Debates Day 2 - Wednesday 14 February 2007
Parliamentary Record 12
Debates for 10th Assembly 2005 - 2008; 10th Assembly 2005 - 2008; Parliamentary Record; ParliamentNT
2007-02-14
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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Debates
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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DEBATES Wednesday 14 February 2007 3877 However, the AFL in Katherine lost a lot of money because they were not selling alcohol, so they need to be supported and encouraged to continue to have an alcohol-free environment so that it gives a good example for those young players who come in from communities. I would like to talk to the minister about how they go about getting some funding because they are really struggling to keep afloat and they do provide a fantastic atmosphere for those indigenous community teams that come in. I am a sponsor I think they call it the sponsor - of the AFL in Katherine. I have really admired the amount of work that Fred Murphy has done in the communities, as the member for Arnhem would know as well. Fred is a great bloke and he knows I am a soft touch, so he always comes to see me when he wants to have his sausages and $100 to go here, $200 there to bring the boys to Darwin. What he does with those young people is outstanding, and he needs to have support in an alcohol-free environment so that those wonderful, healthy young men continue to get on with their lives and lead a good life. They have great potential, those young people. I have a real soft spot for them. They are in your electorate, I think, member for Arnhem, but I like them. I would like very much to see some support given to sporting teams so that they can remain alcohol free. I will close now because I know that we are going to be talking about substance abuse, and delivering a report at the Alice Springs sittings. As I said, I feel like I have talked about nothing but alcohol for the last two days. You do not have any opposition from me at all as far as dealing with the situation. However, I do believe that you are going to have to be tougher. Debate adjourned. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Pride and Hope for the Future: the Territorys Aboriginal Visual Arts and Craft Industry Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arts and Museums): Mr Deputy Speaker, the Aboriginal visual arts and craft industry in the Northern Territory is the strongest and most highly developed in the nation and has been for half a century. The Northern Territory government is immensely proud of the Aboriginal visual arts and craft industry, and the achievements of the artists who have contributed to one of the Territorys most important industries. It is an industry that enriches the cultural life of the Northern Territory and, indeed, the nation. It has done much to promote Australia and the Northern Territory internationally. For me, as a Tiwi woman and as Arts minister, the Aboriginal visual arts and craft industry is a special source of both pride and hope for the future. That hope for the future is based on the knowledge that this government is committed to developing the strengths of the industry in the years to come. I trust this commitment is a bipartisan one, shared amongst both opposition and Independent members of this Assembly. In moving around the Territory meeting people from many walks of life, I get a strong sense that the Aboriginal visual arts and craft industry is one that has not just the support but also the affection of many of my fellow citizens; that it is an industry we should support and that we should all be dealing fairly and equitably with the artists who make such a great contribution. The Australian Senate is currently holding an inquiry into the future of the Aboriginal visual arts and craft industry. It is the most important investigation into its health and future for many years and a quarter of a century since the first comprehensive assessment of the industry. As the Territory Arts minister, I will be giving evidence to the inquiry. I table a copy of the Northern Territory governments substantial submission to the Senate. The Northern Territory government welcomes and supports the inquiry. I take a moment here to acknowledge the fine work of the Association of Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists, or ANKAAA, and the Association of Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Centres, Desart. These two Territory-based organisations are the peak representatives of Aboriginal artists across the Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. They were instrumental in convincing the former federal Arts minister, Senator Kemp, to endorse this inquiry and had a hand in developing its terms of reference. The work of these two organisations should be commended by us all here today. In developing the Territorys response to the terms of reference of the Senate inquiry, it struck me that it was important that this parliament also look at the Aboriginal visual arts and craft sector and seriously debate its future. I will not go into the detail of the Senate submission, but would like to emphasise today three important elements of the governments position on the Aboriginal visual arts and craft industry. First is the importance of the industry in historical and contemporary terms and where we might take it into the future. The second is the endorsement by this government of the National Indigenous Art Commercial Code of Conduct and our willingness to promote similar approaches by other governments - local, state and federal. The third is the role of the Northern Territory Indigenous Arts Strategy which is entering its second stage.