Business

Home About Parliament Business

Parliamentary Record (Hansard) and Minutes of Proceedings with Advance Search

Meeting Documents

Tabled Papers

Standing and Sessional Orders

Northern Territory Legislation

Petitions and Responses

Written Questions

Summary of Meetings

Condolence Motions

Members Committees The Department

ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS

29 March 2011

211. Safe Houses – Territory-Wide

Mr GILES to MINISTER for CHILDREN and FAMILIES

I am seeking information regarding what I have termed safe houses, that being locations or facilities where youth under 18 years of age are placed under care and protection of others.

1. How many safe houses are there in Alice Springs and in other locations across the Northern Territory and what are the general locations?

2. How many and which ones of these safe houses are Territory government funded?

3. How many and which ones are part-funded by the Territory government?

4. What financial contribution did the NT government provide to each of the safe houses for the financial years 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11 to 28 February 2011?

5. How many, to your knowledge, are funded by other agencies?

6. Who are the recipients of the services of these safe houses?

7. How many people under the age of 18 were supported in each of these safe houses, including location, in each month between the period 1 January 2007 and 10 March 2011, and what were the ages of each person statistically?

8. How many times did people re-enter the safe houses and what is the average nights’ stay for each child?

ANSWER

1. There are two safe houses located in Alice Springs and one safe house in Darwin.

2. The Department of Children and Families fully funds all three safe houses with funds provided by the Northern Territory government.

3. As above, all three safe houses are fully funded by the Northern Territory government through the Department of Children and Families.

4. During the time period specified the safe houses were not in existence therefore no funding was allocated.

5. As answered in Questions 2 and 3, all safe houses are fully funded by the Northern Territory government through the Department of Children and Families.

6. Section 56 of the Care and Protection of Children Act outlines who is eligible to access safe house services.

7. During the time period specified the safe houses were not in existence.

8. Since the opening of the Alice Springs safe houses four clients under the age of 18 have re-entered.

There have been no clients re-enter the Darwin/Palmerston safe house since its opening.

The length of stay in a safe place is not prescribed in the act but it is intended to be short-term overnight. Periods of time beyond overnight are probably related to needing protection, and a provisional care and protection order would be sought in those instances.

18 August 2011

258. Outstations - Funding and Housing

Mr GILES to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT

1. Please provide a current list of all Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory according to their English and Aboriginal names and their geographical location. Please include details of the funding classification of each of these whether they are classed as a Town Camp/Growth Town/Community/Small Community/Outstation Funded/Outstation Unfunded.

2. Please provide a list of all funded Outstations/Homelands and the services that are currently provided at each of these, and who is the funded organisation and whether they are in administration or not.

3. Also, please provide the name, year of construction, if known, and assessed value of every accommodation dwelling in every Indigenous community and whether they are tenanted or not, and by which agency or Territory Housing.

4. In regard to Outstations/Homelands, please detail:

(a) number of houses in each outstation;

(b) whether they are occupied or not;

(d) what funding level is provided for each of these outstations/homelands house/dwelling, and to which agency/body for administration; and

(e) by way of a breakdown by location, which of these dwellings are houses; the size of these houses; and which are lean-tos or metal sheds.

ANSWER

1. Attachment A contains a list and classification of all Aboriginal communities registered in the Northern Territory. The list also contains communities by alternate name and their geographical location.

A list of funded outstations, homelands and urban living areas is provided in the answer for Question No 2.

2. Details of outstations and homelands funded for municipal and essential services are provided in Attachment B.

Details of outstations and homelands funded for housing and management programs are provided in Attachment C.

In December 2010 a specialist administrator was appointed under the

Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act

2006 to administer the Ramingining Homelands Resource Aboriginal Corporation.

In December 2011 the Governance Committee of the Laynhapuy Homelands Association agreed that the Laynhapuy Homelands Association (incorporated under the Northern Territory

Associations Act)

should accept the appointment of a statutory manager and take steps to come under the legislative requirements of the

Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act

2006.

That recommendation has yet to be endorsed (as required) by a special general meeting of the association, planned for January 2012.

3. The details regarding the year of construction and assessed value of every accommodation dwelling in homelands is largely unknown. The dwellings have been built over many years by various organisations and agencies with funding from various sources.

There is no assessed value for every dwelling on every homeland or outstation, with the valuation of dwellings complicated due to the land tenure issues and lack of an established housing market.

The dwellings are not assets of the Northern Territory government and, in most cases, not the assets of the service provider. A consequence of this legal situation is the absence of normal tenancy management arrangements and detailed records of tenancy.

4. Attachment D provides the occupancy status for each outstation/homeland.

Attachment E (Housing Management and Maintenance Report 2010-11) provides a breakdown of the number of houses in each outstation, the funding level provided for each community dwelling, and the service provider for the homelands funded under the Housing Management and Maintenance Program. This report also categorises dwellings as improvised dwellings, one- to two-bedroom houses and three- to five-bedroom houses.

25 October 2011

279. Indigenous Affairs Advisory Council - Operational Costs

Mr GILES to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT

1. What are the annual operational and administrative costs of the Indigenous Affairs Advisory Council?

2. Please provide a breakdown of annual salary costs for council members and any sitting fees that are applicable.

3. Please provide a breakdown of travel expenses associated with council over the previous 12 months.

ANSWER

1. The annual operational and administrative costs of the IAAC from July 2010 through to July 2011 were $102 904.40. This represents the total cost of four separate meetings as mandated within IAAC’s Terms of Reference.

2. IAAC members do not receive an annual salary. However, sitting fees for the Chair of the IAAC are $880 per day and sitting fees for IAAC members are $660 per day. These rates are set by the categorisations of Northern Territory government statutory bodies and remuneration levels under Class B. IAAC members who are also employed by the Northern Territory government are not eligible for sitting fees.

3. Travel costs for all IAAC members for the four meetings between July 2010 and July 2011 amounted to $49 587.20.

Travel costs of meetings held in Darwin are as follows:

July 2010 $10 990.00

September 2010 $15 077.90

February 2011 $ 8 954.60

July 2011 $14 564.70

285. School Libraries - Staffing

Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING

Please provide a list of all government schools in the Northern Territory with current details of their particular library staffing arrangements.

1. For each school, how many of the following categories of staff are employed:

(a) dual-qualified teacher librarians (teachers with a library qualification);

(b) teachers-in-charge of libraries (teachers without a library qualification);

(c) librarians (qualified librarians without teacher training);

(d) library officers (unqualified officers);

(e) volunteers; and

(f) no one staffing the library?

2. For each of these schools, please identify according to:

(a) primary, secondary or both;

(b) their regional status (whether provincial, remote or very remote); and

(c) whether or not they have received BER funding for the construction of a library?

ANSWER

1. Schools are allocated staff according to a formula that is based on the number of students enrolled and attending the school as well as particular needs of the school. Deployment of staff is a matter for the school to determine within certain guidelines; for example, no classroom having more than 27 students).

