ILIS-based registers was $1 122 795.
169. Crime Statistics Reporting - Model Methodology
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
1. Would you please confirm the start date of the changed methodology in the reporting of crime to comply with the national model.
2. Would you please provide full details of the changed crime reporting methodology and the effect it will have in the reporting of crime and the collation of quarterly crime statistics.
3. What plans do you have to notify Territorians of the implications of these changes?
ANSWER
1. No date has been set to change the current offence-based recorded crime reporting to the victim-based recorded crime reporting adopted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). While the ABS victim-based collection is the only data source that enables comparisons to be made on crime rates among jurisdictions, it is not a national model. Several jurisdictions, including New South Wales, have their own counting rules for crime reporting.
2. The Department of Justice has embarked on a project to review the contents of the Northern Territory Crime and Justice quarterly publication with an aim to better inform the public on crime trends and other justice matters. One of the options being considered is to change the counting rules from offence based to victim based for the reporting of recorded crimes. Preliminary findings indicate that the differences between offence based and victim based are small for serious crimes such as homicide, sexual assault, assaults and break-ins.
3. Once the content and format of the new publication have been finalised, a communication plan will be developed to inform the public of the change.
170. NT Correctional Services
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Please advise when violent offenders convicted for bashing women will have as a condition of their release that they have participated in and completed a domestic violence program whilst in gaol.
ANSWER
Northern Territory Correctional Services (NTCS) has commenced work to scope options for the compulsory treatment of violent offenders, and those who have committed an alcohol related and/or a sex offence. These discussions have identified a range of issues that need to be addressed prior to introduction of such measures, including the identification of relevant offenders.
Sex offenders entering custody are identified as such in the Integrated Offender Management System (IOMS) and sentence management planning undertaken accordingly. This includes assessment for participation in therapeutic programs.
However, it is not currently possible to identify through IOMS, or related court data, an offender who has committed a domestic or family violence offence. This is because there is no offence of domestic or family violence, and offenders are generally convicted of assault or other related offences. Only an interview or assessment with each violent offender will enable NTCS to identify those who have committed an offence against a partner or family member. A similar situation exists in relation to alcohol-related offences.
However, it may be an option to amend relevant legislation to allow the courts to sentence an offender to custody and to participate in a program while in custody, requiring identification of relevant offenders prior to sentencing. NTCS will work with the Legal Policy division of the Department of Justice to further explore this option. Advice from Legal Policy will also be required on the issue of whether legislation can or should be amended to make an offender’s release conditional on such participation.
Additional issues that will be addressed during the scoping phase include:
sanctions for those who refuse to participate in programs in custody;
staffing and other resources needed to support increased service delivery;
legislative amendment to compel attendance versus use of the prison classification system to support attendance; that is, that offenders not progress from maximum to minimum security unless they participate in programs;
the management of short-term offenders, given the high number of Northern Territory offenders serving a custodial sentence of less than six months;
an exploration of how mandatory treatments works in jurisdictions in which it has been implemented; and
reporting on and evaluating mandatory treatment in order to provide clear evidence of its effectiveness in reducing offending and increasing community safety.
171. INPEX Project
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to CHIEF MINISTER
Please provide details of the major projects that form the contingency plans in the event that INPEX’s final investment decision is delayed beyond 2011.
ANSWER
There is no indication from the proponents that the revised FID timeline on the Ichthys project will be delayed.
There are currently 18 projects which have been allocated major project status. These projects fall across a range of government strategic outcomes such as Onshore Gas Development, Economic Infrastructure Development, Land Development and Mining Resource Development.
The government, through the Major Projects group and relevant task forces, remains in continuous dialogue with the proponents of these projects.
The timing of the start up of these projects is subject to a range of matters including commodity market conditions, lending practices of financial institutions, competition and bankability of individual projects.
173. Korda Mentha Report
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
1. Will the Auditor-General be providing a copy of the Korda Mentha report completed on the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education to the House?
