Debates Day 1 - Tuesday 23 May 1995
Parliamentary Record 11
Debates for 7th Assembly 1994 - 1997; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 7th Assembly 1994 - 1997
1995-05-23
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
English
Debates
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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DEBATES - Tuesday 23 May 1995 below, 18 are occupied by women. We see where their place is in society within that department. There are some notable exceptions such as the Work Health Authority, and in the Department of Health and Community Services itself, in its administrative sectors. Some might say that this is not relevant to the budget, but I say that it is. Womens spending power is an important factor in their level of autonomy and general independence. I am not placing blame here, but I am suggesting that we all need to try harder to address these imbalances. I welcome the inclusion of the departmental breakdown by gender in the Women in the Budget document. That should be maintained. However, the format and content of that budget paper should follow the 1994 model which gave projected figures for the following year rather than simply some historical note of what had occurred previously. Turning to my electorate of Barkly, the allocation for Police, Fire and Emergency Services is up by $lm for some much-needed repairs and maintenance projects and to take account of the extra 4 police officers that we have finally secured - and very welcome they are. The capital works budget for the Department of Transport and Works is well down. Last year, there was a promise to establish a loop road in the Murchison-Davenport Ranges National Park. I do not believe that has been done. It seems to have fallen off the list of forward estimate promises. I wonder what the status of that park is now. The only specific mention is an allocation of $350 000 to maintain the Tablelands Highway in a reasonable state of repair for the traffic between Mt Isa and McArthur River Mine. The Tourist Commission is well down, having lost two-thirds or $2.3m against last years budget figure of $3,4m. I wonder why. The budget for the Conservation Commission is down from $791 000 to $399 000. Moneys are mentioned for a dedicated land conservation officer in the Barkly to cover an area of 250 000 km2, but I assume that, at only $20 000, this land conservation officer position must be very much a part-time role. The budget for the Department of Industries and Development is down by 50%, but I gather that last years budget included the SBS broadcasting equipment purchase. I noted that the Treasurer looked a little interested when I presented a petition from several hundred people in Tennant Creek requesting that the government look at the ability of people in Tennant Creek to access Channel 10. I understand that the infrastructure would be relatively inexpensive to install, given that the SBS equipment could be shared. I hope that the Treasurer will look favourably on granting Tennant Creek the money necessary to achieve this, providing that Channel 10 and Imparja can agree on a reciprocal arrangement between themselves. I gather that, if Channel 10 is to telecast into Tennant Creek, it would be reasonable for Impaija to ask that it be able to telecast to another area of similar size in Queensland, and I believe it has looked at that possibility in principle. In the portfolio of lands, housing and local government, $820 000 has been set aside to remedy stormwater drainage problems from last year. I do not believe that work has been completed yet, but certainly it will be very good when it is. The budget is up by $lm and it includes a $200 000 establishment package. In 1993, the former Kargaru Primary School was converted at a huge cost to become a post-secondary education facility. Unfortunately, that facility is far from being used fully. It 3479