Schools are not allocated librarian or teacher librarian positions as such but may choose to assign staff to work full- or part-time in the library. These decisions are at the discretion of the school principal and are made in consultation with the school council. These arrangements change on a regular basis depending on the priorities of the school.

Based on a survey of schools conducted in November 2011, most large schools in urban and remote areas of the NT have a dedicated librarian position. This includes schools in towns such as Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy and remote communities such as Maningrida and Galiwinku.

Most small schools which are primarily located in remote areas do not have dedicated librarian positions.

The survey returned a figure of 78 full-time equivalent librarian positions in schools across the Northern Territory. Of these, 13 are dual-qualified teacher/librarians.

It should be noted that with increasing usage of ICT to access information, libraries and hard copy books are being used much less often in schools. This is especially so in senior years where every student will have access to a laptop computer on a one-to-one basis as part of the Australian government’s Digital Education Revolution initiative. See Attachment A.

2. See Attachment A.

286. Audits of Hydrocarbons and Mining Sites

Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES

1. How many mine sites as defined as holding a current mineral lease have had an audit undertaken in regard to hydrocarbon storage, usage and management over the last 12 months?

2. How many exploration sites have been visited and had an audit undertaken in regard to the storage, use and management of hydrocarbons over the last 12 months?

3. How many extractive operations (both EMP and EL) have been visited in the last 12 months and had an audit of use, storage and management of hydrocarbons over the last 12 months?

4. Provide details and list what hydrocarbons are included in the audit.

5. In undertaking the audits in the different sectors of the industry (mining, exploration, and extractive), how many actual site inspections have been undertaken and how many records of inventory have been inspected?

6. How many sites have been identified as having been impacted by hydrocarbon spills and what is the volume of identified spills?

7. How much security is being held by the department against identified hydrocarbon pollution?

8. Has the work of undertaking the audits of sites been outsourced or undertaken internally?

9. If outsourced, what company/business is doing the work and at what cost?

10. If the department if undertaking the work, how many officials are doing the work, what skills are required, and what training has been provided to identify and report hydro contamination?

11. Is this a one-off project or does the department intend to undertake audits on an annual basis?

ANSWER

1. Eight mining operations were directed to undertake specific audits covering hydrocarbon storage, use and management in the past 12 months. In addition, there have been five departmental audits of mining operations in that period. There have been more than 100 visits to mine sites in the 12 months to 19 October 2011.

2. At least 27 visits were made to exploration operations in the 12 months to 19 October 2011. One full departmental audit was undertaken. Inspection of hydrocarbon storage, use and management is an integral part of every site inspection to active exploration operations.

3. At least 92 visits were made to extractive mineral operations in the 12 months to 19 October 2011. One full departmental audit was undertaken. Inspection of hydrocarbon storage, use and management is an integral part of every site inspection to active extractive operations. Decisions to undertake full audits are based on assessment of risk, so formal audits have focused on mining operations.

4. The hydrocarbons included in audits are liquid fuels (petrol, avgas, aviation kerosene, fuel oil and diesel), oils and lubricants and, where appropriate, organic solvents used in processing, that are stored in bulk; that is, quantities exceeding 1000 litres.

5. The total number of site visits carried out in the 12 months to 19 October 2011 by departmental staff is 227. There have been seven departmental audits in that period and eight operators were directed to undertake audits specific to hydrocarbons.

6. At the present time there are three sites where significant hydrocarbon impacts have been discovered. One is the historic diesel spill at GEMCO on Groote Eylandt; the second is the spill of unleaded petrol at Alcan Gove (subject of an ongoing legal action); and the third is a diesel spill at McArthur River Mine (currently under investigation). At all three sites specific monitoring and remediation activities are taking place. The Mining Environmental Compliance Group of the Department of Resources (DoR) continues to monitor all these activities.

In addition, there have been past incidents at several mine sites where spills have been reported and cleaned up with no lasting impact on the environment, such as a recent small spill of heavy fuel oil at Alcan Gove, which was cleaned up within two days and, subsequently, inspected and cleared by departmental officers.

7. The financial security held by DoR is against the overall cost of remediation of a site. Sites have to be remediated to the satisfaction of DoR before the security is relinquished and this includes the satisfactory remediation of any area impacted by hydrocarbon spillage and associated environmental contamination.

8. Auditing of mine sites is undertaken by the appropriate DoR staff. In the case of the specific hydrocarbon audits, it was the responsibility of the companies involved to source appropriate expertise and to submit the reports. The reports have been assessed by DoR staff. Where safety issues have been identified, the reports have been referred to NT WorkSafe.

9. Costs of audits undertaken by third parties for mining companies are not available to DoR. DoR has not engaged any third party to undertake hydrocarbon audits.

10. There are 18 DoR personnel who have completed recognised environmental auditor training. Observation and investigation of hydrocarbon storage, usage and management is an integral part of basic environmental auditor training.

11. DoR’s Mining Environmental Compliance Group will continue to monitor hydrocarbon storage, usage and management during site visits as a routine activity. The current project may be repeated on an annual or biennial basis depending on the outcomes and subsequent improvements made by operators and verified by DoR staff.

287. Women in Executive Positions in Each Agency

Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT

1. How many women hold executive level positions; at what level were those positions; and in which agency or government-owned business?

2. What is the length of tenure of the women in executive positions in each agency?

3. How many women hold positions at the SAO1, SAO2, SP1 and SP2 level?

4. What is the percentage of women in each government agency as a whole?

5. In 2010-11, what percentage of all commencements were women?

6. For each board, council or advisory body on which the NT government is represented:

(a) which have a woman as the chair; and

(b) what is the proportional gender representation on each?

7. For each NT government wholly- or partly-funded advisory board, council, body or association:

(a) which have a woman as the chair; and

(b) what is the proportional gender representation on each?

ANSWER

1. A total of 284 women hold executive level positions. The information is based on PIPS data. It reflects a point-in-time snapshot of women in executive level positions as at Pay 9, 27 October 2011 and are headcount figures rather than FTE figures. The figures include the Power and Water Corporation. See table below.