2. What Northern Territory funds will be required in order to restructure the number of staff employed, the courses that are offered, and the administrative systems required to service and to create a viable and stable future for Batchelor?
ANSWER
1. The engagement of Korda Mentha at Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education was instigated and funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, not by the Northern Territory Department of Education and Training.
2. The Department of Education and Training will continue to fund Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education under an annual resource agreement that is jointly negotiated and sets industry targets for the delivery and support of training.
174. Fees and Charges for 2009-10 by the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Please provide details of the fees and charges charged in 2009-10 by the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service for each of the following: attending false alarms; fire safety inspections; and, reports on building plans.
ANSWER
The Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services has not charged any fees and charges in 2009-10 for attendance at false alarms, fire safety inspections, and reports on building plans.
175. Medical Services Costs for Asylum Seekers
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
Please provide details of all the financial transactions that relate to Northern Territory hospital or medical services provided to asylum seekers and provide details of reimbursements by the Commonwealth for each month of 2009-10.
ANSWER
In general, fees for public health screening services and hospital services to people in immigration detention are part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Commonwealth government and the Northern Territory government: Provision of Public Health Screening and Hospital Services to People in Immigration Centres.
While this includes services to asylum seekers, crew members of suspected illegal entry vessels, or illegal foreign fishers, over 98% of persons in Immigration detention are illegal foreign fishers.
It is not possible to separate the costs for asylum seekers.
In 2009-10, the Commonwealth government made the following payments to the Northern Territory:
Date | Reason | Amount
$ |
| For services provided in 2008-09 following the Ashmore Reef boat explosion |  | |
| 11/08/2009 | RDH | 137 685.60 |
| 11/08/2009 | Careflight Retrieval | 25 080.00 |
| 11/08/2009 | St John Ambulance | 24 123.00 |
| 11/08/2009 | Pearl Aviation Flight | 4 872.73 |
| For services provided in 2009-10 under MOU – Provision of Public Health Screening and Hospital Services to People in Immigration Centres | | |
| Personnel and Operational Costs | 516 856.20 | |
Date | Reason | Amount
$ |
| Jan 2010 | Two inpatients; 16 emergency attendances | 227 584 |
| March 2010 | One emergency attendance | 281 |
| April 2010 | Three inpatients; eight emergency attendances | 5976 |
| May 2010 | Seven inpatients; four outpatient occasions of service; 12 emergency attendances | 22 985 |
| June 2010 | Five inpatients; 16 outpatient occasions of service;
129 emergency attendances | 98 842 |
| Total $355 668 | | |
Ms PURICK to CHIEF MINISTER
How many, and what sites and what locations with close proximity to Darwin Harbour have been identified as being suitable for Arafura Resources Limited’s proposed processing facility associated with the company’s Nolans Bore Project?
ANSWER
The government has not identified a site or location in Darwin Harbour for the Arafura Resources processing plant.
No processing facility similar in nature to that proposed by Arafura Resources Limited will be located in Darwin Harbour.
177. Major Projects – Department of the Chief Minister
Ms PURICK to CHIEF MINISTER
Would you kindly advise me on the following items:
1. how many projects have major project status;
2. how many staff members are allocated to the Major Projects Unit and at what levels; and
3. what groups have been established in the unit and what are their tasks?
ANSWER
1. Eighteen projects currently have major project status.
2. One x ECO3 (Executive Director)
- One x ECO2.
Two x ECO1/EO1.
One x AO8.
One x AO7.
- It should be noted that these officers primarily have a coordination role and that other resources from the division, the department and across government are called upon as needed.
3. Designated major projects and other strategic activities are overseen by the Major Projects group which consists of relevant agency chief executives and is chaired by the Chief Executive of the Department of the Chief Minister. A number of task forces, for example, the Onshore Gas Task Force, have responsibility for day-to-day management of government activities on these matters and these task forces report to the Major Projects group.
