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
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Debates
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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DEBATES - Tuesday 23 May 1995 which are themselves employers now and need to understand the appropriate relationships and practices within their organisations as they relate to their employees. As honourable members will be aware, there are many Aboriginal communities which are now incorporated as councils and I guess they are representative of the larger of those Aboriginal employer groups. As employers, they are bound, of course, by the provisions of the Anti-Discrimination Act, both in their employment practices and in the provision of goods and services. Accordingly, appropriate training for Aboriginal communities will be provided through this new program with the Anti-Discrimination Commission. In its recommendation 211, the report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody highlighted the need for state and territory anti-discrimination bodies to specifically advise Aboriginal people on their rights under anti-discrimination law. Essentially, the 12-month project will allow for the employment of a journalist with particular skills - and they will need to be particular skills - to produce a training package for Aboriginal people, using video and audio techniques in some 10 to 14 Aboriginal languages according to the need. The commission is also closely involved in the implementation and monitoring of delivery of services to immigrants, particularly those from non-English-speaking backgrounds. The problems facing women and, to a lesser extent, men of non-English-speaking backgrounds, especially those who live in isolated areas, is of particular concern to the commission. It works closely with the Office of Ethnic Affairs and other Territory and Commonwealth agencies to make contact with these people who are especially vulnerable. Recently, the commission and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry launched guidelines for preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. That, of course, reflects the cooperative approach that the commission has developed with industry and commerce, and the high priority that it places on public education. In all, it is a very healthy budget, not a diminishing one as implied by members opposite, but a healthy budget in all of those areas that will ensure that young Territorians gain appropriate education and appropriate training and that those dealing with various agencies under or associated with the Department of Law gain equity and access to safeguards to enable their lifestyle to be developed to the maximum. Mr PALMER (Primary Industry and Fisheries): Mr Speaker, rural and fisheries industries in the Northern Territory face buoyant prospects in 1995-96. There have been few times in the Northern Territorys history when markets have created such demand over so wide a range of its rural and fisheries products. In turn, this has created further demand for the research, extension and regulatory services offered by my Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries. Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of launching documents relating to future directions for the rural and fishing industries. These documents were prepared after exhaustive consultations between government and industry, and represent a consensus of views on the development of these industries over the next 5 years. The first stage toward achieving the actions in these plans is contained in the budget for the department in 1995-96. Strong emphasis is placed on research, development and extension services in raising the productivity of our cattle herds and developing agricultural systems to cope with the demand for cattle in the live export market. This research also focuses on the supply of out-of-season fruit and vegetables to southern Australian or Asian markets and for both the wild stock and aquaculture products of the Northern Territorys fisheries. 3512