Auditor-General	Justice
Exec Officer 1C	1Exec Officer 1C29
Business and Employment	Exec Officer 21
Exec Officer 1C	6Exec Officer 2C13
Exec Officer 2C	3Exec Officer 3C1
Exec Officer 4C	1Exec Officer 4C1
Chief Minister	Lands and Planning
Exec Officer 1C	9Exec Officer 1C5
Exec Officer 2	1Exec Officer 2C1
Exec Officer 2C	5Exec Officer 3C1
Exec Officer 3	1Exec Officer 4C1
Chief Minister continued	Legislative Assembly
Exec Officer 3C	1Exec Officer 1C1
Exec Officer 4C	1Exec Officer 2C1
Exec Officer 5C	1
Children and Families	Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport
Exec Officer 1C	10Exec Officer 1C6
Exec Officer 2C	7Exec Officer 2C1
Exec Officer 3C	1Exec Officer 3C1
Exec Officer 5C	1Ombudsman
Commissioner for Public Employment	Exec Officer 2C1
Exec Officer 1C	3Exec Officer 5C1
Exec Officer 2C	1Police, Fire and Emergency Services
Construction and Infrastructure	Commander Police4
Exec Officer 1C	2Exec Officer 1C3
Exec Officer 2C	3Exec Officer 2C1
Darwin Port Corporation	Exec Officer 4C1
Exec Officer 1C	2Power and Water Corporation
Education and Training	Exec Contr Manager8
Cont Principal L2	20Exec Officer 3C1
Cont Principal L3	2Exec Officer 1C6
Cont Principal L4	2Exec Officer 2C1
Cont Principal L5	2Resources
Cont Principal 1	9Exec Officer 1C2
Cont Principal 2	13Exec Officer 2C3
Cont Principal 3	2Tourism NT
Exec Officer 1C	11Exec Officer 1C3
Exec Officer 2C	8Exec Officer 2C1
Exec Officer 3C	5Exec Officer 4C1
Health	Treasury
Exec Officer 1C	13Exec Officer 1C2
Exec Officer 2C	6Exec Officer 2C2
Exec Officer 3C	2Exec Officer 3C1
Exec Officer 4C	1Exec Officer 4C1

Housing, Local Government and Regional Services	Treasury continued
Exec Officer 1C	10Exec Officer 6C1
Exec Officer 2C	8
Exec Officer 3C	1
Exec Officer 4C	2

2. The distribution of length of tenure of executive women in the NTPS is listed below:

Under two years 53

Two and under five years 43

Five and under 10 years 40

10 and under 15 years 37

15 and under 20 years 28

20 and under 25 years 33

25 and under 30 years 24

30 years and over 26

Total 284

The average (median) length of tenure in years of executive women in each agency is as follows:

Auditor-General 7 years

Business and Employment 14 years

Chief Minister 3 years

Children and Families 1 year

Commissioner for Public Employment 8 years

Construction and Infrastructure 15 years

Darwin Port Corporation 8 years

Education and Training 22 years

Health 8 years

Housing, Local Government and Regional Services 5 years

Justice 6 years

Lands and Planning 14 years

Legislative Assembly 13 years

Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport 12 years

Ombudsman 6 years

Police, Fire and Emergency Services 24 years

Power and Water Corporation 9 years

Resources 24 years

Tourism NT 8 years

Treasury 18 years

Total 11.2 years

*It should be noted that:

the average length of tenure for smaller agencies can vary considerably over time due to the small number of positions; and

the years of tenure have been rounded to the nearest whole number.

3. The number of women held at the SAO1, SAO2, SP1 and SP2 levels is 453. These are distributed as follows:

Senior Admin 1 236

Senior Admin 2 86

Senior Professional 1 107

Senior Professional 2 24

Total 453

4. The proportion of women in each agency is listed below:

Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority 62%

Auditor-General 60%

Business and Employment 64%

Chief Minister 62%

Children and Families 79%

Commissioner for Public Employment 72%

Construction and Infrastructure 38%

Darwin Port Corporation 24%

Education and Training 77%

Health 75%

Housing, Local Government and Regional Services 64%

Justice 49%

Lands and Planning 51%

Legislative Assembly 66%

Natural Resources, Environment, Arts and Sport 52%

NT Electoral Commission 19%

Ombudsman 73%

Police, Fire and Emergency Services 34%

Power and Water Corporation 29%

Resources 49%

Tourism NT 76%

Treasury 63%

5. In the last financial year the proportion of all commencements who were women was 68%.

6 and 7.

The Department of the Chief Minister manages the NT government boards and committee database which lists government’s statutory boards as well as those non-statutory boards whose members are appointed by a minister. These bodies are defined for the purposes of the database as:

Statutory body: A body established by NT legislation, whether it be advisory, review, quasi-judicial, governance/management and/or commercial in nature.

Non-statutory body: A body established by Cabinet or a minister – functions may include advisory, review, reporting, administering or management of an activity on behalf of government.

The bodies listed in the database are NTG bodies which have been established to provide government with advice or to perform a function for government

All the boards on the database are funded by the NTG.

There are a total of 190 government boards and committees listed as of September 2011 for which:

(a) forty-two women are listed as Chairperson;

(b) the total number of female members is 529; and

(c) the total number of male members is 1074.

To gather further information about other associations and more informal groups which may be supported by government, each agency would need to provide their own data. External, non-government bodies are not listed in the database.

288. Land Clearing Applications

Ms PURICK to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE

1. How many land clearing applications have been submitted in the last 12 months for Darwin (including greater rural area to Adelaide River); Douglas Daly; Katherine; Tennant Creek; Alice Springs; and the rest of the NT?

2. How many have been approved in the above location areas in the last 12 months?

3. How many have been sent back to the applicants for additional information in the location areas?

4. How many applications have been denied and for what reason for each location area?

5. How long has each application taken to process for each location?

ANSWER

1. There were no applications lodged under the Pastoral Land Act for the specified period. However, five applications lodged under the Pastoral Land Act prior to November 2010 were still being processed, two of which have since been approved and two of which are required to be assessed under the Environmental Assessment Act. Applicants have yet to submit environmental impact statements.

2. Thirteen applications under the Planning Act were approved including three applications lodged in the previous year.

3. Of the 10 applications under the Planning Act lodged and assessed within the past 12 months, two have required additional information.

4. Of the 10 applications under the Planning Act lodged and assessed within the past 12 months, no applications were refused.

5. The average time to process an application was about three months, excluding any period for which the applicant was gathering further information.

289. Voluntary Contribution Projects

Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES

In the area of voluntary primary industry projects, could you advise:

1. how many voluntary contribution projects there have been over the last 12 months;

2. how many projects are there currently;

3. what are the current projects about;

4. how long have the current projects been operational;

5. what is the level of industry contribution;

6. how does the department engage the industry operator or sector in the current projects; and

7. what are the objectives of the current projects?

ANSWER

See Attachment A.

290. Rates on Mineral Leases

Ms PURICK to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT

1. How many operational mineral leases are rated in what shire?

2. What rates have been paid on each lease in each shire?

3. How many collective project rating arrangements have been negotiated with mining companies and in what shire?

4. What level of outstanding rates is due on what mineral lease in what shire?

ANSWER

1. See table below.

Councils	Number of Active Operational Leases
Barkly Shire Council	1
Central Desert Shire Council	11
East Arnhem Shire Council	14
Litchfield Council	55
MacDonnell Shire Council	32
Roper Gulf Shire Council	13
Victoria Daly Shire Council	66
West Arnhem Shire Council	1
Total	193

2. The department does not have information on the value of rates collected on each individual mineral lease. The following table shows the total value of rates collected by councils for the mineral leases in each shire.