180. SIHIP – Aboriginal Employment
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
1. How many community-based Aboriginal people are employed through the two alliances, at which locations/communities, and on what basis, that is, full-time work; part-time work; or another other basis?
2. How many Aboriginal-owned businesses are contracted or subcontracted to provide work as part of the alliances’ work, at which communities, and what kind of work?
ANSWER
1. Figures as at 20 July 2010:
| Package | Current Indigenous Employment |
| Tiwi Islands | 52 |
| Tennant Creek Town Camps | 36 |
| Groote Eylandt | 32 |
| Wadeye | 30 |
| Gunbalanya | 18 |
| Southern Region Refurbishments | 45 |
| Maningrida | 20 |
| Galiwinku | 9 |
| Alice Springs Town Camps | 20 |
| Ngukurr | 6 |
| Lajamanu | 5 |
| Total | 273 |
NB: Includes Indigenous employees onsite, Indigenous subcontractors, and Indigenous administrative staff employed by the alliances. Employment numbers include all communities in the package.
- Five hundred and sixteen Indigenous people have been employed by the alliances since the commencement of the program. Indigenous employees are employed in a variety of roles, on either a full-time, rostered, casual or part-time basis. The alliances currently report on the number of Indigenous full-time equivalent (FTE) hours as a proportion of the total hours worked on a specific SIHIP package. Current Indigenous FTE hours as a proportion of the total hours worked, (Indigenous and non-Indigenous, is tracking at 35%.
2. There are currently 10 subcontracted Indigenous-owned businesses involved in the program:
Communities | Number of Businesses | Type of Work |
| Territory Alliance | | |
| Tiwi Islands | 2 | Building Works |
| Maningrida | 1 | Building Works |
| Groote Eylandt | 2 | Building Works |
| Subtotal | 5 | |
| New Future Alliance | | |
| Tennant Creek Town Camps | 2 | Building and Civil Construction Works |
| Southern Region Refurbishments | 2 | Building Works |
| Wadeye | 1 | Building Works |
| Subtotal | 5 | |
| Total | 10 | |
181. Lot 309 London Road Bees Creek and Rezoning Applications
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
1. What was Lot 309 London Road in Bees Creek bought for and how much was the acquisition?
2. How many rezoning applications are currently before the minister and could this be done by town and region and what type of rezoning request?
ANSWER
1. There is no record of Lot 309 London Road in Bees Creek.
2. There are currently five rezoning applications currently before the minister and are broken down as follows:
Town of Darwin – one application from zone CP (community purpose) to zone MD (multiple dwelling residential);
Town of Palmerston – two applications from zone SD (single dwelling residential) to zone MD (multiple dwelling residential); and
Town of Alice Springs – one application from zone TC (tourist commercial) to a specific use zone.
183. Energy Smart Rebate Scheme
Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
In relation to the Environment and Sustainability Output Group:
1. how many rebates have been paid to households since 2008 as a result of the Energy Smart Rebate Scheme NT; and
2. would you kindly advise the costs spent on administering and marketing this scheme in 2008-09 and 2009-10?
ANSWER
1. Since the scheme commenced in July 2009, there have been 599 rebates provided to households.
2. Rebates were not available until July 2009. Accordingly, 2008-09 costs are for the development of the scheme. These amounted to $94 463, including salaries. During 2009-10, expenditure on administration and advertising was $122 688. This includes a salary component that was not entirely devoted to the rebate scheme
187. Ord River Stage 2
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
1. What measures have been undertaken by the Northern Territory government since 1 January 2009 to develop the Northern Territory side of the Ord Stage 2?
2. What infrastructure requirements, including power and roads, have been identified as being necessary to take advantage of the Ord Stage 2 expansion in the Northern Territory?
3. In the 2009-10 budget, how many resources, including financial contributions and personnel have been allocated to the Ord Stage 2 project?
4. Has the question of native title been resolved and, if not, at what stage are the negotiations?
5. Has the question of a quarantine exclusion zone been resolved and, if not, at what stage is the determination?
ANSWER
1. Ord Stages 1 and 2 encompasses development within Western Australia (WA). The Territory government has commenced an initial social and economic assessment of a possible Northern Territory Ord Expansion (NTOE) project.
2. Ord Stage 2 is contained within WA. The NTOE project is at an early stage and therefore considerations do not include planning for power and roads.
3. Ord Stage 2 is contained within WA. In 2009-10, the costs of the NTOE project were met within existing resources of the Department of Resources and other agencies involved.
4. Native title has been resolved for the Ord Stage 2.
5. A Northern Territory inter-departmental working group has been established to work with the WA government on the Ord River development, including future opportunities that may become available to the NT.
- It is this group that will work cooperatively with WA officials aided by specialist staff in assisting general issues surrounding cross border movement of product.
188. Extension Officers Employed
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Please advise how many extension officers were employed at Coastal Plains Research Farm, Ti Tree Research Farm, Berrimah Farm, Arid Zone Research Institute, Katherine Research Station, Victoria River Research Station, Beatrice Hill Farm, Old Man Plains, and Douglas Daly Research Farm in 2009, and how many extension officers were employed in the same areas in 2001.
ANSWER
In 2001, there were three dedicated extension officers.
More recently, extension capacity of individual staff has been included as part of their day-to-day duties. The 2009 extension services provided to industry was the equivalent of 56 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff, (see the Annual Extension Report, which can be downloaded from the department’s website, http://www.nt.gov.au/d/Content/File/p/AR/TB333.pdf).
190. Ministerial Council for Federal Financial Relations – National Agreement
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
The Territory government is part of the national agreement struck by the Ministerial Council for Federal Financial Relations. Part of that agreement anticipates performance reporting through national minimum data sets. As part of the arrangement:
- The Ministerial Council for Federal Financial Relations will maintain a register of the national minimum data sets required to allow comparative reporting of governments' achievement against agreed objectives and outcomes. In undertaking this task, it will consult with other Ministerial Councils and data collection agencies.
1. What are the details of the agreed benchmarks relevant to the Northern Territory?
2. What are the figures outlining the Northern Territory’s performance against those benchmarks?
ANSWER
In December 2008, the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on Federal Financial Relations was signed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). The IGA provides a new framework for governments to implement nationally important economic and social initiatives. It reflects a greater focus on accountability through reporting of performance against agreed policy objectives and outcomes.
Under the IGA, the Ministerial Council for Federal Financial Relations is responsible for the national performance reporting framework. A key aspect of the framework is the development of national minimum data sets to provide for the reporting of performance across agreed benchmarks, for all governments, on a consistent and comparable basis.
The IGA establishes national agreements for six key areas of government services, including health, disability, education, skills and training, housing, and Indigenous disadvantage. A total of 154 performance benchmarks have been established across each of the six national agreements.
The COAG Reform Council (CRC) is responsible for reporting government performance under the IGA. Baseline performance reports for the National Education Agreement and National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development were released in November 2009, and those for the National Affordable Housing Agreement, National Health Agreement, National Disability Agreement and the National Indigenous Reform Agreement were released in June 2010.
The second tranche CRC reports for Education and Skills and Workforce Development are scheduled to be released in November 2010, with the remainder released in June 2011.
For many of the performance indicators, the Territory performed below the benchmarks. This is predominantly attributed to the very high proportion of the Territory population in the most disadvantaged socioeconomic groups and the impacts of remoteness.
Furthermore, the Territory is more frequently confronted by highly volatile and unreliable data sources, especially those derived from national data sets. This is due to small sample sizes; dispersed populations; exclusion of remote areas from many ABS surveys; and, the very high degree of undercounting of Indigenous people in key data collections such as the Census of Population and Housing.
It is anticipated that, over time, CRC reports will demonstrate improvements in the Territory’s performance, given the level of investment in government services by both the Territory and Commonwealth governments since the commencement of the IGA.