Councils	Rates Collected 2010-11 ($)	Rates Collected 2011-12 ($)
Barkly Shire Council	2 282	2 383
Central Desert Shire Council*	19 216	6 160
East Arnhem Shire Council	12 185	10 291
Litchfield Council	41 507	42 735
MacDonnell Shire Council	5 296	5 439
Roper Gulf Shire Council**	16 407	7 665
Victoria Daly Shire Council	16 441	17 051
West Arnhem Shire Council	4 405	Nil
Total	121 529	91 724

In the 2010-11 financial year, the council received a grant from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Regional Services in lieu of rates income because the council’s conditional rating proposal was not received by the department by the due date. In 2011-12, $5382 remain as unpaid rates to Central Desert Shire Council as it is not the end of the financial yet. Please refer to question No 4.

**In 2011-12, $10 921 remain as unpaid rate to Roper Gulf Shire Council as the financial year has not ended. Please refer to question No 4.

3. See table below.

Councils	No of Negotiated Leases
Barkly Shire Council	Nil
Central Desert Shire Council	Nil
East Arnhem Shire Council	Nil
Litchfield Council*	166
MacDonnell Shire Council	Nil
Roper Gulf Shire Council	Nil
Victoria Daly Shire Council	Nil
West Arnhem Shire Council	Nil
Total	166
* For Litchfield Council, there are 166 negotiated leases over 55 active leases, but in accordance with the legislative framework, leases that are contiguous or reasonably adjacent are rated as if they are a single lease.

4. See table below.

Councils	Amount outstanding 2010-11 ($)	Amount outstanding 2011-12 ($)
Barkly Shire Council	Nil	Nil
Central Desert Shire Council	Nil	5 382
East Arnhem Shire Council	Nil	9 508
Litchfield Council	1 509	6 216
MacDonnell Shire Council	6 863	10 101
Roper Gulf Shire Council	1 735	10 921
Victoria Daly Shire Council	1 517	3 698
West Arnhem Shire Council	Nil	4 537
Total	11 624	50 363

291. Roadside Stops - Maintenance

Ms PURICK to MINISTER for TRANSPORT

1. How many government-sponsored roadside stops providing water, ablution, rubbish collection and barbecue facilities are there in the Northern Territory and on what highways and main roads?

2. How many additional roadside stops are planned elsewhere in the Northern Territory?

3. What is the cost per facility to construct and establish?

4. How frequently are the roadside stops visited by contractors and either serviced or repaired?

5. Who undertakes the service and repair work?

6. If the work is outsourced, what is the cost of the periodic contract?

7. What is the cost to maintain the roadside stops per stop?

8. In the last 12 months, what repair work has been undertaken on each roadside stop?

ANSWER

1. The following government sponsored roadside stops (rest areas) provide all the above facilities:

Stuart Highway: Prowse Gap, King River, Warloch Ponds, Newcastle Waters, Attack Creek, Taylor Creek, Tourist Attraction NT/SA border

Barkly Highway: Avon Downs

Victoria Highway: Limestone Creek, Saddle Creek

See Attachment A for map which shows the location of all rest areas in the Northern Territory.

2. There are no additional rest areas planned in the current works program.

3. The cost per facility varies depending on design. The current standard including water, toilet and barbecue facilities are in the order of $350 000 to construct.

4. During the tourist season they are serviced at least once a week, and off-peak they are serviced weekly or monthly depending on location.

5. There are a number of period contractors that undertake the work across the road network.

6. The period contracts are packaged to service infrastructure along the road network, including servicing of rest areas, as well as other infrastructure such as truck parking bays. An estimate of the cost for work relating solely to servicing rest areas is in the vicinity of $1m per annum.

7. The average cost to maintain a rest area is $18 000 per annum.

8. Repair of furniture, repair of toilets and weed control works.

21 November 2011

292. Alcohol Identity Scanners

Ms PURICK to MINISTER for ALCOHOL POLICY

1. How many Identification Scanner Machines (ISMs) have been installed across the Northern Territory in licensed premises in the following areas: Darwin (including rural area); Palmerston; Katherine; Batchelor; Pine Creek; Jabiru; Nhulunbuy; Groote Eylandt; Tennant Creek; Alice Springs; and the balance of the Northern Territory?

2. What was the cost of each machine?

3. What was the total cost to install the machines?

4. Which company or companies were contracted to install the machines?

5. What was the price of the contract(s)?

6. What was the cost of providing training for staff to know how to use the machines?

7. Who undertook the training and how long did it take to deliver?

8. What was the cost to business in having staff off-line to undertake the training?

9. How many licensed premises do not have a machine installed as at today’s date?

10. How many machines have gone off-line and for how long?

11. What is the average time to repair a machine that is faulty?

12. When will the government include shooter’s licences as part of the photo ID?

ANSWER

1. As part of the Enough is Enough alcohol reform, a total of 262 scanning devices have been deployed in the period up to 30 November 2011.

The following breakdown identifies the type of device, and the region to which the licensed premises relate.

Region Identifier	BDR Device
Darwin and Palmerston	145
Katherine Region, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek	87
Nhulunbuy	Not yet rolled out
Groote Eylandt	Not yet rolled out
NT Balance	30
Total	262

2. The budgeted cost of purchasing and installing the ID scanning system(s) (BDR), including all hardware into takeaway licensed venues across the Northern Territory, is $3.4m. This applies across all stages of the reform, and includes costs of those sites which are yet to be commissioned.

Delivery and installation varies dependent upon the location and layout of the individual premises. It is estimated that the installation costs for premises within the Darwin metro area is up to $20 000 per site, and regional or remote areas is up to $25

000 per site. This includes all associated technology infrastructure, hardware, and travel costs.

3. BDR installation costs vary dependent upon the location and layout of individual premises. Installation costs to date are within budgeted projections. See above response.

As not all systems are required to be installed as at 30 November 2011, a total installation cost is not yet available.

4. The company contracted to install the BDR devices is CSG/Dell.

CSG/Dell is part of a whole-of-government contract and was required to provide:

the initial advice on equipment specifications; and

the purchase and installation of the BDR terminals, scanners, and associated router equipment.

5. CSG/Dell contract is a whole-of-government contract, and the project has not been completed. Consequently, final installation costs are not yet available.

The budget for purchasing and installing the ID scanning system(s) (BDR) into licensed takeaway venues across the Northern Territory is $3.4m. This applies across all stages of the reform, and includes costs to those sites not yet commissioned.

6. Training was delivered by Department of Justice staff as part of their current role(s).

7. Training is delivered by licensing inspectors. As the system is very user friendly, training sessions last for approximately 30 minutes depending on the number of staff being trained.

8. It is not appropriate for the Department of Justice to provide costing on behalf of the liquor and hospitality industry.

9. Of the licensed venues in the Territory, only those with non-exempt takeaway capacity are required to have a scanning system. Exemptions are provided to those premises which provide takeaway alcohol to bona fide guests such as in mini-bar or catering purposes.

A total of 190 premises have been fitted with scanning systems as at 30 November 2011. The remaining seven sites are due to be completed by 30 June 2012 and currently have an electronic permit system which refuses permit holders who are on the BDR.

Over 96% of sites within the Territory now have BDR scanning devices in place. We have met projected time lines and, in fact, installation of equipment is ahead of schedule.

10. The processing system has never been off line. Service times form a component of the system management agreements. This ensures licensees have contact with a technician to resolve any issues if they occur.

11. If a machine is ‘faulty’ and required to be removed for repairs, a replacement machine is commissioned into service. The Northern Territory government has ensured that spare devices are available in event of a fault, or unforeseen issue (for example fire/break-in at the premises).

The repair times fall within the accepted parameters, and no delays have been experienced.

12. The Northern Territory government assessed the identification types available to Territorians, visitors and tourists. Of the identification documentation which met security requirements, those most prevalent/available to the majority were selected for the system. This includes:

NT and other Australian driver’s licences;

NT and other Australian evidence-of-age cards;

passports; and

Ochre Card.

A high proportion of NT shooter’s licences are issued to persons either already possessing an evidence-of-age card or driver’s licence. Adding a new ID type to the system is both a costly and lengthy process that requires a number of templates to be developed and other operational procedures.

The NT government has ensured that specialised customer representatives are available for clients of Births, Deaths and Marriages and the Motor Vehicle Registry to ensure approved identification can be obtained. These documents were also provided free of charge for a four-month period to further assist people obtain the approved ID.

294. Rates for Pastoral Leases

Ms PURICK to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT

1. How many pastoral leases are rated in what shire?

2. What rates have been paid on each lease in each shire for the years 2010 and 2011?

3. How many pastoral leases are in arrears for rates and in which shire?

4. How many pastoral leases have challenged the payment of rates. in which shire, and for how much?

ANSWER

1. See table below.

Council	No of Pastoral Leases Rated
Barkly Shire Council	48
Central Desert Shire Council	29
Litchfield Council	1
MacDonnell Shire Council	49
Roper Gulf Shire Council	51
Victoria Daly Shire Council	46
Total	224

Note: No pastoral leases at East Arnhem Shire Council (EASC), West Arnhem Shire Council (WASC), Belyuen Shire Council (BSC), and Wagait Shire Council (WSC).

2. The department does not have information on the value of rates collected on each individual pastoral lease. The following table shows the total value of rates collected by councils for the pastoral leases in each shire.

Council	Rates Collected 2010-11 ($)	Rates Collected 2011-12 ($)
Barkly Shire Council	87 179	90 814
Central Desert Shire Council*	*13 610	10 825
Litchfield Council	580	605
MacDonnell Shire Council	320	328
Roper Gulf Shire Council	15 180	12 401
Victoria Daly Shire Council	54 974	56 277
Total	171 843	171 250
* In the 2010-11 financial year, the council received a special purpose grant from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Regional Services in lieu of rates income collected by council.

3. See table below.

Council	Number of pastoral leases in arrears 2010-11	Number of pastoral leases in arrears 2011-12
Barkly Shire Council	28	18
Central Desert Shire Council	11	18
Litchfield Council	Nil	Nil
MacDonnell Shire Council	3	6
Roper Gulf Shire Council	18	17
Victoria Daly Shire Council	3	11
Total	63	70

4. See table below.

Council	Challenged Leases
Barkly Shire Council	Nil
Central Desert Shire Council	Nil
Litchfield Council	Nil
MacDonnell Shire Council	Nil
Roper Gulf Shire Council	Three (in 2011-12 only) Total $8384
Victoria Daly Shire Council	Nil
Total	Three leases for $8384

295. Department of Education - Teacher Recruitment and Retention

Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for EDUCATION

1. For each year from 2008 to 2010, what percentage of teaching staff recruited to very remote schools in Term 1 were retained within the department and within the individual schools at the end of Term 4?

2. For 2011, what percentage of teaching staff recruited to very remotes schools in Term 1 were retained within the department and within the individual schools at the beginning of Term 4?

3. For each year from 2008 to 2011, what percentage of teaching staff recruited to very remote schools had been employed for more than 12 months in the same individual school?

ANSWER

1. 2008: 73.4% of teachers recruited to remote schools retained within the department and 61.7% retained within the school

2009: 75.5% of teachers recruited to remote schools retained within the department and 67.0% retained within the school

2010: 69.6% of teachers recruited to remote schools retained within the department and 59.2% retained within the school

2. 88.5% retained within the department and 75.2% within the individual schools.

3. 2008: 34.9%

2009: 39.5%

2010: 41.6%

2011: data not yet available.

It should be noted that teachers may leave a school for a range of reasons including promotion, special study leave, long service leave and maternity leave. Such teachers may return to the same school on completion of their leave.

Initiatives to Improve Teacher Retention Teacher Education:

A range of programs are currently in place to increase teacher retention through Territory-based initiatives and selective recruitment procedures. These include:

Scholarships

Currently 44 Charles Darwin University Teacher Education students are receiving scholarships.

Teacher Education Scholarship Program

Forty-six recipients are currently supported by the program.

More Indigenous Teachers Program

Approximately 10 Indigenous teachers graduate each year; they receive cadetships, scholarships and fellowships.

Remote Indigenous Teacher Education – RITE:

Nine students based in Maningrida and Elcho Island are studying through Charles Darwin University and Batchelor Institute.

NARIS

The National Alliance for Remote Indigenous Schools, known as NARIS, is a group of more than 170 schools in remote Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales.

It aims to attract, retain and develop exceptional teachers and leaders in these schools. It is managed by the education departments of these states/territories, with overarching support from the Australian government.

A range of programs, supports and resources is being rolled out in 2011, 2012 and 2013 for teachers and leaders.

For more information visit

http://nationalallianceremoteindigenousschools.com/

Other programs to help improve retention include:

orientation programs, including community and cultural orientation program;

professional development opportunities – to prepare and support teachers to teach in remote Indigenous schools;

scholarships for masters level programs for remote teachers who meet set criteria;

free/subsidised housing;

remote incentive allowance;

remote retention payment;

up to three airfares a year from remote community to Darwin or Alice Springs;

access to remote study leave after designated time in the remote localities;

remote teacher conferences where remote teachers connect with education experts and peers working in remote schools in other jurisdictions in Australia;

virtual and face-to-face networking for remote teachers. A one-stop shop for teacher support and networking and providing ongoing support for the first years of teaching; and

use of exit interviews to provide valuable feedback that may assist with retention strategies.

297. Motor Vehicle Registrations and Licensing

Mr GILES to MINISTER for TRANSPORT

1. In relation to motor vehicle registration:

(a) how many passenger vehicles, motor cycles, light commercial and heavy commercial vehicles are registered in the Northern Territory as at 30 October 2011? How many do you estimate are driven without registration;

(b) how many passenger vehicles, motor cycles, light commercial and heavy commercial vehicles registered in the Northern Territory are over three years old as at 30 October 2011; and

(c) how many passenger vehicles, motor cycles, light commercial and heavy commercial vehicles registered in the Northern Territory are over 10 years old as at 30 October 2011?