The baseline performance reports for each of the national agreements are available on the CRC website: www.coagreformcouncil.gov.au.
191. Mining Operations Commencements and Mining Royalties
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to TREASURER
1. Please provide details of all the mines included in the forward estimates and expected to be in operation within the next five years and the modelling conducted to forecast mining royalties, taking into account production, commodity prices, levels of profit and payments.
2. Please provide details of all the mines currently in operation and the modelling conducted to forecast mining royalties, taking into account production, commodity prices, levels of profit and payments.
ANSWER
The attached documents, Mineral Projects of the Northern Territory, and Operating Mines and Undeveloped Mineral Deposits, detail operating mines and producing gas/oil fields in the Territory, including construction, as well as undeveloped deposits and projects under feasibility study. Both documents have been prepared by the Department of Resources.
The attached document, Mining Developments in the Northern Territory, published by the Department of Resources in March 2010; details recent, past 24 months; pending, next 12 months; and, potential, next 12 to 36 months; mining developments in the Northern Territory, including new mines, expansions and reopened mines.
The Territory’s mining royalty revenues are largely based on a profits-based regime provided within its Mineral Royalty Act. The Territory’s profits-based regime uses the nett value of a mine’s production to calculate royalty. This is the operating revenue derived from mining activities in excess of $50 000 after deducting allowable project costs, prior year carried forward losses, the cost of capital employed in the mine and the cost of capital and exploration expenditure on the mine site.
Like the states, the Territory’s petroleum royalty revenues are based on an ad valorem rate of 10% after allowing post wellhead costs up to the point of sale.
Given the Territory’s profits-based regime, mining revenue forecasts are reliant on advice from mining companies of their estimated liability for the financial year and their estimates of commodity price movements, production levels and the value of the Australian dollar.
A key feature of the Territory’s scheme is that both prices and mining costs, including mine set up costs carried forward to profitable years, are taken into account in royalty calculations. This means that mineral royalty forecasts in the forward estimates are largely based on the advice of operating mines that are, or are likely to be, in a royalty paying position over the forward estimates period rather than mines expecting to commence operations in that period.
Information about the affairs of individual miners, such as the amount of mineral royalty paid, cannot be disclosed because of the operation of the secrecy provisions in the Mineral Royalty Act. In addition, the Information Act would also support the non-disclosure of information that relates to the commercial affairs of an entity.
19 October 2010
193. Protective Custody Costs and Usage
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Please provide details with regard to protective custody of:
1. the average cost per person per night in protective custody;
2. the total cost for operating protective custody in the Northern Territory during the period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010;
3. the number of persons taken into protective custody once during this period;
4. the number of persons taken into protective custody more than 12 times during this period; and
5. the number of persons taken into protective custody more than 50 times during this period.
ANSWER
1. The costing implications of protective custody episodes are not recorded in isolation of normal policing operations. Protective custody episodes occur concurrently and cumulatively, and often in conjunction with other policing operations.
2. Refer to answer to question No 1.
3. Protective custody episodes are detailed in the police annual report. Comprehensive and accurate details on protective custody episodes for individuals are not currently collated. As part of the government’s alcohol reforms, systems are being put in place to record individual’s protective custody episodes.
4. Refer to answer to question No 3.
5. Refer to answer to question No 3.
194. Alcohol Treatment Programs and Bed Numbers
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for ALCOHOL POLICY
1. What NT government programs are available for people wishing to enter alcohol treatment?
2. How many individuals entered alcohol treatment programs in the Northern Territory during the period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010?
3. How many individuals entered alcohol treatment programs in the Northern Territory as a result of an order by an Alcohol Court?
4. How many individuals incarcerated in the Northern Territory’s corrections system entered alcohol treatment programs during the period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010?
5. How many beds are there in the NT government’s alcohol treatment programs?
6. How many sobering-up beds does the NT government provide?
ANSWER
The answer to this question is currently being prepared, it will be provided at the earliest opportunity.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016