2. With regard to revenue within the area of licensing and registration, in 2010-11, 2009-10 and 2008-09:

(a) how much revenue was received in relation to the issuing of NT drivers licences, broken down by licence category;

(b) how much revenue was received for the licensing of each of passenger vehicles, motor cycles, light commercial and heavy commercial vehicles;

(c) how much revenue was received by the department when conducting roadworthy checks on each of passenger vehicles, motor cycles, light commercial and heavy commercial vehicles; and

(d) what is the cost appropriated to administering these roadworthy checks including staff costs?

3. With regard to motorcycle licensing:

(a) how many Territorians as at 30 October 2011 had a motorcycle licence;

(b) in the last financial year how many Territorians applied for a motorcycle licence and how many were issued with a motorcycle licence;

(c) how many METAL classes were run in each of the three previous financial years and the period from 1 July 2011 to 30 October 2011, and when where they run and in what locations; and

(d) how many motorcyclists have been disqualified from their licence in each of the three previous financial years and the period from 1 July 2011 to 30 October 2011 and for what reasons?

ANSWER

1 (a) The number of vehicles by class, registered in the Northern Territory is listed below. The number of vehicles driven without registration cannot be reasonably estimated and, therefore, is not included.

Vehicle Type	Total Reg'd
	$
Buses	1 989
Cranes	29
Motorcycles	6 397
Motor vehicles	129 267
Plant type vehicles	2 739
Prime movers	1 247
Plant trailers	149
Restricted registrations	43
Semi trailers and convt dollies	3 613
Trucks	6 388
Trailers	29 385
Total	181 246

(b) The number of vehicles registered by type, greater than three years is listed below.

Vehicle Type	> Three Years $
Buses	1 468
Cranes	26
Motorcycles	3 785
Motor vehicles	92 376
Plant type vehicles	1 966
Prime movers	1 025
Plant trailers	132
Restricted registrations	5
Semi trailers and convt dollies	2 838
Trucks	4 995
Trailers	22 095
Total	130 711

(c) The number of vehicles registered by type, greater than 10 years is listed below. These figures are also included in the greater than three years table.

Vehicle Type	> 10 Years
Buses	733
Cranes	23
Motorcycles	1 349
Motor vehicles	41 723
Plant type vehicles	984
Prime movers	614
Plant trailers	120
Restricted registrations	4
Semi trailers and convt dollies	1 820
Trucks	3 021
Trailers	12 203
Total	62 594

2 (a) The revenue received from issuing NT drivers licences, by category, is listed below. These figures exclude GST.

Licence Class	2008-09 ($)	2009-10 ($)	2010-11 ($)	Total ($)
Motor vehicle <4.5 t	1 422 894	1 687 423	1 756 899	4 867 216
Heavy combination	51 331	68 328	72 838	192 497
Heavy rigid	119 200	142 786	156 601	418 587
Light rigid	70 376	80 033	88 210	238 619
Multi combination	35 782	50 573	56 729	143 084
Medium rigid	86 667	97 046	108 183	291 896

Licence Class	2008-09 ($)	2009-10 ($)	2010-11 ($)	Total ($)
Motor cycle	165 728	203 829	215 488	585 045
Total	1 951 978	2 330 018	2 454 948	6 736 944

(b) The revenue received for the registration of each vehicle, by type, is listed below. The major component of the registration fee is Compulsory Third Party Insurance. These figures exclude GST.

Vehicle Type	2008-09 ($)	2009-10 ($)	2010-11 ($)	Total ($)
Buses	591 431	631 026	674 156	1 896 613
Cranes	11 475	11 867	14 699	38 040
Motorcycles	68 233	71 943	70 726	210 902
Motor vehicles	11 778 957	12 068 931	12 223 435	36 071 323
Plant type vehicles	125 983	134 661	163 047	423 691
Prime movers	5 760 722	6 784 285	7 282 977	19 827 983
Plant trailers	7 000	6 070	6 452	19 522
Restricted registrations	216	199	96	511
Semi trailers and convt dollies	2 795 096	3 495 091	3 985 995	10 276 181
Trucks	2 660 824	2 801 177	3 088 696	8 550 698
Trailers	1 158 027	1 259 320	1 326 032	3 743 378
Total	24 957 962	27 264 569	28 836 310	81 058 841

(c) The revenue received as a result of vehicle inspections performed by MVR Transport Inspectors is below. The inspection fees are set as per the Motor Vehicles (Fees and Charges) Regulations

The below figures do not include GST.

Vehicle Type	2008-09 ($)	2009-10 ($)	2010-11 ($)	Total ($)
Buses	65 730	70 210	76 615	212 555
Cranes	70	280	490	840
Motorcycles	32 900	39 060	36 890	108 850
Motor vehicles	658 665	706 650	702 310	2 067 625
Plant type vehicles	22 015	22 925	25 760	70 700
Prime movers	15 925	17 045	14 630	47 600
Plant trailers	735	210	175	1 120
Restricted registrations	70	1 050		1 120
Semi trailers and convt dollies	40 740	36 995	35 700	113 435
Trucks	92 400	84 315	78 470	255 185
Trailers	75 460	75 880	85 050	236 390
Total	1 004 710	1 054 620	1 056 090	3 115 420

(d) The average cost per inspection for tests carried out at a Test Shed is $33.62.

3 (a) As at 30 October 2011, there were 25 651 motorcycle licences. This includes learner, provisional and full licences.

(b) In 2010-11, 1169 Territorians attempted the balance and stability practical test, a prerequisite for residents in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek or Alice Springs prior to obtaining a motorcycle learner licence.

Of those who took the test, 1125 passed and received their motorcycle learner licence.

(c) METAL classes run for each of the previous financial years and the current financial year is shown in the following tables.

Financial Year	Month	A/Springs	Darwin	Katherine	Total
2008-09	Jul	9	67	4	80
	Aug	13	94	1	108
	Sep	10	76	3	89
	Oct	14	94	3	111
	Nov	7	76	2	85
	Dec	3	52	4	59
	Jan		61		61
	Feb	7	70	3	80
	Mar	10	78	4	92
	Apr	15	84	3	102
	May	6	101	3	110
	Jun	9	65	5	79
2009-10	Sep	11	109		120
	Oct	13	94	4	111
	Nov	14	68	3	85
	Dec	6	47	4	57
	Jan	12	46		58
	Feb	14	66	5	85
	Mar	14	86	5	105
	Apr	2	76		78
	May	10	94	3	107
	Jun	10	52	4	66
2010-11	Jul	10	70	4	84
	Aug	8	94	5	107
	Sep	12	92	4	108
	Oct	10	103	5	118
	Nov	17	97	5	119
	Dec		58	5	63
	Jan	19	60	3	82
	Feb	16	66	4	86
	Mar	11	64	2	77
	Apr	8	73	6	87
	May	18	81	5	104
	Jun	14	50	5	69

Financial Year	Month	A/Springs	Darwin	Katherine	Total
2011-12	Jul	16	76	3	95
	Aug	11	65	4	80
	Sep	12	86	4	102
	Oct	17	79	4	100
	Total	427	3052	138	3617

(d) Information on the number of motorcyclists, with an NT registered licence, who have been disqualified from their licence and why is in the following table.

Reasons for Disqualification/Cancellation	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	Jul to Oct 2011
Influence of alcohol/illicit substance	162	163	160	38
Speed related	14	12	6	3
Driving whilst unlicensed	1	3	4	-
Failed to provide breath/blood sample	1	3	5	1
Other	4	3	3	-
Total	182	184	178	42

298. NT Fire Services

Ms PURICK to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES

1. How many NT Fire Service officers were sent to Central Australia to help fight the recent bush and wildfires?

2. What was the total cost to transfer the personnel and have them located away from their base station?

3. Was travel allowance (TA) paid and, if so, what was the total cost?

4. What equipment was transferred and used to fight the fires and at what cost to transfer and use?

5. How many support staff were used in the operation and at what cost?

6. How many Fire and Emergency Services officers travelled from interstate and how many from which state?

7. What was the cost of the interstate personnel working in the NT if the cost was borne by the NT government?

ANSWER

1. Eighteen.

2. $58 147.

3. Yes. $17 273.

4. The NT Fire and Rescue Service (NTFRS) relocated two grass fire units and a tanker from Darwin to Alice Springs. The major cost was in fuel for NTFRS and SA Country Fire Service (SACFS) vehicles. Total cost $65 467.

5. Numerous people across the agency supported the operation as part of their normal duties. There is no separate cost item.
6. Eighteen from SA.

7. $8 901. This cost will be part of the overall cost recovery proposal by the NT through the National Disaster Relief Arrangements.

300. Pastoral Properties Damaged by Fire

Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES

1. How many pastoral properties suffered damage as a result of the recent bush and wildfires in the Tennant Creek and Central Australian regions?

2. What is the percentage loss of pastures for the total properties affected?

3. What has been the value of the total loss of pastures?

4. How many cattle were killed as a result of the fires?

5. What was the total value of loss and damage to equipment and infrastructure including fences, bores, tanks, roads and vehicles?

6. What was the number of cattle transferred from burnt properties and agisted elsewhere in the NT?

7. What was the number of cattle transferred to non-burnt NT properties and how many cattle have been transferred to interstate properties?

8. What is the value of extra feed required to feed existing stock on the affected properties?

9. What percentage of the fires was deliberately lit and those that were started by natural causes (lightning)?

10. What work has the department undertaken to assess the losses, what reports have been prepared, and will these become public documents?

ANSWER

Bushfires have been burning at various locations throughout Central Australia during the past three months. Although fire is accepted as a seasonal event in Central Australia, Western Australia and Queensland, the situation has been exacerbated by the high fuel loads that have resulted from the record summer rains in 2010-11.

Bushfire management falls within the portfolio of responsibilities of my colleague, Hon Karl Hampton MLA, Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage. I will talk about my Department of Resources (DoR) role in assisting response agencies.

1. DoR conducted a telephone survey during the second half of October 2011. Of the 18 properties that had a significant proportion of the total grazing land area affected by fire, all of the respondents indicated fire damage.

Based on these responses and information from the North Australian Fire Information (NAFI) website (which is publicly available), DoR estimates that 51 properties in the Barkly and 66 properties in Central Australia have been affected as a result of the recent bushfires.

2. Approximately 40% of land under pastoral lease in the Alice Springs region and approximately 20% of land under pastoral lease in the Barkly region were affected by fire this season at 1 December 2011.

3. The period 2010–11 was exceptional in rainfall and pasture growth with the result that more grass was produced than could be effectively utilised with existing cattle numbers.

Healthy grass root reserves, above normal soil moisture and rain after fire has seen rapid pasture recovery in many affected areas with moribund grass being replaced with high-quality regrowth.

In many of the affected areas, conditions conducive to pasture recovery prevailed and sufficient pasture was available on burnt areas within six weeks. Pastoralists generally had sufficient unburnt pastures on their properties that stock could be moved on to over the period required for regrowth.

It is not possible with pasture modelling to value pasture loss due to the high volumes of pasture as well as the quick replacement of average quality pasture with high nutritional regrowth, therefore, an objective and realistic figure cannot be arrived at.

4. In the telephone survey of October 2011, advice was received that at least 70 cattle were confirmed dead. Most of the reported cases were in close proximity to bores, thus making detection easier.

More accurate figures will only be available after the next round of mustering has been completed.

5. Preliminary estimates (capital costs) for loss and damage on the 18 stations contacted are provided below.

Fencing (km)	Pipeline (km)	Poly tanks	Sheds	Vehicles	Bore infrastructure
1550 $2.0m	46 $92 000	18 $90 000	1 $70 000	Six damaged and one lost, one grader engine blown	10

6. A review of cattle transferred from properties affected by fire through the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database for the period 1 September 2011 through until the 30 November 2011 shows that a total of 28 431 head were transferred off property compared with 20 958 head for the same period in 2010. This is an increase of approximately 26% on the number of animals moved from within the same area compared with 2010; of these, 1010 head were sent to other properties within the NT.

7. The NLIS database does not specifically provide the reasons for transfer. However, a detailed search can provide animal destinations for turnoff. The major movements were to interstate properties (14 332 head); to interstate abattoirs (10 501 head); and the remainder went to feedlots or saleyards interstate.

DoR officers based in Alice Springs have contacted a number of properties to discuss the situation and the need to move cattle due to the impacts of fire. Five properties have advised that they moved cattle or sold them earlier than planned due to the impacts of fire.

8. No indication was given by the stations contacted that this practice is taking place on a larger than usual scale.

9. It is not possible to accurately determine the cause or number of fires in such a large landscape, especially with so many ignitions where the resulting fires have joined together before there has been an opportunity to map the extent of the burnt area.

One of the major causes of bushfire is lightning; the first lightning strikes that started fires in Central Australia were in January 2011. Lightning again caused fire ignitions in early September. There were several episodes of lightning through September to November that started fires in patches right through from the Northern Territory/South Australia border all the way north to the Tennant Creek/Barkly region. It is important to note that there is a significantly higher risk of lightning starting fires throughout Central Australia during years such as 2011 when fuel loads are high and continuous across the landscape with very few areas of bare ground.

Bushfires NT intends undertaking a more detailed analysis of the 2011 fire season, which may assist in addressing the issue of determining the sources of ignition.

10. Regular updates have been provided by DoR to the agencies involved in the response to the Central Australian fires.

Information provided has been based on spatial data from the NAFI website to estimate the extent to which pastoral properties have been affected by the fires and a telephone survey, involving the 18 properties most affected by fire at the time, to gain an appreciation of the extent of the fire damage.

As stated above Bushfires NT intends undertaking a more detailed analysis of the 2011 fire season. However, I understand that Mr Grant Allen of Bushfires NT presented a public seminar titled

Seeing through the Smoke

The Challenge of Fire Management in

Central Australia

on 22 November 2011 at the Desert Knowledge Precinct.

14 February 2012

301. Drug Testing in Prisons

Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

1. What drug testing regimes are in place for prisoners serving custodial sentences within correctional facilities in the Northern Territory?

2. Please provide a breakdown for the number of prisoners who have returned a positive test for the use of illicit drugs in the previous 12 months to 30 November 2011 on a month-by-month basis according to correctional facility and substance.

3. Please provide a breakdown of the number of prisoners who have returned one positive test, two positive tests, three positive tests, four positive tests and five or more positive tests.

4. What disciplinary measures are applied to prisoners who return a positive test for the use of illicit drugs while serving a custodial sentence?

5. Please provide a breakdown for the number of penalties that have been applied in the previous 12 months to 30 November 2011.

6. Please provide a breakdown of the number of prisoners who have been subject to penalties for the use of illicit drugs while serving a custodial and how many prisoners have been subject to one, two, three, four and five or more penalties.

ANSWER

1. In accordance with current procedures Darwin Correctional Centre (DCC) and Alice Springs Correctional Centre (ASCC) each test a random 5% of their respective populations each month. Target testing is also carried out on prisoners based on intelligence information. Urinalysis sampling is sent to pathology for testing and a report sent to the centres advising of the test results.

Northern Territory Correctional Services (NTCS) has six Passive Alert Detection Dogs - three in DCC and three in ASCC - which assist in drug detection on prisoners. A positive indication by the dog results in the prisoner being searched and/or tested for illegal substances.

2. A breakdown for the number of prisoners who have returned a positive test for the use of illicit drugs in the previous 12 months:

Darwin Correctional Centre

November 2011	1 (cannabis)
October 2011	6 (cannabis)
September 2011	2 (cannabis)
August 2011	2 (cannabis)
July 2011	1 (morphine)
June 2011	0
May 2011	3 (cannabis)
April 2011	5 (cannabis)
March 2011	0
February 2011	0
January 2011	1 (cannabis)
December 2010	0
November 2010	1 (cannabis)

Alice Springs Correctional Centre

November 2011	5 (cannabis)
October 2011	4 (cannabis)
September 2011	0
August 2011	2 (cannabis)
July 2011	1 (cannabis)
June 2011	4 (cannabis)
May 2011	0
April 2011	1 (cannabis)
March 2011	1 (cannabis
February 2011	1 (cannabis
January 2011	1 (cannabis)
December 2010	0
November 2010	2 (cannabis)

3. No prisoner, during this time period, has been charged with this offence on more than one occasion in either DCC or ASCC.

4. Pursuant to the Prison (Correctional Services) Regulations prisoners may be subjected to internal prison misconduct charges. The prisoner will be charged with the following offence and penalties that apply:

3.1(s) Misuse of medication or is found to have present any drugs or alcohol

The prisoner can receive a penalty of up to 28 days Loss of Prescribed Privileges (LOPs) and up to seven days separate confinement

Under the Sentencing Management Manual section 5.0.10, prisoners who return a positive test for illicit substances will receive an Identified Drug User (IDU) status. This results in a restriction on revision of classification status for a period of 12 months. A prisoner on an IDU status will not be classified any lower than a Medium rating. Once the prisoner has been removed from an IDU status, his or her classification may be reviewed. In addition to the penalties applied to a prisoner who has tested positive to an illegal substance, the imposition of an IDU status is of more importance and has a far greater impact on a prisoner’s progression through the system.

5. Darwin Correctional Centre:

two prisoners received 28 days LOPs and seven days Separate Confinement;

one prisoner received 20 days LOPs and four days Separate Confinement;

seventeen prisoners received 28 days LOPs; and

two prisoners received a caution.

Alice Springs Correctional Centre:

ten prisoners received 28 days LOPs and seven days Separate Confinement;

three prisoners discharged prior to Prison Misconduct Hearings;

one prisoner no breach action commenced; and

eight prisoners received no penalty due to results/testing within 28 days of admission, thus are not in breach of the Prison (Correctional Services) Regulations.

NTCS guidelines state that when a prisoner has been in custody for less than 70 days and returns a positive first test for cannabis, the result will not be dealt with as a breach of discipline.

NTCS guidelines state that when a prisoner has been in custody for less than 14 days and returns a positive first test for other illicit substances. the result will not be dealt with as a breach of discipline. If, upon further testing, the level of the illicit substance is the same or of a higher concentration, disciplinary procedures will be initiated

6. Please refer to questions Nos 3 and 5.

302. New7Wonders of Nature Campaign

Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to MINISTER for TOURISM

In relation to the Territory government’s involvement in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign and for the period from 1 July 2011 until present:

1. How much was spent on any program or activity associated with participation or support of the campaign?

2. What was the scope of activity undertaken for the campaign?

3. What organisations received financial contributions or in-kind support in association with the campaign?

ANSWER

1. The Northern Territory government did not make any financial contribution to the New7Wonders of Nature campaign or conduct any campaign in partnership with New7 Wonders of Nature.

In the period under review Tourism NT continued its own promotion of Uluru (Ayers Rock) as a Northern Territory tourism destination via online and social media. It also conducted a promotion of Uluru in selected shopping centres in Sydney and Melbourne offering opportunity for potential tourists to be photographed against a backdrop of Uluru.

2. A Northern Territory government media release dated 29 March 2011 advised that Uluru was a candidate in the final round of voting for the competition, and encouraged support for the nomination of Uluru as one of the New7Wonders of Nature.

3. The Northern Territory government has not made any financial contribution or provided in-kind support for the New7Wonders of Nature campaign.

893

ANSWER TO WRITTEN QUESTION NO 258

ATTACHMENT A – NORTHERN TERRITORY ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES

ATTACHMENT B – INDIGENOUS LIVING AREAS – MUNS FUNDING VIA SERVICE PROVIDERS

ATTACHMENT C – INDIGENOUS LIVING AREAS – HOUSING FUNDING VIA SERVICE PROVIDERS

ATTACHMENT D – OCCUPANCY STATUS FOR EACH OUTSTATION/HOMELAND

ATTACHMENT E – PROPOSED 2010-11 HOUSING MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE FUNDING

ANSWER TO WRITTEN QUESTION NO 285

ATTACHMENT A – SCHOOL LIBRARIES - STAFFING

ANSWER TO WRITTEN QUESTION NO 289

ATTACHMENT A – VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION PROJECTS

ANSWER TO WRITTEN QUESTION NO 291

ATTACHMENT A – LOCATION OF ALL REST AREAS IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

Last updated: 04 Aug 2016

https://parliament.nt.gov.au

ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS